Feeding Supplements With No Grain

[Horses8mymoney]

Hi everyone,

Recently my horse had to be taken off all grain but he does get several supplements, Cosequin, Zyrtec tabs, etc. Some are powder while others are pellets, does anyone have any ideas how to feed him his supplements without any grain to mix it in?

Thanks in advance!

[lenapesadie]

Applesauce? Hay pellets or cubes? Beet pulp?

ETA: if your horse likes peppermints, the soft ones dissolve super quick in hot water and a single mint packs a lot of flavor. Just FYI in case it’s helpful

[Highflyer1]

The easiest way would be to mix it with a couple of handfuls of soaked alfalfa pellets or beet pulp or something similar. If he gets a pelleted ration balancer that might work as well. If he’s super picky you may have to decide what he really has to have and give it in a syringe mixed with applesauce or something sweet.

[BrendaJane]

shredded fruit or carrots?

[trubandloki]

I use alfalfa pellets.

[Scribbler]

Either get a ration balancer, or mix your supplements in a mash of hay cubes, alfalfa cubes, and/or or beet pulp. Enough to mask the tangy vitamin flavor. I love how much beet pulp bulks up in a mash and my mare seems to like the alfalfa cube flavor.

[Bebe_Falcon1]

Lots of great suggestions here already. I’d throw them in with roughage chunks, personally (does that count as “grain”?).

[cayuse]

Timothy pellets soaked into a mash works for me.

[Weezer]

For my guys, I was able to just soak them in a bit of boiled water to make a mash. If they don’t like that, I’d add in a ration balancer if you can.

[JB]

What grain, and for what reason was he taken off? That will affect answers, especially if the removal of the “grain” was due to an allergy/sensitivity issue. Also, knowing how many pounds he was getting may affect suggestions.

Soaked forage pellets, and soaked beet pulp shreds(the lowest calorie:volume carrier I can think of), are the best things to actually mix things in so they can’t get sifted out

[MissAriel]

My air fern gets no grain, just supplements in soaked beet pulp. Here are a few suggestions to help if yours objects to the less than super yummy flavor of many supplements.

To make it a bit more palatable I add a 1/4 tsp (more or less) of ground fenugreek powder. Uckele also makes a sugar free syrup to add flavor, or you can use sugar free flavorings for coffee.

You might also play around with consistency. Mine prefers a soupy meal (better to make a mess!) but others prefer a thick mush.

Add new supplements s-l-o-w-l-y to let them get use to the new flavor.

[susanne]

While I feed grain-free Haystack Special Blend pellets, I found that the flavor wasn’t strong enough to mask the taste of my gelding’s meds or supplements. Alfalfa pellets are the ticket for him. With a warm, soupy alfalfa pellet mash, he slurps down supplements and meds without hesitation.