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Discussion on New horse: Any harm in these supplements?
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New Member:
robyny
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 7, 2008 - 7:08 pm:
I just purchased a healthy 10 year old QH gelding who gets mixed hay in the morning, grass hay for lunch, and mixed hay in the later afternoon. He is in a large 36' X 48' stall. The previous owner had him on 2 cups of stabelized rice bran pellets, 2 cups of timothy pellets, 1 scoop (about a tablespoon) of Joint Combo and 6-8 carrots a day as "treats and supplements". Should I just continue you him on this diet since he's healthy and happy?
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008 - 12:06 am:
Just my opinion, but I'm a big believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." His diet sounds pretty good, depending on the quality of hay. I'm assuming he's in good condition and is on a good worming schedule. You can read the article on HA regarding feeding, and I'm sure Dr. O will have some comments for you, too. Enjoy your new guy!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008 - 7:24 am:
Hello Robyn,
No harm except maybe to your wallet Robyn. Rice bran is an expensive source of energy and protein, timothy pellets are not needed if the horse is getting enough forage, and I am unsure what Joint Combo is but if the horse does not have joint problems it is hard to see how typical joint supplements would help.
Carefully study the article on Overview of Feeding Robyn, it explains the essentials on how to feed horses.
DrO
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New Member:
robyny
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008 - 4:32 pm:
Hi All,
I read the Overview of Feeding and that's why I was double-checking about the rice bran and timothy pellets. The prior owner who is a nurse thinks that the timothy pellets provide something for Cody's stomach to digest during the night... and actually that it might help keep him warm?
Dr. O, basically, I hear you saying Cody doesn't need any of what he's been getting. Oh I forgot that he gets one scoop of Pro-Biotics...which I think I read where research is inconclusive regarding the benefits to digestion for using that.
So he'd be fine with just carrots? I've always read that hay alone doesn't provide the required Vitamins and Minerals.
I think I read in the article (or it could be one of the posts) where he most definitely should have a diet of loose salt somehow?
Sara, thanks for writing. I agree with you but I could also use the relief on my diet.
By the way, our 19 year old DWB mare is getting the same thing starting tonight;her supplements are going away and she was going to get the rice bran instead. She does get the joint combo for arthritis and also the carrots and pro-biotics too.
Thanks again for responding,
Robyn in CA
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New Member:
robyny
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008 - 4:33 pm:
Sara,
Freudian slip...I meant to say I could use the relief on my wallet (not diet
Sorry about that.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008 - 7:35 pm:
Well that is not exactly what I said Robyn. As concerning the nutrients, energy primarily, he needs these nutrients to maintain the same condition under the same level of exercise and same environmental conditions. What I did say is he does not need those particular products (and that includes the carrots) but there is no reason this could not be done with other foodstuffs, good quality hay for instance, and it would go even further toward satisfying his desire to "do something" when stalled. Our article gives diet specific recommendations for vitamins and it does depend a bit on the quality of the forage but this is explained in the article.
DrO
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