Putting supplements into treats?

Recently we had a choke scare with my mare and her grain and nutritionally she does not need it so we are trying to figure out a way to still give her the supplements without the grain. Right now she is getting 2 powders, 1 pellet and 2 oz’s of liquid. What are some recipes I can use or modify to use? I know I want them to not be baked. TIA

Instead of a “treat”, just take 1 measuring cup of alfalfa pellets (or Bermuda or Timothy or whatever), add 1 cup of very hot water - toss in your supplements, and wait 15 minutes until the alfalfa is totally puffed up and mushy. So, you are basically making a very small mash for your supplements. No choke hazard. :wink:

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^^^ This since choke is an issue.

I always add a bit of water or 50:50 pure Apple juice:water to the pellets, to keep the powdery stuff from getting blown out. But you need to mush the pellets, and hopefully your horse will eat mush — neither of mine will:(. In which case, I would be finding myself syringing everything down someone:(

For the powders and liquid I would mix them up in a 60cc dosing syringe with mostly water and a dash of molasses or corn syrup mixed in. Its a bit of a pain to make every day but has essentially zero choking hazard. The molasses makes everything taste better and most horses aren’t resistant to the syringe after they figure out it doesn’t taste terrible. I find the easiest way is disposable dixie paper cups and tongue depressors. Add everything to the dixie cup then just pour it into the syringe!

As far as the pellets I’d do a trial and see if they will soak well with some warm water. If your mare is a good eater she might eat them alone in a wet mash. If not try adding a small amount of molasses to it as well to get her to eat it.

Also make sure her teeth are checked with a proper oral exam using a speculum. Often choking is associated with a dental abnormality that prevents proper chewing motion.

If your mare isn’t a fan of grass/legume pellets, then just use a cup of senior feed (Purina Equine senior or TC senior or similar). Senior feeds melt/dissolve quite well in hot water. The grass/legume pellets are just cheaper. But for the picky horse, senior feeds are typically palatable for most.

ETA - cold water will work if you have no access to hot water… it just takes twice as long to absorb into the pellets or feed.

Mash of any any sort in enough volume to mask the taste of the supplements. Hay cubes or beet pulp pellets or a bagged feed or combination of.

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We had Timothy pellets in the feed and it was being soaked. Also, it was a senior feed. She is on 24/7 pasture with a herd and is boarded so I am hoping to make it easier for me and the people who feed her. I will try the syringe though thanks

Having had a gelding who choked ( vet resolved 3 times!) , soaking really is the only way to go. beat pulp shreds with molasses are another way to go. make sure its the shreds… my experience with the beet pull pellets is that they take much longer to soak. They tend to gobble those up, you get fiber, and they soak pretty fast even with cold water. if your looking to make it easier for the barn staff and hot water isn’t an option,maybe consider getting an electric kettle for the feed room… They heat up super fast and if she doesn’t need that much grain/feed then a couple cups should do it… and they should be fairly safe in the barn, especially if kept in a tack/feed room.

Does she need the supplements over the trouble of getting those into her?
Could you feed something else that would be good nutrition without supplements?

Yes, we need these supplements. The powder is a calming supplement that is vital for her. The liquid is a joint supplement that has shown a difference in her movement and the pellets may be dropped. It is a stomach supplement because she doesn’t digest food as well as she should but since we are dropping grain, this may be dropped as well. Nutrition wise she is good and is able to get everything she needs from pasture

I’m assuming you’ve had your pasture/hay tested? It must be pretty good year round if you’re confident that she’s getting everything she needs from it.

I don’t have a treat suggestion. I would think they’d be pretty tedious to make to ensure that each one is the same.
I’d be inclined to find a ration balancer, soak some of that, and add the supplements. At least a RB is meant to be fed in smaller quantities.

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