Recommended PELLETED V/M for a mini

[pompeiii]

Any recommendations for a pelleted vitamin/mineral supplement for a mini? I’d prefer to move away from a balancer to a v/m now that he’s getting soaked hay pellets daily. But, it needs to be a pellet (he’ll eat anything if it’s in pellet form – I can add anything to his mash if I mix a few pellets in his mash – but he doesn’t need any extra sugar).

Anyway, I’m struggling to find a decent v/m supplement that doesn’t come in such a large bag I’ll run into shelf life issues… I’ve also read so many ingredients and reviews and labels that my eyes are crossing. Appreciate any and all suggestions to investigate.

[Tee]

My mini (years ago) did well on Equerry’s v/m supplement. I feed Horse Guard now, but I think that’s more local to the PNW.

[trubandloki]

I have always had good luck with SmartPak’s vitamin/mineral supplement.

[luvmyhackney]

I feed California Trace pellets to my pony. He’s picky and eats them with a little bit of beet pulp. I supplement Vitamin E separately.

I buy the big bag and have had no issues storing it in a kibble vault container.

[pompeiii]

California Trace specifically told me 6 month shelf life for pellets.

[cayuse]

I’ve been using Farnam Vita-Plus on my minis. Comes in small tubs, the amount given is small and it’s palatable. It also seems to work.

[luvmyhackney]

10 lb bag?

I buy the 20 lb bag for my pony it last approx 5ish months.

[pompeiii]

Supposedly the 10lbs bag would last my mini 300ish days based on his weight.

[JBCool]

Not sure where you are (availability), but what about LinPro? I used it on a previous horse as a hoof supplement and liked it. But I know it can be used as a v/m supplement for those not getting “feed” and it comes in different size options.

LinPro™

[Viranh]

I have also used SmartPak’s vit/min supplements, along with vitamin E in a separate well, and seem to have pretty good results with a couple of different horses.

[pompeiii]

Thanks all for the recommendations so far. I’ve used SmartPak’s v/m before and was happy enough with it, but I’m definitely hesitant to order from them at the moment. Even doing bags/buckets, I might get it tomorrow, I might get it in a month. I’m not entirely comfortable relying on them until they figure out their shipping (I say this and I do rely on them for 2 other auto but I have an extra month on hand of one, and the other I’m dealing until I figure out a good alternative for ColicCare).

@JBCool I’ve used some of Foxden Equine’s other supplements including Quiessence (my mini loved it) so I might start there, but I’ll do some comparison studying first. Obviously a good diet is essential for feet, but if this will help, even better. (He foundered almost a year ago in both front feed and they’re growing out nicely, but anything that can help… he’s not and never has been overweight, but he’s a mini who is muzzled all year now vs 9 months of the year in the past).

[greywithchrome]

Mad Barn Omneity Pellets

[mfglickman]

I use Mad Barn Amino Trace + for 2 large ponies, one has Cushing’s and is IR.

[pony_baloney]

MVP’s Mega Cell is good stuff.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/megacell-2419

[Bebe_Falcon1]

Mad Barn Omneity powder.

[2DogsFarm]

My Thought About Foundering (3yrs ago) mini is doing very well on Triple Crown Sr.
He is a Stock Type, weighs ~250# & is in Hardly Any work.
But he did fine with 3 straight days of driving 3-5mi/day just this month.
Here we are, at the Ntl Drive:
Note: bottom half is wet from going through a Water Obstacle

He gets 1cup of TC Sr twice a day.
Only supplement us 2Tbsp BOSS.
Along with 5#ish 1st cut grass hay.
He also shares hay with my horse, so exact weight fed is

TC Sr info:

Triple Crown Senior

[pompeiii]

Your mini is adorable. Mini is in less than zero work. Full time emotional support mini. He takes his babysitting duties very seriously. Except when he escapes and visits my neighbor. Like Monday…

I like TC senior but I’m not buying my mini his own bag. It’ll last him forever. LOL. My senior isn’t a fan and my 11 year old can’t eat it due to the soy.

I also free choice hay (1st cut gras) and he does fine with it but wears a grazing muzzle when turned out with my big guys. That seems to work. He can eat full time (and he does), but his in take is severely slowed. He gets his muzzle off when he’s in at night and gets his hay in his feeder or a net he prefers his feeder) and doesn’t consume that much. His allergies are kicking up and he has some breathing issues in the fall/winter, so I’ll start steaming tonight assuming it stops raining and I get my steamer out. He loves his steamed hay.

[2DogsFarm]

50# TC Sr lasts me over a month.
My 20yo TWH gets the same cup added to his whole oats since he came up a bit ribby last Spring.
Bugs - the mini - wears his muzzle from 7A-10P (with a break for PM feed) & as soon as we get a hard frost I’ll remove the Nose Prison for Winter.
He’s good about putting it on, but marches up to demand I take it off at night.
His feelings on being muzzled:
(Rosette from SEU Show: Too Shit To Ride Class)

[pompeiii]

Jiminy says, they laugh at my muzzle…