For a long time I struggled to try and get my mare to eat any of the MB supplements with good amounts of cu/zn. I tried all manner of carriers and flavourings, nothing worked. My HCP suggested a hoof supplement by Herbs for Horses called Hoofmaster and it contained a good amount of cu/zn and it’s very palatable and my horse would eat it plain. For a little more cu/zn in a palatable form I also fed Triple Crown Timothy Balance cubes. Those combined with the vitamin mineral supplement I feed amounted to enough cu/zn. So just a few options to try if palatability is an issue.
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I use that too. The speshul snoflake that gets sore on her legs from wet grass eats it readily. But she is overweight and thinks she is going to starve, so she vacuums up anything I feed her. She is still getting some soaked alfalfa cubes so her “mush” can contain the copper and zinc and she doesn’t notice. I am not sure it is helping but it doesn’t hurt her and it doesn’t cost that much in the scheme of things so I feed it. The Cushings pony would never eat it so I don’t even try.
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Why, oh why, can’t we sit them at the kitchen table and make them eat Brussel sprouts like our parents did???
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I use the Mad Barn Cu/Zn one. It’s a fairly small serving size, so easy to hide in other things. Mine isn’t a picky eater though, so I can’t comment on that. I started using it due to a very difficult case of scratches that couldn’t be cleared up with topicals and it has helped tremendously.
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My mother stopped forcing brussel sprouts on me when I found a worm in one. I am forever grateful to that poor worm.
Here is the little culprit that is causing all my worries. Pic taken yesterday. He sends his thanks for all the responses! As do I.
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Thank you both for the recommendation!
We offer both products separately in our “Basic Ingredient” product line, or we can combine them as a custom product for a one product/one scoop solution.
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Just an update, I went with VB and everyone is eating it so far. It’s a very tiny amount which is what I was hoping for. Thanks for all your responses!
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I still cannot get mine to eat the VB. I’ve never seen anything like it with him. He eats everything. Horses 
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My picky guy ate it! He shocked me!
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What the heck!
Mine won’t even touch any pellets (balancer) with the stuff on/near them. He never misses a meal and has never refused anything! I stopped feeding it and he ate normal again. I was trying to tough it out, but he just kept leaving it.
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One of the reasons I’ve stuck to KIS Trace even though I’ve been tempted to try Vermont Blend is the palatability question. I know my horse will eat KIS Trace happily, and would hate to switch him to something he doesn’t like. It has plenty of Cu/Zn, so it’s all good.
If anyone has issues with the other forage balancers not being palatable to their horses, I do recommend trying KT. It comes in the original Anise/Fenugreek flavored or the new Anise/Molasses flavor. I think I’ve tried both and my horse likes both equally. I’ve never tried the pelleted version…no need.
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Since I switched to the Tribute Wholesome Blends feed, I haven’t needed to supplement copper and zinc anymore. I think the lack of added iron in the feed helps.
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I want to try that stuff so bad, just because it LOOKS like something horses would love to eat. I’m not sure about the oats though. The last time my guy ate a feed with oats in it, he got ulcers and went bonkers.
An 5ish week update. They continue to eat the Vermont Blend well, I do put their oil on top but even without they get around to it. Coats are better on the big aged pony, the younger mini has dappled. The last mini, who’s coat was rough, is about the same BUT his skin (he has discoid lupus on his nose like dogs get) is looking good. I think the coat will come in time. He had a insulin level drawn after being on it for 2 weeks and it was improved by quite a bit (70 to 22) however there were some other big changes so hard to tell. It was repeated monday so we’ll see.
All in all I think I’m headed in the right direction!
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