trying to simplify feeding program

attempting to try to bring some semblance of order to the feeding program at our boarding barn which has gotten somewhat out of control.

I would like to offer:

  • a basic pellet for easy keeper/ no medical issue types
  • a senior feed for our senior citizens and horses that need a little extra weight
  • a ration balancer for the super easy keepers
  • low carb for the couple we have with metabolic issues

The brand options im considering are Poulin, Triple Crown or Progressive Nutrition.

I personally feed my own horses a bit differently - it’s been a number of years since I fed more conventional grains so I’m a little out of the loop.

If if you had to pick one of those brands which would you choose and within those brands which are your favorite feeds ?

Thanks!

You can probably meet all those needs with the Triple Crown ration balancer and Triple Crown senior.

If you’re in the east, ProElite could be another solid option.

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This is almost exactly what I do in my barn. Triple Crown 30%, Triple Crown Senior. 20-25 horses, those two feeds cover at least 80% of the horses. I have a few hard-keeping TBs who won’t eat/don’t do well on TCS, so I need a third feed. Right now my third feed is Purina Ultium Competition. I have also used Legends CarbCare Performance.

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My barn feed Poulin, and the ETEC line also meets your need. It is the lowest NSC of all their lines (I think it is the best quality).

You have regular ETEC, senior, low carb ( which AFAIK has the lowest NSC on the market) and the ration balancer.

Personally I would feed everyone the low carb or the RB. Most horses don’t need tons of sugar, unless you have OTTBs.

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Start with all the hay / grass they will eat, which should cover most of your bases. TC Senior is low NSC, so it may be be good for your horses that need low carb. I use TC Lite rather than the ration balancer for my mature horses, and they do great on it. Great coats, great feet.

No experience myself, but I believe there was a recent thread searching for a more palatable alternative to the TC ration balancer. Might be a consideration if you’re trying to stick with just one brand. (The Poulin, Buckeye, and a few other brands were recommended in that thread, iirc.)

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