Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.
And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
I am soooo glad I found this site. I have a 26yr old mare that can't eat hay or grass. I feed tim/orch grass pellets 4lbs / 2lb alfalfa pellet / 2 lb beet pulp / 1/2lb rice bran daily with Super Gain supplement and rations plus..I don't see much change and want to make sure this is enough hay pellets so she doesn't go down in weight again. I can't seem to find the ratio between hay pellets and baled hay. I also have a tight budget
Please let me know how I am doing....Thank you for your time.
Where are you from? Oregon
How did you locate this forum? surfing the web
Hi Jenn,
One pound of pellets is generally equivalent to 2 lbs of hay. So, you're feeding 6 lbs of pellets each day, which is really not enough to maintain the weight of a 1000 lb horse. You didn't mention her weight, but if she weighs around 1000 lbs, she needs to have a least 15 lbs of hay each day, or 7.5 lbs of pellets.
Cubes, on the other hand, are pound for pound in relation to hay. If she's able to eat soaked hay cubes, this would offer more of a "free-choice" option.
Ration Plus is excellent -- give her one Tablespoon per day.
And finally, if your budget will allow it, she really needs omega 3 fatty acids from flaxseed meal. This will not only put weight on her, but it will also reduce any joint inflammation she is experiencing, protect her digestive system, improve her immune response, and make her glow. Nutra Flax is pure flaxseed meal without any added grain, and has its calcium to phosphorus ratio corrected (flax naturally has more phosphorus than calcium, which is not advisable to feed without correction).
Keep me posted on how she's doing!
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO