Diet Dilemma

[WC1989]

I’ve always taken pride in my horses’ nutrition and condition, but my new-ish guy is throwing me for a loop.

I’ve had him for a year now and he came to me getting 13+lbs of 12% local mill mix sweet feed (split between 3 feeds). I slowly transitioned him over to 7.5lbs Kalm N EZ (split between 2 feeds) and he did great condition wise. He then began chewing my barn down, despite having 24/7 free choice access to hay. We treated for ulcers which certainly helped, but then I noticed his sheath area swelling. I had a soy sensitive horse who would experience the same, so then began the transition to Hygain Munga, he wasn’t a fan. Okay, let’s try a forage based approach… negative (he’s picky), nothing soaked, pelleted, or cubed of the forage based variety. He loved the Kalm N EZ, let’s try the Soy Free version… “Mom, this smells like an ashtray”. Can’t fault him on that one…

Ultimately we’re back to Kalm N EZ, because it’s what he will eat. He returned to chewing my barn down, so he’s on Nexium and happy as a clam. My hang ups are

1. I don’t want him on Nexium long term
2. The sheath swelling has not returned, but I’ve noticed hoof rings on both him and my mini recently who has only ever been on Tribute Essential K. Has something changed with Tribute?
3. I’m supplementing his topline already (and increased aminos we’re suggested after his PSD rehab), so are their better feed options out there for us/him?

My main goals:
Maintain overall condition
Gastric & Digestive Support
Enhanced Amino Profile

My inital thought was the following, but I don’t have much opinion on Purina:
5.5lbs Purina Senior Active
1lb Purina Enrich Senior +
10oz Purina SuperSport

.25lb Purina Enrich Senior for the mini

We have the following feeds avaliable to us:
Tribute
Purina
Some Triple Crown
Nutrena / ProElite
Some Sentinel
Tractor Supply
Rural King
Chewy

I’m open to suggestions!

For note: He’s a 14 year old, 1000lb American Saddlebred gelding in moderate work.

[Critter]

My soy allergic mare is on the Tribute Wholesome Blends ration balancer. I really like it as a feed…she gobbles it down and looks great on it. Just an option if you are looking for the no soy choices.

[StormyDay]

I used to feed barley with a scoop of ration balancing supplement to my horse who had an allergy to corn. He did really well on that (hard keeper OTTB) I always worried that the feeds that were corn free were running through lines that had corn.

[Laurierace]

Could try triple crown’s gold balancer, it is soy free

[GraceLikeRain]

Tribute wholesome ration balancer and complete feed are nice soy free options.

[WC1989]

I’m not necessarily sold that the Soy was issue, since the swelling has not returned. He is a moderate keeper, so he will need more than a balancer can provide.

[kaya842]

They have a soy free complete feed as well (training maybe?) and a senior too IIRC. The balancer and senior are very good smelling with low NSC and no soy. I would start with that line since you’ve had success with tribute in the past.