Not looking to switch, finally got my horse on a diet that works for him (he’s fat AND has a topline!), just curious what the benefit is between the two.
I know some people at my barn feed alfalfa pellets instead, and that it’s higher in calories and protein. What would be some good reasons for feeding/not feeding it?
Just for my own education.
THIS thread explains differences well.
I use alfalfa pellets because my horse needs the extra protein, calories and buffering effect on his stomach. I use alfalfa pellets because my horse wastes alfalfa hay. He gets 6ish pounds right now of alfalfa pellets, and still receives free choice hay in addition to his grain ration and various supplements.
That does explain it well!
Now, that thread raises a new, more relevant question:
My feed store ran out of Blue Seal and I had to get poulin instead. Would suddenly feeding one or the other upset my horse’s stomach, assuming I fed him large amounts (at the moment he probably isn’t getting enough of either for this to matter)
[QUOTE=dungrulla;8420378]
That does explain it well!
Now, that thread raises a new, more relevant question:
My feed store ran out of Blue Seal and I had to get poulin instead. Would suddenly feeding one or the other upset my horse’s stomach, assuming I fed him large amounts (at the moment he probably isn’t getting enough of either for this to matter)[/QUOTE]
I don’t have a huge education on hay stretchers, but looking at ingredients, they’re very similar. Blue Seal says they use molasses, Poulin says ‘sweetener’ (which could be anything really) … guaranteed analysis is pretty close–a little more fiber with the Poulin. I can’t say whether it would actually upset your horses’s stomach or not. In all best case scenarios, we would switch over gradually to avoid such an incidence, but seeing as many of the ingredients and levels are very very similar, I wouldn’t be too concerned. I switch between alfalfa pellet brands based on price and quality, and I have never had a problem, though that’s also ONE single ingredient versus a few that you worry about with hay stretchers, but overall, it’s Probably not going to really matter, especially if you’re feeding a small amount/
Yes! Suddenly changing your horses feed can cause all kinds of issues. Any feed change should be done gradually over two weeks. Mixing in the new feed with the old in graduated steps. If this is not possible then personally I would feed more hay until your feed store restocks over flip flopping on brands. One vet visit for colic is not worth the risk for me
[QUOTE=melhorse;8420581]
Yes! Suddenly changing your horses feed can cause all kinds of issues. Any feed change should be done gradually over two weeks. Mixing in the new feed with the old in graduated steps. If this is not possible then personally I would feed more hay until your feed store restocks over flip flopping on brands. One vet visit for colic is not worth the risk for me[/QUOTE]
That is what we wound up doing in the long run the last time he switched a food item (and really I do this any time anything changes anyway). He’s only on a couple handfuls of it to which supplements are added, it seems to improve palatability. I assume in those quantities it doesn’t really matter WHAT he’s being fed 
[QUOTE=melhorse;8420581]
Yes! Suddenly changing your horses feed can cause all kinds of issues. Any feed change should be done gradually over two weeks. Mixing in the new feed with the old in graduated steps. If this is not possible then personally I would feed more hay until your feed store restocks over flip flopping on brands. One vet visit for colic is not worth the risk for me[/QUOTE]
This may be ideal, but it’s so unrealistic. What the heck would people do when moving their horse from one boarding barn to another where different products are fed? When I switch my horses’ grain (usually from one product to a similar one made by the same company) I usually go half and half for a day or two before switching to the new feed.
I wouldn’t give a switch from Haystretcher A to alfalfa pellets or Haystretcher B a second thought.
[QUOTE=Scaramouch;8422160]
This may be ideal, but it’s so unrealistic. What the heck would people do when moving their horse from one boarding barn to another where different products are fed? When I switch my horses’ grain (usually from one product to a similar one made by the same company) I usually go half and half for a day or two before switching to the new feed.
I wouldn’t give a switch from Haystretcher A to alfalfa pellets or Haystretcher B a second thought.[/QUOTE]
When I switched my horse’s boarding barn they didn’t give him much grain at all and worked him up slowly over about two weeks. He was also very underweight though.
[QUOTE=dungrulla;8422260]
When I switched my horse’s boarding barn they didn’t give him much grain at all and worked him up slowly over about two weeks. He was also very underweight though.[/QUOTE]
It really depends. When you normally feed a large amount of grain, than any change should be gradual. When you are switching to a richer type hay like from grass to alfalfa or clover or even from a stemmy first cutting to a 2nd or 3rd cutting of the same type hay. I would always do a 50/50 mix of two, gradually adding more of the new hay.
Sometimes it isn’t possible to do that and we have to do the best we can.
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