Equine Nutritionist coming to visit to talk about feeding program

[wingnut]

As most of you know, trying to figure out the best feeding program for our little wonders can be quite daunting. Ask 100 people their opinion and you will get 100 different answers! Being not only a novice mini owner, but a novice horse owner too, makes this task that much more difficult! I want to do what's best for my girls but it's so hard to figure out just what that is.

I finally decided that it might help to find someone with expertise to talk with. I put a call into the equine nutritionist at our local mill and rec'd a call back today. I figured I'd go to her office at the one location and talk to her there. Instead, she's coming to our place where she can get some hands on impressions of what we're dealing with. She's bringing her portable scale so we can get good weights for each of them which will help us determine where we stand as well.

Our schedules make the meeting difficult to plan but we finally nailed it down for the 20th. This will allow us to talk about what we're doing, what we could do based on her recommendations and make any changes slowly as we're at an optimal point in our current feed levels to begin a switch within the next couple of weeks.

I'm terribly excited to have this kind of resource available!

 

[garyo]

I agree that the information regarding nutrition is incredibly important with minis. Just within our own heard we have horses that have dramatically different needs in terms of protein level and starch. Some, need a higher protein level or they have very loose manure and have difficulty keeping weight on their topline. Others can't even look at a regular level of starch feed or they become an elephant. Gary and I were very grateful to the vet students from Auburn University at the Perry Area III National show. They are conducting research to develop better weight tapes for various breeds. We had been mis-estimating our horses weight using both a pony tape and the formula given to us at a clinic. The scale showed some of them to weigh nearly 50 lbs. less when actually weighed on the scale.

Best wishes for your meeting. What a nice resource.

Ruth

 

[luv2ridesaddleseat]

Does she work for one particular feed company?

 

[wingnut]

Does she work for one particular feed company?

No. The mill sells many brands of feed. Everything from their own sweet feed and pelleted feed mixes to Purina, Pennfield, Platform, Southern States and McCauley Brothers feeds. This mill already has my business as it's our best option for horse supplies where we live. It is a very locally owned operation and well respected in our community. I do recognize that one must always be aware of biases that can influence such recommendations.

 

[kaykay]

Just be sure she has experience with small equine as it just isnt the same as their larger cousins.

I think a lot of times we way over think it. When people give advice always be sure and take a look at their horses and see if they look healthy

For me its deworming, good pelleted feed, good hay/pasture = healthy horses

 

[Jill]

Good for you!!! I'm sure you will learn a lot and get great advice.

Over the years, I have consulted our Equine Nutritionist a number of times, and she is very helpful and knowledgable.

I always run things by our vets, too, who always seem to agree with my reasoning and what if any changes -- but I do not think they are as informed on nutrition as the Equine Nutritionist is.

If I were you, I'd be really looking forward to the meeting. It's fun to put your head together about your horses with an expert!!!

I'm another one, like Kay, who is all about complete, pelleted feeds. One recent exception is our orphan foal who didn't do well on a feed with as much fiber as Purina Equine Junior... However, as he matures, he will be off the sweet and extruded feeds (which hasn't been in our feed room in MANY years) and onto the safer complete pellets we use for our other young stock.

Another good thing, too... your thread may set off that lightbulb realization for some other members who may not realize they've got access to a professional equine nutritionist

:yes

 

[wingnut]

More good points!

I *know* I'm over thinking this and am really looking forward to having someone with a clear head helping me bring this down to some good, basic solutions. The lady is much more familiar with large horses but understand that minis are unique in certain ways and is researching things that will help her make her recommendations.

In a month's time we're going to have 3 animals with potentially 3 different feeding needs (a 10 yr old mare who is too thin, a yearling who is apparently prone to a bit of a belly (likely grass or hay related) and a weanling who will need to be fed well so that she grows to her best possible potential. I want to be prepared and pretty much close to be done with our "switching" before the weanling arrives.