How Do I Choose What Grain/Supplements Are Right For My Horse

[lindseyanddyson]

I will be moving barns for the very first time next month. The barn I am at now is where I bought my horse, and I kinda stood back and let the barn owner make major decisions for my horse. (He used to be her horse.) Right now he is on Equis Senior and alfalfa pellets. Ulcer medication, vitamins, and flax. I am going to continue the flax because I love what it does for his coat, but the ulcer and vitamins are still in question. (Ulcer medication is being given as a preventative measure. I believe the vitamins aren’t necessary because the feed has enough )

Any tips on how to choose what is best for my horse and how much to give would be very appreciated.

(I’m going off to college in the fall - finding a leaser for my horse)

Whatever I transition (if anything) I will do it safely and in a proper way.

[Amy3996]

There are so many options out there, and it really depends on your individual horse’s needs. But there’s some basic info you should consider when choosing a feed, and that would help us give you better recommendations.
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• What’s your horse’s age? (If he’s getting Senior and alfalfa pellets, I would think he’s probably an older horse, but some barns feed senior to younger horses if they need it, so I don’t want to assume.)
• What’s his body condition? (Does he need to lose, maintain, or gain weight?)
• What is his workload like? (Is he in light work, hacked around a couple of times a week, or is he a jumper, eventer, etc. with a more strenuous workload and more energy demands?)
• Does he have any medical or dental conditions that would need to be taken into account? (Poor teeth, IR, etc.)
• How much hay/pasture does he have access to?

[JB]

In addition to the above questions, we need to know what brands you have access to. No sense recommending a Poulin feed if you live in AZ, or an LMF feed if you live in PA

[Scribbler]

I would tend to keep him on the same diet if he is doing well.

Unless you are feeding the full recommended amount of grain, which could be as much as 5 lbs a day, horse will not be getting all his vitamins and minerals so the supplement is a good idea.

[JB]

I looked at the Equis feed (had never heard of it) and it seems like a nice enough feed, likely fairly low NSC, decent mineral profile though possibly a bit high on the ca/phos ratio but that’s manageable for an adult horse.

[VTMorgan06]

I would talk to the barn owner before you move and find out the rationale for his current diet. Is the senior feed for a digestional purpose? What ulcer medication is he getting and has he previously been treated for ulcers? You mention the ulcer medication is preventative, but perhaps the alfalfa pellets could serve that purpose. Alfalfa is high in calcium and can neutralize stomach acids and help ulcer prone horses. Since the barn owner is also the previous owner she should be able to provide a full history and explanation for the diet as it stands.

As as for moving forward, I would ask the barn you’re moving to if they have done a hay analysis. Most local feed reps will do it for free and the information you gain from the hay quality is very important in designing a complete diet. They can also recommend feeds to suit your horses needs based on age, condition and workload.

[Palm_Beach]

@Scribbler

I would tend to keep him on the same diet if he is doing well.

Unless you are feeding the full recommended amount of grain, which could be as much as 5 lbs a day, horse will not be getting all his vitamins and minerals so the supplement is a good idea.

^^This, except he won’t need the vitamins if he is getting the recommended amount of feed. Check the feeding directions and find out how much he gets per day.

Find out what the new barn feeds and compare the guaranteed analysis and ingredients to what he is getting now. The new BO/BM should be able to help you with this.

“Ulcer medication” - is this really a medication or a supplement? Why are you feeding it?

Flax - I feed it too. Great for the coat and feet.