BO wants to switch feeds - I never heard of Dove Performance Nutrition?

[eclectic]

BOs have just notified boarders they want to switch all the horses over to a brand called Dove Performance Nutrition. The barn is in Mid-Atlantic states, we’ve been using Triple Crown as it’s supplied from nearby warehouse. Their brand appears to be out of Texas (interestingly the owners are from TX) and the feeds are not as well documented online as are the Triple-Crown Feeds.

Has anyone heard of this brand?

My horse is a very easy keeper and I’ve been using TC Lite for her for last 7 years, it’s recommended for horses that gain weight easily or are prone to laminitis. (I use it just as a ration balancer).

The Dove product BOs have suggested for my horse is called Pro-Tect LS, it says its for “all” horses and is low-starch. Compared to TC Lite it has more protein, I expect more calories (couldn’t find the calories), and less vitamins/minerals and other good stuff than does TC Lite (which is basically grass + vitamins/minerals).

I just feel affronted and maybe - railroaded - a bit? . . . it took me a long time to find the right ration balancer for her. As far as I know they won’t switch my mare without my permission. (Only because I asked whether they would get permission first). At which point they sent me the specs for the Pro-Tect LS and said “we think this will be good for your horse, take a look at it.”

I just really wanted to know whether anyone’s heard of this brand and what they think of it.

Thanks for reading

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

Out of curiosity, I went to MadBarn Nutritional Bank and this is their breakdown:

Dove Performance Nutrition - Equine Feed Bank | Mad Barn USA

My question/concern is that the NSC is not listed for any of their feeds. You may want to have the B/O or you contact them for that information. Good luck!

Added: There is a thread already: Dove Performance Nutrition - Horse Care - Chronicle Forums (chronofhorse.com)

[eclectic]

Wow, thank-you! And I didn’t know there was already a threat, I’ll check it out.

[Fiesta01]

I would buy my own TC Lite and let them feed her that. Politely explain that: 1) Since she only gets it as a ration balancer, she needs the vitamins/minerals that the new feed doesn’t have. 2) You are trying to control her weight and need the TC Lite as it’s specifically for weight control.

You might want to check in with your vet before the above conversation and discuss with him/her. If they agree with your thought process, you could tactfully mention that to the BO.

Good luck. It’s always nerve-wracking wanting to be a good boarder and trying to understand a BO’s POV and still tactfully advocating for what is best for your horse.

[eclectic]

So I found a site with more info. and have put together a rudimentary comparison chart. Bear in mind this feed is Dove’s offering for easy-keepers, i.e. overweight, gain easily, potentially laminitic. For me it would be my option for a ration balancer, this is how I use the TC Lite.

TC Lite
. . . . 9.3% NSC
. . . . 12% Protein (1st ingredient is soybean hulls, third is alfalfa)
. . . . 3% fat (Omegas 3 & 6)
. . . . 20% fiber
. . . . 1150 KCAL/LB

Dove Pro-Tect LS
. . . . 6.5% NSC
. . . . 15% protein (alfalfa is the first ingredient)
. . . . 10% fat (saturated, from coconut meal [their “secret ingredient”])
. . . . 27.8% fiber
. . . . 1586 KCAL/LB

Vitamins/minerasl
TC Lite contains the basic 11 plus more + probioics
Dove Pro-tect-LS has the basic 11

Fatty Acids
Pro-tect LS . . the fat is Saturated, from coconut meal, 4th item in list of ingredients (BO says the feeds for the hard keepers have the Omegas - I don’t get it?)
TC Lite . . . . Omega-3, Omega-6

Main Prot-tect LS source page. Info not contained here I was able to search for separately.
PRO-TECT LS (Dove Performance Nutrition)

Source for TC Lite: About Triple Crown Lite

I still need to digest this info. and decide whether the differences are significant or not so much.

Anyone out there who can do analyses, please pipe up? It’s not my forté.

[eclectic]

Yes, it is nerve-wracking, and thanks for your response! I had to buy my own TC Lite years ago b/c then-BO couldn’t get it through her head that what they were feeding contained molasses. It took me about 3 years to have the courage to stand up to her, she got on the line with the Triple Crown rep and with me standing there to prevent the rep from citing only the nutritional analsys instead of the ingredients, was finally convinced and started ordering it for me!! Later she said TC Lite is a good feed and there were more horses at the barn who then went on it.

It was like pulling teeth the first time!

Now I don’t get out to the barn as much, but I could have TC Lite delivered by TSC, I think, since it sounds like new BOs won’t be using the local cooperative like everyone else does around here if they’re going to be agents for Dove (cooperative currently delivers on a schedule).

But I will make my arguments to the new BOs. If I can be sure the Dove product will not be the best for her. I’ve made a chart since you responded, one thing that stands out is the fat source is saturated, from coconut meal.

Thanks again!

[Montanas_Girl]

You would need to feed about twice as much of that Dove product as you are currently feeding of the TC Lite to get the same level of trace minerals. The Dove product contains almost 50% more calories per pound. As you’ve said your horse is a very easy keeper, I’m assuming you are feeding the TC Lite at 2 pounds per day, for roughly 2200 kcal. You’d have to feed 4 pounds of that Dove product to get the same nutrition, for roughly 6000 kcal.

[eclectic]

Thank you so much! That’s the kind of analysis I needed.

[Montanas_Girl]

Happy to help any time!

[GraceLikeRain]

It sounds like a dicey dynamic if you have to argue your point or find a way to convince the barn owner.

If I had something that worked well for my horse I’d want them to stay on it. If the barn would no longer cover the product, I’d ask if I can provide it myself. I’m not sure the rate you’re feeding at but a rubber or metal trash can typically fits a good 100 lbs of grain.

[fivestrideline]

I’d go back to providing my own, IIWM. I do this now, for a supplemental grain (mine get TCS Gold as either a yummy top dress to hide meds or as half the ration to gain weight). I use a heavy duty plastic trash can and it can hold 100lbs of grain, as said above. If you’re only feeding ~2lbs a day, that would last you a long time!

[eclectic]

Thanks for your response!

I don’t have a problem with providing it myself, did it before. It’s not clear yet whether they’ll continue to provide the Triple Crown Lite or intend to eliminate it from their program.

[eclectic]

Thank-you! Yes, in past (former BO) they have been willing to feed any grains the owners wanted, and would provide bins for it. I haven’t been able to get out to the barn b/c of health issues so I can’t go and check on this new situation with new BOs. If they will no longer order in the TC Lite I can have it shipped there. I still don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.

[eclectic]

BO wants to switch feeds . . .

UPDATE:
They’ve decided the policy going forward would be to have only new boarders automatically be put on the Dove feed. The Triple Crown will stay avaialble for the current boarders.

Thanks again for everyone’s responses and support.

[Fiesta01]

Whew! Great news.

[cnd8]

The Dove feeds are all the rage in the barrel racing area down here currently. They rave about it and I’ve seen people even post before and afters. I haven’t researched it on my own though, so I can’t really say much else aside from seeing all the positive comments on it.

[eclectic]

@cnd8

The Dove feeds are all the rage in the barrel racing area down here currently. They rave about it and I’ve seen people even post before and afters. I haven’t researched it on my own though, so I can’t really say much else aside from seeing all the positive comments on it.

Thanks for your reply. That’s exactly what I gathered, it’s the rage for Western performance horses.
These are not, however, what we have where my horse is boarding. Bunch of English types, warmbloods mostly. A few go hunting in season, no one competes.

I think Dove is a fad, and if they want to prove it’s better than other performance feeds they need to do it by showing that performance horses get better competition scores than they did on their previous feed.

My BOs posted before and after pictures - they’ve had their three horses on the Dove product for six months. One of them’s a Friesian who does not need extra calories. I frankly thought they looked better in the “Befores.”

[GraceLikeRain]

Any time a product is suddenly the big thing my first action is to go to their website. Typically, they have an ambassador program. That pushes people to heavily promote some type of miracle outcome and oh by the way I have a discount code I can give you. Unlike other platforms, Facebook especially isn’t good at noting those promotional posts and it relies on the ethics of the ambassador.

[eclectic]

Yep. I didn’t see an “Ambassador program” mentioned at the website (actually I didn’t find a website under that product name, the deets were at a couple suppliers’ websites) - but that’s sure what this feels like. They’ve been leaning on FB for promotion. Maybe the discount codes get discussed via IM.

It fits the profile for how former BO and now the new ones who’ve bought the “business” seem to operate.

[sigh] I really want to find a new place to board but not easy.

[Long_Time_Lurker]

@eclectic

[sigh] I really want to find a new place to board but not easy.

If you can’t get to the barn regularly right now it is probably NOT a good time to move to a new barn. I speak from experience. My one big disaster with a boarding barn was when I had my horse moved with a group to another barn during a time I was incapacitated. I would suggest waiting to move until you have recovered enough to spend more time at the barn. When you move to a new barn it is best to be there in person regularly (more days than not) for at least the first few months for several reasons.

First, when your horse sees you regularly at the new barn it reassures him/her that you are still their person and you have moved together and helps the horse settle in well.
Second, it gives you an opportunity to observe how your horse is settling in and discuss any problems with new barn owner and/or barn manager as well as getting a better picture of the barn routine and care options. If you are there you have a better chance of being included in decision making. If you are not there you will only be called over major decisions.
Third, it gives you the opportunity to get to know and form relationships with people at the new barn. Owner, barn manager, trainer(s), and other boarders as well as vet, farrier, etc.

Of course you can start researching your options now so that when you feel ready you have a few places in mind to visit and compare.