bicky
Grand Prix Poster
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!
Posts: 1,905
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Post by bicky on Dec 11, 2011 17:45:25 GMT 1
Thanks for that! I've not got my analysis ordered yet....I'm saving up though and will have both my hay and grass done ASAP. When you say Jen1 has your feedplan, what does that mean? Sorry to be dim, but if its a bespoke feed plan designed from your forage analysis for your pony, how can it be the same for Jen? Maybe I'm missing something. I feed about 8 different minerals in varying quantities, just wondered what you feed too?
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Post by donnalex on Dec 11, 2011 21:05:51 GMT 1
She has my feed plan just for interest. Not had hers done yet. Just so that you can see what you get for your money and to see how different minerals react with each other. Sarah told me straightaway after the analysis was done to feed bran to give some phosphorus and to feed salt and magnesium. Immediately my pony stopped drinking and peeing loads! It is worth saying here that only this one pony had such bad feet but now that I have had my eyes opened I can see that all of them had some white line stretch which I put down to all sorts of things. The analysis takes a few weeks then you have to get a feed plan which takes a while too. All in all from first paying by paypal for the analysis to getting a feed plan it must have been seven to eight weeks so it takes time then I have to wait for the minerals to be in their system for a good few months before I will see the full benefit. One of minerals I need the most of is zinc and I have read that zinc deficiency retards growth in youngsters, the pony in question is only 13.1hh at three and a half yet her mum is 13.3hh and her dad is 14.1hh. Having said that she is a first foal that is from a mare that was already in foal at three when I bought her and was immature herself so I presume none of that has helped and she could grow on a little too Sed me your email address and I will send you our analysis for interest. The explanations of why I need to feed what Jen has and could maybe put it on for you. Sarah told me that there is the 'big five' that most people have to supplement which are magnesium, copper, zinc, sodium and I think selenium, I cant remember but the first three are definitely some of them. Our land was limed about eight or nine years ago which could explain why it is unusually high in calcium depending on what type of lime was used. The oly hoof supplement that does not have calcium in is Farriers Formula which is really expensive. As well as knowing what I need to add to the diet I also know what not to add. In the past I have fed seaweed, Baileys Stud Balancer, Baileys LoCal and most regularly, Red Rockies which have some minerals in that I shouldnt give them as they already have enough. Our land has enough potassium which is in the Rockies, my ponies were devouring them to get to the sodium in them the peeing and drinking like crazy to flush out the extra postassium. The effort and bedding saved this winter aloe will outweigh the costs of the analysis and I dont feel the need to go round the tack shops buying supplements anymore either
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bicky
Grand Prix Poster
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!
Posts: 1,905
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Post by bicky on Dec 11, 2011 21:24:42 GMT 1
Thanks PN! I've emailed Sarah about the analysis to ask if there is a best time of year to do it! If not, I'll do it asap! I had iodized salt on my list to feed, but where do I get that from and what exactly is it? Told you I had a lot to learn! When we weaned Teddy, I fed sure grow and it sent him mad.....as I discovered at his first show! Within 24 hours of stopping this grub, he was a different horse! Phew! I just want to help him! But feel a bit useless at the moment! I'll PM you my email address, thanks.
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Post by milo2008 on Dec 12, 2011 0:40:09 GMT 1
I give a balancer from the simple systems range. I use it as my horse is barefoot and I want his feet to be great. the best barefoot horses are kept barefoot through a good diet. I also really like Thunderbrook feed which is almost like using a balancer
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Post by annabelle h on Dec 12, 2011 11:13:59 GMT 1
Btw you can get a hay/grass analysis from Dairy One in the US for $25, about £16 - which may make it more practical to forage balance if your hay comes from different suppliers.
Then use the NRC 2007 nutritional requirements to calculate what your horse needs. (google)
Equimins can provide minerals (copper sulphate, zinc sulphate, etc) to make up your own mineral mix (call them as not on web site, see yahoo Equine Cushings group for details of prices).
If you need help calculating mineral ratios/ feed amounts try someone who has done the Eleanor Kellon course (google).
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2011 11:46:28 GMT 1
No, balancers don't balance, they increase the levels of the ingredients that they contain. This could mean that you can solve one deficiency but could also send something that doesn't need increasing over the top. You could also change ratios of things for the better or worse. If you find a balancer that fits in with the deficiencies of your forage that's one thing but buying a balancer just because is no guarantee of doing good and, theoretically, could make things worse. But the same could be said for feeding any kind of feed, including hay and haylage. If your grass is high in say iodine, then unless you test your hay you could buy and feed hay that's also high in iodine. The point is most forage doesn't provide the amount of minerals across the board that horses need so a balancer tops everything up. If you feed hard feed the chances are it contains a vitamin and mineral supplement, but the amount they get is varied depending on how much energy the owner wants the horse to have. With a balancer you feed the required amount and then vary their conditioning/ energy feeds separately.
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Post by donnalex on Dec 12, 2011 12:18:24 GMT 1
Btw you can get a hay/grass analysis from Dairy One in the US for $25, about £16 - which may make it more practical to forage balance if your hay comes from different suppliers. Then use the NRC 2007 nutritional requirements to calculate what your horse needs. (google) Equimins can provide minerals (copper sulphate, zinc sulphate, etc) to make up your own mineral mix (call them as not on web site, see yahoo Equine Cushings group for details of prices). If you need help calculating mineral ratios/ feed amounts try someone who has done the Eleanor Kellon course (google). Thanks for that! Could save some money there
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marvin
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,069
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Post by marvin on Dec 20, 2011 14:57:37 GMT 1
Thanks for all the interesting replies. My hay is good quality I have just had results back from testing and it is a good balance of vits & minerals. My horse is fit, healthy, shiney and has barefeet that are good and strong (he's a tb so they can manage unshod). So I have decided to not bother with balancers as he seems to be fine on what he is getting.
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