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  Discussion on Balanced Feed for Energy vs. Maintenance
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New Member:
Longhorn

Posted on Saturday, May 1, 2004 - 1:00 am:

I have two 10-yr. old QH geldings, good condition, not overconditioned. I consider them on a maintenance schedule because my husband and I work and we can only work them about 4 hours a week max. I'm concerned about their nutrition vis a vis Digestible Energy based on their weight and maintenance schedule. I don't want to overfeed because I had a horse founder, probably due, in part, to the 100 degree heat plus he was overfinished. I consulted an old but probably still relevant document (can scan and send) from the Univ. of AZ, Feeding the Arizona Horse.

Both horses are 1,000 to 1,100 pounds. I feed 15 and 16 pounds of Bermuda hay (respectively), 2 pounds of soaked Alfalfa pellets, and 3 Cups of wheat bran a day to each of them. (One guy also gets 6 oz. of HoofRite and 1 oz. of FluidFlex a day for his bad feet and arthritis.)

I feed the bran for energy and the Alfalfa to balance out the potassium with some calcium. Based on some previous discussion groups on your excellent forum, I'm considering cutting out the bran but am concerned that I'll be sacrificing some energy, even at maintenance, for good nutrition.

What do you think, Doc?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, May 1, 2004 - 7:54 am:

I am guessing you meant to say to balance out the phosphorous which is very high in the bran. Laura, what does the 3 cups of bran weigh dry? This looks like a very good diet if the dry bran weighs no more than 1/2 lb.

If you are just trying to simplify and the horses are in the condition you desire, you will need to replace the energy lost by removing the bran. This could be done with any of your other foodstuffs but the alfalfa can replace the bran pound for pound pretty easily.
DrO
Member:
Longhorn

Posted on Saturday, May 1, 2004 - 1:58 pm:

Oops, yes, you're right about the phosophorous vs. potassium. I've got bananas on the brain. You are correct about my attempted balancing act with the alfalfa and bran.

The 3 cups of bran weighs just under 1/2 pound dry. We have a kitchen scale in the barn that we use to ensure we don't overfeed and to know exactly what we're feeding by weight. That's also why I feed the soaked alfalfa pellets rather than alfalfa hay. I'd prefer to feed hay, but the pellets are easier to weigh. I've kind of eschewed alfalfa hay because here in the Southwest it seems to have a reputation for causing some colicking. I've found, though, that the common practice here varies from 100% to 0% alfalfa with reports of "never a problem" to "won't ever feed it" respectively. Also, it tends to make the horses a little "hotter."

If there isn't any other benefit to using the bran, though, I think I'll follow your advice, simplify their feeding regime, and substitute about 1/2 pound of alfalfa for the bran to keep the energy up.

Thanks, Doc!
Member:
Skerl

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 9:14 pm:

bought two horses a couple of weeks ago. been around horses all my life but have never owned one. the horses were poorly nourished and i'm not sure i'm feeding them right. they are putting on weight steadily, but i didn't know if i needed to change my methods. one is 4 yr old gelding and the other 2 yr old stud. feeding them two scoops of pellets (mule and stock feed) and one scoop of sweet feed. could you help me out please? let me know what i need to add or take away. at a loss and trying to fatten these guys up and get them to looking healthier. (would like to muscle them up)-4 yr old we are riding and we just got on 2 yr old for the first time a couple of days ago. grateful for any suggestions....thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 7:18 am:

Shelly, since they are putting weight on steadily and this is your stated goal I am uncertain what changes we should recommend.

One mistake I would like to point out is the way your post focuses on the concentrates and not the forages (pasture and hay). The forages are the heart of your nutrition program. Have you read the article associated with this forum? Study it and then see if you have any questions. I do recommend you settle on one good quality feed rather than the mixing and matching you describe above.
DrO
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 2:19 pm:

Laura the only time i've seen horses have problems with alfalfa is if they are feeding straight alfalfa all the time, or if it is dirty hay. Never seen much from alfalfa cubes. I like a 70/30 alfalfa grass mix. I tried just timoth grass but my horses lost some condition so back to the mix it is.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 3:16 pm:

Shelly steady gain is good. I was lucky to average about 20-30 pounds a month on rescue horses. I used alfalfa and some senior. DrO's artible is awesome help. It took me 6 months to get my rescues back into condition.
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