Nutrition Gurus...How much harm will approx. 1 lb. of 12% sweet feed per day do to a healthy horse regarding NSC and energy levels?

[DFL]

I need some advice–I got a new horse related job and was able to move my horse with me. The problem is that the horses are all fed on the fence and my dominant horse will now push the others away since he discovered they are getting the “good stuff”.

Yes, it might be possible to separate my horse for feeding but it will be difficult for the barn staff to do when I am out of town at horse shows (roughly 1 week per month). The easiest option would be for me to give my horse what the other horses eat which is about 1/2 pound of 12% sweet feed in the morning and at night. Then he could get his other feed during separate feedings when the other horses don’t get anything. I tried mixing some sweet feed in with his feed to no avail–he still walks away from his feed to get into the sweet feed.

The horse in question is a 17 year old hard keeper TB who is used to getting 2 1/2 pounds of Essential K ration balancer and 2 1/2 pounds of K Finish per day (in addition to oil and alfalfa cubes). He has been on a low NSC diet because it is my preference–not because he was required to be.

How much of an impact will having about 1 lb of sweet feed per day have on a healthy horse with respect to NSC levels? Is it likely to impact his energy much?

[JB]

He will probably hardly bat an eye, especially at just 1/2lb each feeding

It’s possible he will react negatively, but not probable. He’ll be happy, and you’ll have a really good base for mixing in meds if you have to down the road

[Lord_Helpus]

If your horse is the dominant one and if he is loving hat he eats, then he will finish it before pushing other horses away. Seems to me that adding feed, not decreasing it is the answer. If you really want to keep him on a low NSC diet… (WHY? It is not natural for horses and you have to add supplemental fat to keep him from turning into a skeleton), try Re-Leve from KER (Kentucky Equine Research). It makes a lot of specialty feeds.

[DFL]

Thank you, JB.

And Lord Helpus, I am looking to increase my horse’s feed to include a little sweet feed. He happily eats his normal feed but when given the choice, he would rather eat sweet feed. I like the feed he’s on because I don’t need to feed several pounds per feeding.

[JB]

Most horses would prefer sweet feed LOL

Feeding a low NSC diet doesn’t automatically mean fat has to be added. Horses evolved eating only as much fat as is in forage, which tends to be in the 3% range. Some of that forage is higher NSC, some lower. Some horses definitely need some extra fat, either because of PSSM issues, or because their work requires some longer-lasting energy that fat provides. Some of those horses also either need, or can handle, some higher NSC feeds for the energy benefits as well.

[RedHorses]

@Lord Helpus

If your horse is the dominant one and if he is loving hat he eats, then he will finish it before pushing other horses away. Seems to me that adding feed, not decreasing it is the answer. If you really want to keep him on a low NSC diet… (WHY? It is not natural for horses and you have to add supplemental fat to keep him from turning into a skeleton), try Re-Leve from KER (Kentucky Equine Research). It makes a lot of specialty feeds.

Actually a low NSC diet is natural for horses. Humans are the ones who started feeding horses things that are high in NSC. It is not always necessary to add fat. Low NSC diets benefit horses with many different issues and diseases.

I have one horse with EPSM and one “normal” horse. That one also gets a low NSC diet (with no added fat).

[IPEsq]

With such a small amount, i think he’ll be fine, you won’t notice a difference, and you will solve your feeding problem. You may have to adjust the rest of the diet a little bit so he doesn’t eat all of his usual food at once.

[Janet]

What is the harm that you are anticipating 1 lb of sweet feed will do?