Feeding a ration balancer to a horse who had laminitis

[ThreeCFarm]

Becky beat me to it. Safechoice is NOT good for IR horses. Don't ever take a company's word that their product is "good" or "safe" for metabolically challenged horses. ALWAYS ask for the NSC, as that is the true way to know if a product will work. When it comes to risking my horses' soundness, I'd much rather have a concrete number than some feed rep's opinion on whether or not the feed is safe.

 

[chandab]

I love the whole idea behind ration balancers. They just make perfect sense for minis. I had done a lot of research on them when Robin was here--remember her? She was amazing!!

I stopped because my horses still had crests, but I believe that was more from grass now. A friend's vet wanted her horse off a ration balancer due to the high protein, and I took that to heart too, although I understood why it was acceptable. But, my vet just said Rosie will need a ration balancer. Hey--I think I'm the one who taught her about them!

Anyway--the news of the 12.5 lb bags is perfect and the deciding factor for me in this case. So--chapter 14 of horse feed research comes to a close. I hope there is no chap 15.

Karla,

You're brilliant... I was trying to figure out why my one girl was cresty, despite being on ration balancer and grass hay, duh, she goes out with the others for a couple hours grazing daily.

So, I guess, she'll go in the no pasture pen with my other no grass girl.

That's awesome that you can get a smaller bag.

 

[qtrrae]

Karla,

This is the info that I have received from a Purina specialist:

I have 2 of my mares on WellSolve L/S and I am very pleased with the results.

(For horses that have laminitis issues we recommend WellSolve L/S. It is a low sugar diet that contains no molasses, corn or oats. It also has Biotin added to help with hoof health. This formula provides an exceptional nutritional balance to support muscle, skin, hair coat and hoof health in a very low soluble carbohydrate formula for horses with extreme sensitivity to dietary starch and sugar. When fed as directed it will contain all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients a horse needs per day. I have attached a feed tag that list all of the ingredients and feeding recommendations. I have also attached a feeding recommendations for minis. You should follow the recommendations that are listed for Equine Lifestyles which includes WellSolve L/S. If you have more questions please, let me know.)

Pat Herndon

Animal Care Specialist

100 Danforth Drive

Gray Summit, MO 63039

Phone - 636-742-6216

Fax - 636-742-6170

1-800-227-8941

e-mail- [email protected]

 

[rubyviewminis]

Oops, controlled starch, not low starch. This link explains:http://www.cbar5.com/page11.aspx

 

[barnbum]

Karla,

You're brilliant... I was trying to figure out why my one girl was cresty, despite being on ration balancer and grass hay, duh, she goes out with the others for a couple hours grazing daily.

So, I guess, she'll go in the no pasture pen with my other no grass girl.

That's awesome that you can get a smaller bag.

Well--I'm guessing. BUT--when I see how much my horses have lost--very gradually--on dry lot--the grass has to be a big piece in this picture. Whoever had a crest--it's softer and smaller. My farrier told me years ago that grass is ice cream--NOT salad.

And when I attended a horse clinic in the spring, I talked to a vet who spoke about minis. He said the best advice he can give for minis is to keep them on a dry lot. They are just too tough to feed when grass is thrown in the calculation. I'm more than happy to give them more hay--and soak hay for 3/5 every evening so they can be allowed more.

I've watched my horses closely. From what I'm seeing, they would rather be on a dry lot together than on grass with a muzzle. I've had Gypsy on grass with a muzzle, and she'll stand by the gate wanting back to the dry lot. Last night I spread out some hay in the dry lot, then walked the yearlings over to the grass pasture--neither wanted grass--they wanted hay with their herd. So, I feel better and better about the whole dry lot thing. They spend more time mutual grooming. We will still have more grass than dry lot, but I will continue to use muzzles for all but Mazie. Once I start school, my plan is to keep them together on the dry lot, then let the yearlings on grass when I get home, while the others snack on hay. Or--maybe they'll keep wanting hay too!

So--we will be killing a lot of grass today. And now I know 21 days need to pass before I can open the back gate to more room to roam. I look forward to that!

Donna--what my concern with the feed you mentioned is just how much they'd have to eat to get the needed supplements. That's always where the trouble comes in. Ration balancers are fed in such small amounts--and they get all they need.

 

[targetsmom]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but I wonder why you are going off the Carb Guard? That is the grain I use for my IR mare as it is very low in NSC. Also, are you feeding Remission that is designed to help prevent founder in horses like ours? I give my mare a half dose every day because the ingredients are the same as Quiessence and she was getting a bit too quiet to do 10 or more classes a day at shows. She gets low NSC hay, beet pulp without molasses, daily wormer, vitamins and no grass, in addition to her Carb Guard. It is a challenge keeping her weight at the right level, but most of the time she looks pretty good.

 

[barnbum]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but I wonder why you are going off the Carb Guard? That is the grain I use for my IR mare as it is very low in NSC. Also, are you feeding Remission that is designed to help prevent founder in horses like ours? I give my mare a half dose every day because the ingredients are the same as Quiessence and she was getting a bit too quiet to do 10 or more classes a day at shows. She gets low NSC hay, beet pulp without molasses, daily wormer, vitamins and no grass, in addition to her Carb Guard. It is a challenge keeping her weight at the right level, but most of the time she looks pretty good.

Good question.

I want the mares on no grain at all. They don't need it. Carb Guard is low in NSC but it has higher calories than my mares need--even on so little. And when they get so little, it's pretty worthless for vit/min supplement. Even Tucker, a yearling, who is built just like his mama and Julie's Blessing (but taller, lots taller

) is a solid big boned boy and he does not need any more than hay and a bit of grazing. But, he needs supplements, for sure. Mazie,a yearling, is the only horse I have who might need more calories than the TC30. I give her more Carb Guard (finishing the last bag) than Tucker now and she's at a good weight. Of course, to me she looks thin

but her ribs are well covered. She very fine boned and looks petite next to Tucker.

She's the one I'll have to watch. I give her more grazing time now. If she needs more calories, I'll add something for her. Time will tell.

Rosie is on Remission. I've started Gypsy on it too--only due to cresty issues. Both of their crests are very soft and shrinking, but I thought it'd help. Both hate the stuff, but I sprinkle a small scoop on their soaked hay in the evenings so both get it in.

Oh--Rosie has not shown any soreness for a week! I texted my farrier and said my heart was singing. He replied "Sing on!"