I guess I’m looking for the difference in absorption between the two types of mineral; copper amino acid complex and zinc sulfate (in the Custom Equine) versus polysaccharide complex (Horse Tech)?
And while I realize my hay is in the “normal high” range, I still saw improvement in hoof and hair coat quality when they were on supplemented copper and zinc.
I guess I just hate throwing out feed that they refuse to eat and there’s no other option with it 
Especially the old PPID horse, when I watch all her expensive meds get wasted because god forbid, her food is damp.
Not enough, that anyone can agree on, to make it a point of comparison 
That said, some DO find their horse does better an an amino acid chelate, but that’s horses for ya 
Most forage in the US is high in Fe. Some is a lot higher than most, some is “low” which still means supplying 3-4x what a horse needs
I don’t toss meds, either. Oral dosing until they’re on board, or a handful of dry feed with the med, in a nosebag if they’re going to be picky about it.
I have one that gets an antihistamine twice a day. She’s really just so talented at finding the pills and dropping them on the ground, so she gets them in a handful of (dry) feed in a nosebag, then her regular wet meal. The meds take just a couple minutes.
She’s not reluctant about the wet feed with the med, just annoyingly skilled at sifting them out, but wet feed in a nosebag is icky. It is pretty impressive how willing they are to do meds when you just strap it to their face!
I find that sometimes you have to build them up to it. Start with just a tiny amount of water to change the texture a tad and work from there. Also give the grain time to absorb it and fluff up, rather than giving them a soup.
I have mine at home and, even though it’s more work, soak the feed for all three. Two aren’t great drinkers so it helps to get liquid in them that way. One who gets a tiny amount of beet pulp with supplements. Thank goodness she is an excellent drinker.
Oh yeah, totally agree. Going dry to soup is a tough ask!
I see being able to eat soaked food as a trainable life skill. Like…being polite about their feet, or accepting a worming syringe. There will be a time in damned near every horse’s life where it will really be beneficial for them to eat a soaked meal. Either when they’re older and can’t chew, or when they’re ill, or when they just need more water.
Better to teach them when the stakes are low, than have to stress out about it when it really matters a LOT.
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