I’m interested in having my performance horses on a sort of “all inclusive” supplement for most of the year as we will be showing more than ever and going to two week long shows. At home they get fed 10% pelleted grain and grass hay three times a day and get at least 4-6 hours turnout (or more as the season changes). At horse shows they get hay 24/7 in their slow feeders, electrolytes, etc. I know it’s important to see what’s included in the grain so you don’t overlap/mess with the percentages, but I want to be certain they are looking and feeling their best especially at the ages of 14, 15, and 17…probiotics/digestion, coat care, maybe a little muscle relief, or joint care since they will be working hard and traveling a good bit. I’m looking at giving it to 3 horses consistently. Two will be doing hunters 2’6"-2’9" and one will be doing 1st and 2nd level dressage if that helps at all. I’ve found Med-Vet 5-in-1 HA and it looks like a good option that may be fairly cost effective. Anyone have any feedback or suggestions in this area? Thanks so much!
What grain, specifically are they on, how much by weight is fed, and how much hay by weight do they get? We have to know more specifically what they are getting before any reasonable suggestion for additives can be given.
How is their weight? Any specific issues you are aware of?
No issues whatsoever. Here’s a variety of photos of the three of them: http://jagarabiansporthorses.pixieset.com/conkarcbsgoodtogojagkalicokid/
The bay is probably a little bit “harder keeper” in comparison to our 13 other horses (except for one of our 24 and 30 year old retirees), but we just have to watch him closely as we increase his work load. The pinto is a super easy keeper and technically the chestnut is too, but we are feeding him a fair amount as he is a fairly large guy.
I don’t feed them everyday as we have a full time barn a worker to do so, but they are on Purina (I’ll have to check what “type” when I get to the barn if you were wanting to look at the ingredients online). We currently feed fescue, but will feed winter rye or Bermuda when it’s available. Unfortunately it’s that time where you call 5 hay suppliers and only one actually delivers since it’s a shortage in our area.
Bay & pinto get about 5.7 lbs of grain per day - 3 servings. This is for light to no work. Chestnut gets about 10.5 lbs of grain per day…again light to no work. The bay and pinto get increased to chestnut’s amount of grain (& hay) if needed when in heavy work. Hay is about 20 lbs per day for the bay and pinto…but bay typically gets a little more and the pinto gets a good bit little less if he’s about to explode. Chestnut gets about 30 lbs of hay per day - sometimes more. Unfortunately depending on flake weight/size and type of hay this can differ and we are definitely not measuring every single individual flake at every single meal. lol
Hope this helps! Thanks in advance for your input! 
Forgot to mention our pastures are barren right now in the winter, so feed changes do occur in the spring and summer when their turnout schedule changes (especially if they are out 8 plus hours at night) and when the grass comes in. If we are at a show we typically try to give a mid morning and mid afternoon “snack” to give a lot of small meals often, if time allows between classes, etc.
With regard to supplements, I haven’t ever seen anything make as big a difference as Platinum Performance. It’s very $$$ however. My Thoroughbred hunter gelding will be 23 this year. It is not easy to put weight on him and the CJ formula made him fat and shiny. The CJ is the expensive one. The standard formula, I have my 12 year old mare on that one, is not that expensive. About $59 for a 1 to 2 month supply for the standard. It’s definitely a very good product. A lot of the show barns in my area use it. My Thoroughbred gelding also gets:
- a blend of Stable Mix pellets and beet pulp for lunch
- 2 scoops of the Platinum Performance CJ
- Alfalfa/grass hay morning and evening
- an HA Legend shot once a month
- Previcox
My Mare gets:
- a small scoop of Equus Fiber Max Omega pellets
*1 scoop of the Platinum Performance - Grass hay morning and evening
- 1 small flake of fine stem alfalfa hay for lunch
DR I’ve heard great feedback about Platinum Performance…and just reading about it online there’s even more rave reviews! But man is it pricey…my guys aren’t big so it looks like one scoop a day would work if I go that route. Thanks so much for the feedback!
JB - I know you were wondering what feed we use - it’s Purina Impact: https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/impact-horse-feed
I was also going to suggest Platinum Performance. I used to have my guys on the CJ version (for the joint support).
I did recently switch to a custom blend of T.H.E. Muscle Mass that also has joint support. They seem to like the flavor better and the supplement scoop size is much smaller (for the same amount of nutrients). Now it’s anecdotal but I thought they physically looked better on T.H.E. than PPCJ, but that’s just what I thought.
I’m really tempted to try Curost this coming year which is even more expensive than PPCJ, but my Red has inflammatory problems so I wonder how it would work for him. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for it so far.
Smart Combo Ultra, or Ultimate if you really want to go all out. Exceed 6-Way too.
I like and have used the Smart Combo Ultra and Exceed 6-Way too- both were good. Exceed is probably the most economical if you have multiple horses.
Platinum Performance CJ too, though I’ve not used this myself.
[QUOTE=jagarabiansporthorses;9011983]
DR I’ve heard great feedback about Platinum Performance…and just reading about it online there’s even more rave reviews! But man is it pricey…my guys aren’t big so it looks like one scoop a day would work if I go that route. Thanks so much for the feedback!
JB - I know you were wondering what feed we use - it’s Purina Impact: https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/impact-horse-feed[/QUOTE]
Ooo-I like that feed calculator!
I can’t stand wasting money. So I was skeptical about spending that much on the CJ supplement. To be honest, I’m skeptical about a lot of things that are sold for horses. :lol: But I am completely convinced the Platinum is really very good. Oh and my gelding is probably about 1100-1200 pds and my mare about 1100.
I have used the regular Platinum Performance, but didn’t feel it was worth the results I was getting. However I do use it for my senior that gets lightly ridden and it works for him. However for my horse that I run barrels on it just wasn’t enough. I didn’t try the CJ, but instead switched to the Exceed 6-Way. With it being pellets my horse was happier to eat it with his small amount of grain. I have seen great results with it, even prolongs the time between hock injections. He is also on the Gastro-Plex which has greatly reduced my cost for ulcer medications when he runs. I feel they are a good value and I stand behind them so much that I became an MVP Ambassador. If anyone would like more info on the Exceed 6-Way, Gastro-Plex, or In-Sync please let me know. I can give you info on some introductory offers the company has right now
I’ve had my mare on Platinum for more than 10 years. She looks amazing, resists the colds & viruses that go through a large barn, etc.
About 18 months ago I finally converted to the packets (rather than the bucket) and each packet equals 2 scoops. With the packets we’re also signed up with their colic insurance which I likely would not use because of my horse’s age. Before switching to the packets I only gave her one scoop a month. She’s 17.1 and is big-bodied for a Tb.
Other than her hay, she is only fed a little bit of grass and alfalfa pellets, electrolytes and magnesium with her Platinum. Her diet is fairly simple which I like.
Platinum is not cheap, but for me it is a good value. Also, they are the friendliest people on the phone.
One thing to remember is that probiotics should ALWAYS be separate and never be pelleted. Lactic acid bacteria are fragile and can not be exposed pressure or moisture(high water activity) before feeding. The minute you see a probiotic in a pellet or mixed in a formula that does not mention what the water activity, you can pretty much guarantee not much is left in there and you are buying filler.
[QUOTE=jagarabiansporthorses;9008738]
I’m interested in having my performance horses on a sort of “all inclusive” supplement for most of the year as we will be showing more than ever and going to two week long shows. At home they get fed 10% pelleted grain and grass hay three times a day and get at least 4-6 hours turnout (or more as the season changes). At horse shows they get hay 24/7 in their slow feeders, electrolytes, etc. I know it’s important to see what’s included in the grain so you don’t overlap/mess with the percentages, but I want to be certain they are looking and feeling their best especially at the ages of 14, 15, and 17…probiotics/digestion, coat care, maybe a little muscle relief, or joint care since they will be working hard and traveling a good bit. I’m looking at giving it to 3 horses consistently. Two will be doing hunters 2’6"-2’9" and one will be doing 1st and 2nd level dressage if that helps at all. I’ve found Med-Vet 5-in-1 HA and it looks like a good option that may be fairly cost effective. Anyone have any feedback or suggestions in this area? Thanks so much![/QUOTE]
I fed Glanzen for about 15 years (and still feed it to my upper level jumper). But my vet has been on the Platinum Performance bandwagon for a long time and I finally caved to her and put everyone on Platinum Performance and PP CJ. I didn’t notice any difference between the two products. Most of mine have now been on PP for the last 8 or 9 years.
Then a few months ago a trainer friend/rep for THE Equine Edge talked me into trying the Equine Edge products. Much less expensive than PP for purportedly the same thing (actually would love to know if anyone else here has tried their products). I have seen no difference in any of mine…the 8 that I have at home have now been on the Equine Edge Muscle Mass product and then the older ones get the Joint Formula added in and my two ulcery-types get the Stomach Product (can’t remember what it’s called) added in. And when I say I’ve seen no difference, I mean that it appears to be keeping them in as good of shape (fat/shiny/happy) as PP. And the stomach formula is phenomenal. I was able to stop using omeprazole at shows on both of my ulcery ones, which is a very big deal! But I also feed those two horses a product called Ulcer Eraser that is also really terrific - so I’m not totally sure which is making the biggest difference.
I also added a product called “Allergy/Hives Formula” for my pony who has been suffering from terrible sweet itch this year, and that also appears to have made a big difference.
So far I’m pretty darn impressed and especially given the cheaper price versus PP.
