I am needing to decide on a grain for my two mares. One is 13 yrs old and is in moderate work (1-1.5hrs 6 days a week with jumping and longer trail rides) who needs to put some topline on (had EPM in the fall and is still “rebuilding” what was lost) and maybe another 100 lbs. The other just turned 5 and is in no work, but needs to go up a score or a score and a half on the BCS scale. We also believe she is growing again. They are both OTTBs.
Their current living and feed situation:
*Grass hay 24/7 (will be going to brome soon)
*Beet pulp 3-5 times a day (lunch and night check and some in between). Unsure of amount as the BO feeds it throughout the day
*Stalled roughly 16-20 hours a day and turned out for a few hours in a small paddock together (no other horses) with several piles of hay. Currently too hot for day time turnout, but hopefully we will have access to an additional turnout pen for night turnout soon.
*12lbs of Kalm Ultra split into 2 feedings
*2lbs of Renew Gold split into 2 feedings
*1-2 cups oil split between two feedings (the younger mare recently decided to stop eating oil)
*Custom Vit/Min supplement with extra Mag and Vit E and a “double dose” of Triamino
I think the Kalm Ultra is okay, however I am having to go 20+ min the opposite direction of my barn to get it and they keep running out (like we are now). The feed store near the barn will be getting it in July but I need something in the mean time. I have access to just about every brand but the feed store near the barn carries: TC Senior, Tribute Safe N EZ, Buckeye EQ 8, and some purina and nutrena feeds. They were previously on roughly 10lbs a day of the Buckeye Safe and Easy Performance and were not picking weight up weight whatsoever which makes me want to stay away from Buckeye. My barn owner is really pushing the Buckeye Eq 8 which is like $25/ bag because she says it helps the gut a lot, however all I have seen that is different from a “regular” feed is added probiotics (which I picked up a tub of Probios and started them on that but neither of my horses seem ulcery and both have been treated for ulcers within the last 6 months). The older mare has previously done well on both the Tribute Safe N EZ and Purina Senior Active. I would prefer to use something like the Safe N EZ as it has no corn or molasses and a lower NSC, but worry that won’t be enough calories to put the pounds back on. Both horses were maintaining well on a grain free diet (free choice grass/ alfalfa, Renew gold, Oil, and a vit/min supplement), however we moved to a different barn and had severe issues with feeding (they weren’t being fed at all) and then another that did not feed enough hay and they are still “recovering” from that. Ideally, I would like to transition back to the grain free diet when they are both at a good weight, although that may not work for the younger mare.
