(Poll) Graining Miniature Horses

[Erickson Miniature Horses]

Please take a few minutes of your time to answer this poll about graining miniature horses.

I hope it will help people that are new to miniature horses form a feeding program.

If you have any thing specific you would like to add about your graining program or an answer to a question that wasn't an option, comment below.

If you think any questions should be added to this poll, please comment below.

Also feel free to comment what brand, type, and amount of grain you give to your minis.

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

I couldn't finish the last section as I give grain for a nutritional boost not for condition.

 

[FurstPlaceMiniatures]

I give grain to help build muscle. That being said, they get 2 types each. One is a 30% protein 3% fat extruded feed with yeast added, The other is a 16/9, low starch, extruded feed. For some reason they look awesome on the 2, and only ok on one or the other. Silly ponies

 

[Cayuse]

Do you consider ration balancer to be a grain? I will do the survey if it is.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I thought it was just grain.

 

[chandab]

Do you consider ration balancer to be a grain? I will do the survey if it is.

Good question.

I guess I read "grain" as supplemental feeding in addition to hay/forage. Technically, I don't feed grain, as I feed a commercial pellet.

 

[BSharpRanch]

I only feed grain if/when my two elderly minis need it to maintain their weight. Otherwise, my minis do well on a hay only diet. I will add that you MUST read ingredient labels now. Most "grains" are middlins, spent grains, sweepings and hulls. No real grains at all! Be aware.

 

[Strangeaddiction]

I was just going to post a topic asking about grain (Maybe i should separate from this). What do people on here feed as far as grain goes (I am on the west coast in Washington). We show our horses and the grain for the mini's that is provided is basically cattle feed (sweet feed). Now I am a nutrition specialist, but font have a ton of experience with minis (barn owner has TONS of experience). So I have left my mini on this grain until I can figure out an alternative, but am lost as to where to start for these mini's. A lot of people around here hate the special mini horse feed, they say their horses get cresty and fat on it. Now our mini's need the extra sugar, protein etc because they are show horses.

I am just curious as to what people feed and what their experiences with them are?

 

[Jill]

A lot of people don't consider complete feeds grain, so I'm not sure how to answer the poll.

We have a couple harder keepers, who get complete senior feed. Our others getvan all around complete horse feed. They all get this 2x a day along with good, soft hay and of course fresh water and mineral blocks in the paddocks.

When we've had pregnant and nursing mares and foals up to 1yo, they also get complete senior feed like our harder keepers.

Simple, but it works great for our hoofed wonders

PS we don't do oats, corn or sweet feeds.

 

[chandab]

I was just going to post a topic asking about grain (Maybe i should separate from this). What do people on here feed as far as grain goes (I am on the west coast in Washington). We show our horses and the grain for the mini's that is provided is basically cattle feed (sweet feed). Now I am a nutrition specialist, but font have a ton of experience with minis (barn owner has TONS of experience). So I have left my mini on this grain until I can figure out an alternative, but am lost as to where to start for these mini's. A lot of people around here hate the special mini horse feed, they say their horses get cresty and fat on it. Now our mini's need the extra sugar, protein etc because they are show horses.

I am just curious as to what people feed and what their experiences with them are?

Look into Equis feeds, I'm using their Element pellet, so far it's working pretty good.

 

I always used Purina products: Senior feed for the elders or hard keepers with more delicate tummies, then Omolene 300 for pregnant ladies, and foals up to 1 year of age (creep feeding for the foals), then switched the foals to a 14% protein / 6% fat feed for the next year or so, which I also fed to all other horses.

I fed Alfalfa to all horses, either hay, pellets or compressed cubes. Got all feeds at the local Purina store, and their Alfalfa cubes you could break in your hand, the by the time you got to the bottom of the bag, it was just loose leaves and smelled delightful.

Here in Florida, with so much sand and not much grass, my horses were all on dry lots, so supplemental grain was a necessity. I also fed Purina Free Balance 12:12 for the Selenium content (35.00PPM) as there is little or no Selenium in the soil here, and it's critical for pregnant mares to have healthy babies.

Also, because of the sand, I did a 1 week round of a "generic" Psyllium granules for all horses each month.

 

[JMS Miniatures]

It's hard to answer because not all apply.

Right now I got two junior horses on junior grain, one is getting fed three times a day. I have a broodmare that is also on junior feed.

My other older horses ranging from 6 to 14 are easy keepers and most are show horses and they are just on pasture with mineral tub.

 

[sayyadina]

I'm not sure what 'grain' means. Mine get a vitamin mineral supplement, flax and hay. Upping hay and blanketing work for my harder keeper during the winter.

 

[Specialk]

I cannot complete survey. I answer question 1 with no. Question 2 is only to be answered if you marked yes. When I submit, it say Opps, you must answer every question.

 

[Karen]

I'm not sure what 'grain' means. Mine get a vitamin mineral supplement, flax and hay. Upping hay and blanketing work for my harder keeper during the winter.

Which vitamin mineral supplement do you use, if I may ask?

 

[Ourpairofminicolts]

I feed our 2 Purina Miniature Horse & Pony complete feed, and only because they just turned 2 & 3 and are still growing. They get different amounts based on their weight, whether we worked them that day, and weather dependant. (more if it's very cold) They also aren't getting much pasture right now, so they get a small amount (2 ozs) of alfalfa pellets, plus free choice alfalfa mix hay along with the feed. When the pasture is actually growing enough grass again, (it just got overseeded) we'll wean them off most of the feed, or all, and just switch to a ration balancer so vitamin and nutrients are covered.

Our 2 year old will probably still get some complete feed until he's around 3, when he's pretty much done growing.

Our 3 year old is going to be very sad, as he gets less and less feed every few days. But he's getting a little thick, so he definitely doesn't need near as much as he's been getting! Not unless he needs more nutrients than hay, pasture, and balancer can provide, once we really start working him.

 

[MindySchroder]

Which vitamin mineral supplement do you use, if I may ask?

I'll share what I feed since this is an older post and the original poster may not be here...

I feed timothy hay pellet mixed with some alfalfa hay pellet to my growing yearling colt. Then I top that with Vermont Blend vitamin/mineral, Pea Protein Powder for the protein and amino acids and a gut supplement called Equine Generator.

I like Vermont Blend because it doesn't have rice bran, which I have had a few ponies be sensitive to. It does have some salt in it so you may have to start by feeding a small amount and working up to the recommended amount.

Then my ponies get tested low sugar low starch hay. I have to shop around to find this but it's worth it!

 

[Karen]

I'll share what I feed since this is an older post and the original poster may not be here...

I feed timothy hay pellet mixed with some alfalfa hay pellet to my growing yearling colt. Then I top that with Vermont Blend vitamin/mineral, Pea Protein Powder for the protein and amino acids and a gut supplement called Equine Generator.

I like Vermont Blend because it doesn't have rice bran, which I have had a few ponies be sensitive to. It does have some salt in it so you may have to start by feeding a small amount and working up to the recommended amount.

Then my ponies get tested low sugar low starch hay. I have to shop around to find this but it's worth it!

Thank you Mindy!

 

[amyjoy85]

We just started (2 days ago) giving our 2 easier keepers triple crown lite and our 24yr old hard keeper is now getting triple crown senior.

 

[chandab]

We just started (2 days ago) giving our 2 easier keepers triple crown lite and our 24yr old hard keeper is now getting triple crown senior.

Good choices, just make sure to feed the appropriate amount to get the full nutritional benefits.
Feed is by weight. Triple Crown lite is 1-2# per 500# bodyweight, so a 250# mini would get 1/2-1# daily (other sizes will need a bit of math to determine appropriate amount to feed). I'm pretty sure TC Lite is about 3 cups per pound (standard dry measure kitchen cup, weigh to verify). Triple Crown senior as a minimum of 5# per 1000# bodyweight, so a 250# mini would get 1.25# daily (TC senior is 1.08# per quart, so about 1/4# per cup). TC provides a marked scoop for their feed products, if your feed store doesn't have them, contact TC and they'll send one to you (not sure if it'll have small measurements that will cover a mini's needs).
I'm currently feeding TC senior to several of mine; as a carrier for supplements for most, but a couple needing to gain are getting up to 1.5# daily; all but one love it (he's on a different feed)