Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
a mineral that is great one place may not be in others. A lot depends on soil analysis. Here we have selenium deficient soil and grass. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
RE: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
--- susan cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Susan in NV (where alfalfa is grown for overseas > shipment, and they can get 5 cutting a year!) > > Susan in NV Well I can safely say that our baled alfalfa here really sucks most of the year, a lot sticks. One supplier who gets his alfalfa from Nevada almost always has good alfalfa year round no matter which cutting it is. So your area must grow great alfalfa Susan. However will the people of Nevada pay $25 a bale? And thats me driving for 1 and half hours on a winding ocean road to go get it. And unloading it myself at our barn. Luckily we have a lot of pasture and I do not have to do that often. But yes Nevada grows great alfalfa! Skye tropicaltreks.com 808-443-6085 Fire Island Professional Farrier Service-640-6080
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
i cant put loose out every day. I have to do it between rainy spells... Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
On 05/04/2008, Renee Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > And suddenly, they did. Now, they barely touch the stuff. I've gone back > to keeping a regular mineralized salt block out which they wear down slowly. That's what we do here too. Though come to think of it, I usually put a pan of the loose mineral out for them around this time, and again in the fall. It seems to help them during the change of seasons. This was a good reminder. I'll put a pan of it out today.. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
Susan, Mine did the same thing when I started with the ABC stuff. Ate through (3) 25 lb. bats in a month!!! I whined and complained on the list and Robyn assured me they would stop. And suddenly, they did. Now, they barely touch the stuff. I've gone back to keeping a regular mineralized salt block out which they wear down slowly. -- Renee M. in Michigan
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
i get alfalfa cubes sometimes and let them soak and feed as a big treat. man they love that stuff! but it comes in such a huge bag, beet pulp also! Its hard to use all that up in a humid area before it starts going bad when you have so few horses and you only feed it as a treat Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
RE: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
--- "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> there is also a bagged chopped hay you can buy that is grass.<< I've asked for that, and pelletted grass hay at the feed stores here, and they look at me like I am two headed! But I can get bagged, chopped alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, or alfalfa cubes! Susan in NV (where alfalfa is grown for overseas shipment, and they can get 5 cutting a year!) Susan in NV http://desertduty.blogspot.com/ Riding for Breast Cancer Awareness Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
RE: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
Hi Susan, My experience is the same as Kaaren Jordan's, once the horses have enough of the minerals they slow down. Also if you buy the Icelandic minerals (not advertised but they make them) they don't eat them as rapidly as it is a slightly different formula. I sent them hair from a variety of Icelandics and they made the formula. I would suggest a 25# bag should last you a while. Robyn Hood
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
--- Janice McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> if there comes a time when I have no hay available due to another drought etc, I will feed alfalfa pellets mixed with beet pulp for forage.<< This is a thought - alfalfa for one meal, then beet pulp for the other. H Susan in NV You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
--- Janice McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> But I have no grass at all,<< Neither do I, just a "dry lot" full of sand. But they have plenty of room to run and play! >> as for magnesium, i have the worst memory, but saw something the other day that it does other than calm...<< I think I read somewhere that it is good for IR horses. Susan in NV You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
PS, if there comes a time when I have no hay available due to another drought etc, I will feed alfalfa pellets mixed with beet pulp for forage. But from being in the posse we get 4 free bags of feed a month from the spillers dealer so we are going to feed happy hoof, a sort of forage type low carb formula for laminitis types to my easy keepers. yay Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
RE: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
I would think that there is a pelleted feed with the magnesium in it that you could feed and just cut back on the alfalfa. I have one horse that alfalfa makes crazy...I can't feed it to him but we have timothy here anyway so he rarely gets any alfalfa unless the timothy has some mixed into it and I can always tell when he's had too much because he changes. Anyway, there is also a bagged chopped hay you can buy that is grass. Its concentrated so you feed alot less. If your horses are antsy, check out the bagged pelleted feed called Cool Command if you can get it out there, see if it has enough magnesium for you. I also feed triple crown lite. Shipping is, for me, not an option as it makes everything too expensive. So I get what is available or produced regionally/locally etc I just spray the pellets with some water to soften them just to be safe (from those that tend to eat too fast). I feed the pelleted feed once a day with hay (less hay), and hay only once a day. If you free feed then adjust the amount I guess that you allow them to eat for a certain part of the day? I don't know because I don't free feed but the pelleted feeds are complete and you don't want them to get too fat! My guys would burst if I free fed! They look at food and gain weight! (well except for my one old guy who I feed extra to.) Suggestions anyway! Bia
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
as for your question, my horses mineral appetites go up and down. and varies from horse to horse. some will ignore and others will gobble it like a pig when I leave it out free choice. What I do... I leave out a salt block all the time, a brown one with minerals too. Then I do the free choice minerals in the feed buckets about once a week if no rain. (If it rains the rain melts it and its wasted). I figure this way, maybe I'm wrong, they can have the 24/7 salt block take care of some needs so at least they donbt gobble down all those expensive minerals just cause they need salt... does that make sense? probably totally faulty logic which if it is someone on here is sure to point out haha. But I have no grass at all, and my iceys and my donkey and one of my walkers are such easy keepers I feed them almost nothing and worry they arent getting nutrients. So I make sure they get their loose minerals especially. I feed gro strong by alliance. I am blessed that I live close enough to drive to jeffers warehouse and pick things up, otherwise could not pay shipping! I see where minerals, like the gro strong I use, etc, some of them have a kind expressley for animals on alfalfa. My gro strong come in an alfalfa formula. as for magnesium, i have the worst memory, but saw something the other day that it does other than calm... but anyway, I gave it to my stonewall for calming and he turned into a zombie haha. he would stand out in the pasture all alone (he is not a loner AT all) like he was thinking "I know I should be FEELING something"... haha but it sure didnt hurt him and I plan to experiment with less, a half dose. My Jaspar has turned into a brat lately, feeling his oats as they say, becuase he has not been ridden hardly at all and has been eating the most fattening things known to horsedom. he is fired up as they say. But him fired up just means a happy stepping pace :) But I do see him biting the others etc but he lost his herd leader spot when he lost all his weight and now he feels better I think he is trying to get it back. he is jumpy and nervous on sweetfeed products and on hoof supplement product with biotin. I dont think protein is a big culprit like people used to think! Because mine eat strategy which is 14% protein and they are all calm as can be. Jaspar got froggy when I started feeding him equine senior. Molasses just sends him over the edge or something haha. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
Susan, cant you get some feed providor in the area to stock this mineral for you?? Janice-- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] ABC Mineral Questions
Now, as to the alfalfa - I don't really want any lectures on it as I would LOVE to find a source of grass, No lecture. I used to feed alfalfa to my Thoroughbreds. However, many endurance folks out our way thinks alfalfa makes their horses "hot". nancy
