As an update, I tried a new bag which seemed to help and my horse is back to eating it. We’ll see what happens, but hoping it was something weird with the bag.
1 Like
Is anybody know how long these feed stays good? I can’t find anything on the website about it. I’m thinking about adding it but more as a snack so probably won’t use too much of it.
In general, pelleted feeds are ok for about 6 months if kept cool and dry. Textured more like 3 months
1 Like
I have a senior IR horse and was curious if the iron is too high? I found on Mad Barn’s Feed Bank when feeding 4lbs. to be 652 mg. Is that considered high? TIA
There’s no added iron, it’s all intrinsic. Lots of forages provide many times more iron than the horse needs
Non-EMS horses have a down regulator of iron uptake when there’s enough in the body. If that weren’t the case, then a great many horses would have excessive iron issues, due to the above, and that’s not the case.
My guy wasn’t impressed with it either. I was able to slowly feed it out mixed with other stuff though (well I’m almost done with it, 3 months later). I decided (like an idiot) to try the Unbeetable beet pulp pellets, thought it wouldn’t wouldn’t be a big deal. I was feeding the Standlee BP pellets but I get annoyed that it’s a 40 lb bag and not 50 lbs. The Unbeetable is a 50 lb bag… and horsie isn’t thrilled with it. Sigh. I tried.
1 Like
I finally gave up on the Unbeetable products. I also tried the beet pulp pellets, but my horses prefer the Standlee. And I really wanted my hard keeper mare to like the Forage Only, but she really only picked at it. She scarfs up the Standlee straight alfalfa pellets. Sigh.
2 Likes
I fed Standlee beet pulp pellets for many years. I’ve since switched to Unbeetable BP pellets because, yeah 10lbs more for the same price.
There is a noticeable difference in texture (and likely taste). My young horses (yearlings) were most concerned by the change and took several days to convert over. One of the fillies went on “hunger strike” for a full week before she reluctantly started eating it. Otherwise, I’ve had no issues with the product, I’ve been feeding it for at least 5 months and all the horses eat it well.
Standlee might have a little more binder in their pellets; they are darker than Unbeetable, and tend to weigh more per dry qt. Unbeetable is fluffier, tends to make more volume, but can be a little “slimy” and leave a pale film on the soaking bucket. (I soak enough for 10 horses at a time, AM & PM). I weigh my beet pulp every day before soaking it, so I know exactly how much I’m making…as anyone knows, a handful more or less dry beet pulp pellets can make a big difference after soaking! (the amount of water you use has an effect as well, I’m careful to use the same amount of water each time).
2 Likes
I guess I should clarify: 1 out of 6 horses does not like the Unbeetable pellets. 5 of them would gobble up anything I put in front of them. But the one that really matters is very picky and low appetite on a good day. She is a super hard keeper, so I can’t afford to let her go on hunger strike, as she would likely lose all the weight I spent months painstakingly putting on her 
I don’t think there is anything “wrong” necessarily with the Unbeetable pellets, and I would love to be able to use them as they are cheaper and I go through a significant amount of beet pulp, especially in the winter. But unfortunately the picky mare dictates what the entire herd eats, and I would rather spend a few bucks more on something she will eat rather than literally throw money away trashing meal after meal that she refuses.
As far as the soaking method, yes, that is also very important, especially for Ms. Picky! I’m sure I don’t soak as much volume as you do, but I have found my preferred method is to soak with slightly less water initially, enough so that the pellets fluff up but are still a bit dry. Then right before feeding, I will add additional hot water so that everything is extra soupy. I especially like this method in the winter so I can ensure that my horses are getting extra hydration, and the soaked beet is less likely to freeze before everyone can finish eating.
One horse I have likes beet pulp, the other two do not like it at all. All three like the Unbeetable forage. I do mix it with soaked alfalfa timothy cubes, ground flax and ration balancer but all three will eat it dry. I haven’t tried their beet pulp because of their prior aversion to beet pulp.
1 Like
I would love to use the Unbeetable bp pellets. Once I use up the Unbeetable BP I’ll have to just use the Standlee ones. I’ve been mixing the both together and at this point, just to at least use it up. After trying to feed the straight Unbeetable, I had to go back to mixing. The Unbeetable stuff soaks up faster but I wonder if there’s more sugars or something in the Standlee. Lol I did my own taste test this morning and even I preferred the taste of the Standlee over the Unbeetable 
I was thinking while taste testing: “yeh Eddie, I’m with ya on this, I think I prefer the Standlee too”
1 Like
I always wondered how Standlee was so green and smelled so good. I suspect they use a hay preservative…just did some Googling and there are a few types, one that contains citric acid, which I would think would be appealing to horses.
Are you talking about the hay being so green? It’s western hay. Most western hay is that green. They have no humidity where it is grown and it cures so fast that it doesn’t get bleached by the sun. And some is irrigated so they can turn off the irrigation and bale the same day it is cut. No preservatives needed. I just bought some western timothy for my naughty horses. Yes, it is that green and smells wonderful. I also have some Kentucky timothy that is not comparable. Most horses hate the taste of preservatives, although I don’t know how they react to citric acid. I am sure the hay pellets are made from green hay also.
2 Likes
I bought some Idaho orchard grass hay last year from a hay dealer. It was unbelievable, even nicer than Standlee. Bright green and smelled fantastic. I don’t know where in Idaho it was grown but I know that fabulous hay is grown there.
1 Like
Has anyone tried the actual “Complete” feed from Unbeetable yet? I looked through the thread but couldn’t determine if anyone had or if everyone was still talking about Forage Only.
I’m talking about this one: In the yellow bag.
Reviews are pretty encouraging. I’ve seen it at my local TSC and been tempted. Right now I’m doing Forage Only with TC Gold Balancer, and that’s great, but if I thought I could do ONE bag of feed in ONE trashcan and get the same results, I’d be all over that. The Forage Only is a hit with my guy and he looks great (as does his pasture mate who also eats it).
I’m considering doing the swap as I’m over halfway through the most recent bag of balancer. I think my TSC is currently out of the Unbeetable Complete and it looks like Chewy is as well, so I’ll have to see.
Just curious if anyone has had any experience with it.
1 Like
Yes, I have had it since it came out. My mare, who always did well on Tribute Essential K (along with my gelding and two minis), was starting to lose topline. She’s 25. Since she’s been on it, she’s put on topline and some weight - just enough that she looks good again. Her first heat didn’t seem as crazy as it’s been since I’ve owned her. My laminitis prone mini who has been getting winter laminitis for 3 winters (and bad enough I was going to put him down first sign of it this winter) did not get laminitis and is actually moving better. My gelding with thin soles seems to have better hooves (although it’s not been really long enough to tell, and I use Hoof Armour).
I suspect mostly it’s being grain free, and soy free for mine. I am sticking with it 
3 Likes
it depends on how much of the FO you’re feeding. The min for the Complete is 0.4lb/100lb for maintenance, 0.5lb/100lb for light work, increasing from there. If you’re in that ballpark for calories now, then it’ll be fine. IME, the smell is very similar, and they’re equally “hell no” for my very picky 35yo LOL But my other hovers have no issues with either (thankfully, as they had to finish the bags 
2 Likes
Yeah, I need to weigh the FO and see. He gets…a full scoop AM/PM…and it’s one of those “scoops” that’s like a mug with the measurements on the side with pounds (one side pellets; one side textured) but I can’t remember how much a full scoop/mug is. Seems like maybe a pound or a little more? If that’s the case, he’s getting roughly 4 pounds of “hard feed” per day as I feed him 2 pounds of TC Balancer Gold and around 2 pounds of the FO. He’s also getting a few big handfuls of chopped alfalfa with PM meal and, of course, lots of hay right now…hay and pasture when grass comes up (not very lush). He’s an easy keeper.
I don’t know. The more I look at him and he’s doing so well on his current program. Happy, healthy horsie. I probably won’t try to fix what ain’t broke! I just always seem to get a wild hair up my butt to tinker with my horse’s feed at this time of year. I don’t know what it is. LOL.
2 Likes
