Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hi Sherry,
My first question would be, “What size is your scoop?” Scoops generally come in three sizes: 1 quart, 2 quarts, and 4 quarts. A 2-quart scoop, for example, holds 64 ounces of volume. That means, that depending on the feed, it likely holds between 4 and 6 pounds. So, if you are feeding 1.5 scoops and your scoop is this size, you are giving your horse a meal that weighs about 6 to 9 lbs – oooh – that’s dangerously high. A horse’s stomach is quite small and cannot safely accommodate such a large meal.
I know this is not what you asked me – you want to know about Blue Seal feeds. But, regardless of the feed, it really is worthwhile to know the weight that you’re feeding. The directions on the bag always base the amount to feed on weight.
Ok, having said that, now I’ll talk about the feed…
The Blue Seal Pacer is made from oats, corn, and barley. Since your fellow is very active, he can likely tolerate these ingredients, within limits. I would suggest that you limit his amount of this feed to no more than 3 lbs per day. Too much grain is not advisable – a horse’s digestive tract is not designed to be fed large amounts of grain.
So, then you have the decision of what to feed instead. Have you tried a sweetened beet pulp? He may like that. And, he may prefer it dry, instead of soaked. You can also give him rice bran nuggets – they’re very palatable. And, alfalfa pellets are yummy.
To add additional fat to his diet, to keep his weight on with his high activity level, I would suggest adding flaxseed meal and rice bran to his diet. Both of these are high in fat. Flaxseed meal also provide omega 3 fatty acids, which are excellent for his overall health, as well as protecting his joints. And rice bran contains gamma oryzanol, which helps boost muscle mass.
You probably got “more than you bargained for” with my response. But, I hope it was helpful.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Sherry,
I can see your problem with his feed preferences! :)
Your scoop sounds like a 2 quart scoop, which provides approximately 5 pounds of feed. So, keep that in mind.
Rice bran and flaxseed meal are not pellets, so perhaps he’ll enjoy them. They are meals – like a coarse flour, but not dusty. You can get the rice bran in a nugget form, so it has more “chew power.” But, see if you can find Natural Glo stabilized rice bran. And, the flaxseed I recommend is a stabilized product, as well, called Nutra Flax.
So, about your grain-based feed – yes, I think you are feeding too much grain and certainly too much at one meal. You are likely feeding close to 16 pounds of feed each day – much more than necessary and what would be considered healthful. Instead, cut way back, continue to let him graze on grass and/or hay all day, add alfalfa cubes and even some alfalfa hay. And finally, replace some of his grain with the flaxseed meal and rice bran.
All the best,
Dr. Getty