Feeding horses confusing!!

[hdonna]

help please I am investigating what to feed my 18yr old horse as although no probs keeping on weight and lives out all year I want to make sure he is getting all he needs. The feeds market is very competetive and I dont know wht to buy.
Was going to get top spec senior as heard good things about it but at £40 a bag thought I would search round I have found dodson and horrell 16plus mix and nuts at £11 a bag (have not checked size of bags) they both promote the fact that they have vits and mins for the older horses they both have glucosamine in and both have ingredients to promote healthy gut. therefore advice please guys.

[varkie]

I don't think I'd like to advise you overall on feed, but comparing Top Spec Senior Balancer, and Dodson & Horrell 16 Plus Mix is like comparing apples & cucumbers - they are totally different things! The Top Spec product is a feed balancer, the D&H product is just a mix. Mixes are much cheaper than feed balancers. To compare products like this, you need to compare two balancers, or two mixes.

My suggestion would be to ring the different feed companies, and ask what they would feed your horse, and get an overall diet sheet, then compare the costs of feeding from there, if cost is your primary concern. It will also allow you to compare the types of feeds they're suggesting.

[julz]

if he's doing well on whatever you're feeding i'd keep feeding that and just get an all round mins and vits into his diet... which can be bought (i think Naf do it) for around £25.. and maybe feed mag ox too..

[hdonna]

Cheers guys

[misty]

18 is just a youngster! Our boys, 2 x anglo arab are 34/35 & 29/30. They have lived out for the past 10 years with shelter and rugs. In the Summer they are not fed but now in the cold we feed, basic livery mix, chaff, oats, sugarbeet, slug of vegetable oil. They are feed once a day and have a good gallop round when they hear my car. They will get their annual vet check in a few weeks and hopefully will pass with flying colours. I didn't feed anything they don't need so when they do need it it works.

[hdonna]

Thanks Misty that puts my mind at rest.