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Re: [RC] Fencing (now free choice mins) - heidiRegarding offering free-choice mins..........I liked this idea too and tried if for a few years. I was always amazed at how much of some of the mixes my horses ate. But for a few reasons, I've since decided my horses are better off if I get a hay analysis and have a custom supplement made up to balance their diet. The reasons are: <snip> 2) one of my horses ate alot of the Cu mix (I believe that one is just salt and copper sulfate) - I have no idea why he ate so much (he was also getting a supplement with Cu in it based on my hay analysis at the time and shouldn't have needed any more Cu). But he also frequently had diarrhea during this time. I made various feed changes to try and cure his diarrhea, nothing worked until I took away the Cu mix, he's been fine since then. I think he ate so much of it that he drank alot (cuz of all the salt) and then had diarrhea. That's been my experience with clients who have tried this system as well. The horse that is deficient in something definitely craves something, and will go eat something, but it isn't necessarily the "right" something. I personally think you are better off to do what you suggest--check out your forage and find out what you lack. Or at least, find out what your area lacks, and give an otherwise balanced supplement that covers your shortcomings. Heidi ============================================================ REAL endurance is taking your non-horsey family to a ridecamp with you! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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