Corn and Soy Free Grain

[hfa86]

I am looking for a grain for my mare that is corn and soy free. She has some significant immune responses and we took her off grain with just a trace mineral with use of alfalfa pellets and beet pulp as she gained a significant amount of weight over the winter. With her being off grain without any corn and soy, we have noticed little to no swelling in her legs, which often occurred over the smallest cut or fly bite (all legs were ultrasounded previously and only findings were large vessels).

She now goes out with a grazing muzzle on grass from nearly 12 hours a day, has access to copious amounts of hay in her stall at night in a slow feeder, and continues with the trace minerals, alfalfa pellets, and beet pulp. She is a very forward thinking horse and recently she appears lazy and requires extra encouragement to go forward and could use more muscling. I would like to put her back on some sort of grain, especially as she is working at second level and really needs something additional for both energy and building her overall topline (she lost a significant amount having some time off due to treatment of fibromas on her back, but even with consistent in hand work and long lining she just seems dull). She had blood work recently as needed for biopsy, treatment, etc. for the growths on her back so nothing is off in terms of any other needs.

On a quick search, I came across these three grains. I am in northern New England and it appears that these three are available either by mail or local feed stores. Does any have any experience with these grains or any other suggestions?

Cyrpto-aero: https://www.chewy.com/crypto-aero-wholefood-horse-feed/dp/143748

New Country Organics: http://www.newcountryorganics.com/shop/organic-feeds-all/horse/organic-horse-feed-50-pounds.html#product-tabs2

Triple Crown Naturals: https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/naturals-pelleted-horse-feed/

[splitrockfarmnc]

Could you increase the amount of alfalfa she’s getting, or maybe add in some oats?

[Scribbler]

Why not just add oats to your current mix? You also need to check that you’re getting enough minerals in your supplement.

[hfa86]

Yes, oats is a consideration as well (not sure why I did not mention). We switched from a California trace mineral to something more local (I cannot remmeber off the top of my head). Hay is grown on property and tested each cut including when other hay is needed from offsite and barn owner supplements with as needed minerals depending on analysis.

[Scribbler]

Well if the hay is being correctly supplemented then you don’t want another fortified feed.

There’s a thread on Crypto Aero. No one was very impressed and was very expensive.

How much beet pulp and alfalfa pellets are you feeding? If you want more protein perhaps add some alfalfa hay to her diet. Cheaper and easier way to get nutrionally significant amount of alfalfa into her.

[Texarkana]

I was happy using HorseTech High Point Grass/Mixed vitamin and mineral supplement + Nutramino for essential amino acids to boost the protein quality of the diet. My fatties got it in a handful of soaked alfalfa cubes and some flax. My hard keeper got it in alfalfa cubes as well, along with oats, rice bran, and flax.

The only reason I stopped was for simplicity’s sake when I moved and had to board. The only reason I haven’t switched back is because the hard keeper is cleaning up her current feed and you know what they say, if it ain’t broke… I think she looked better on the former mix, but didn’t always clean it up with as much gusto.

[walkinthewalk]

another vote for HorseTech’s High Point vit/min/mineral supplement for grass fed horses. I mix it and other needed supplements for my IR horse in Standlees Timothy Pellets.