That's why we have answers to just about any question you can throw at us. Don't see your question below? Drop us a line.
Q: Do you have any products for horses with laminitis or who have foundered?
A: Horses with laminitis or founder should have limited access to lush pasture that may be high in sugar and starches. If the horse is obese or maintains weight easily, GRO 'N WIN™ or SAFE 'N EASY™ should be fed. If the horse requires additional calories for body condition or performance, EQ8™ Gut Health or EQ8™ Senior should be fed.
Q: Any special requirements for a horse with insulin resistance or an older horse with Cushing’s Disease (PPID)?
A: Horses with insulin resistance and/or Cushing’s Disease require a diet lower in sugar and starch. Depending on the horse’s current body condition, the lowest level sugar and starch products, SAFE 'N EASY™ and GRO 'N WIN™, can be fed to meet daily requirements. ULTIMATE FINISH™ can be added if the horse requires additional calories for body condition.
Q: My Quarter Horse has PSSM. Help!
A: Horses affected by polysaccharide storage myopathy – or PSSM – require a total diet lower in sugar and starch. Ensure the forages fed, both pasture and hay, do not contain high levels of sugar or starch. The lowest level sugar and starch products, SAFE 'N EASY™ and GRO 'N WIN™, fit perfectly into the diet of a horse with PSSM.
Q: My pony is fat! What can I give him that won’t add calories?
A: GRO 'N WIN™ can be fed to horses and ponies that are obese and do not need any extra calories in their diet. GRO 'N WIN™ contains a balance of protein, minerals and vitamins to balance the forage in the diet and its low feeding rate per day ensures your horse or pony receives their daily requirements.
Q: How do I add calories without making my horse “hot?"
A: Fat will provide calories without affecting a horse’s temperament or behavior. Known as a “cool” source of calories, fat can easily be added to the pre-existing diet without a drastic increase in volume of feed. Choose either a product high in fat, such as CADENCE™ Ultra, or add a fat supplement to the diet, like ULTIMATE FINISH™.
Q: I have a horse that needs help over her topline. What do you suggest?
A: Both exercise and diet have an effect on the horse’s topline. From a diet standpoint, providing adequate protein and essential amino acids will help to build muscle over the topline. Using GRO 'N WIN™ as a supplement to the diet can be used to increase good quality protein. We can help you evaluate your horse’s current diet, including forages and grain, and suggest any changes necessary.
Q: How do I know which ULTIMATE FINISH® to feed? 25, 40, 100?
A: ULTIMATE FINISH® 25, ULTIMATE FINISH® 40 and ULTIMATE FINISH® 100 provide calories from fat at different levels: 25%, 40% and 100%. ULTIMATE FINISH™ 25 contains a blend of vegetable oils, including soybean oil, rice bran and flaxseed in an extruded form fed at rates from one-fourth up to three pounds a day. ULTIMATE FINISH™ 40 contains a similar blend of oils in a soft pellet form added at rates of two to eight ounces per day. ULTIMATE FINISH™ 100, a dry vegetable oil product made in prill (or granular) form, most easily mixes with a sweet or texturized feed and can be included in the diet at two to eight ounces per day.
Q: Why is the protein so high in GRO 'N WIN®?
A: Horses require a specific amount of protein in grams per day. The average 1,100-pound idle horse requires about 600 grams of protein per day. Most of that protein requirement can be met with good quality forage. If fed at the recommended feeding rate of 1 ¼ pounds, GRO 'N WIN™ adds only 178 grams of protein to the total diet (32% crude protein x 1.25 pounds per day [0.56 kg] = 178 grams).
Q: How long does it take to switch my horse from one feed to your feed and what are the ratios per day?
A: Due to the physiology of the digestive tract, horses can be sensitive to dietary changes, especially with moderate to high levels of sugar and starch. Therefore, we suggest the following schedule:
| Day | % Existing Feed | % New Feed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80% existing feed | 20% new feed |
| 2 | 70% existing feed | 30% new feed |
| 3 | 60% existing feed | 40% new feed |
| 4 | 50% existing feed | 50% new feed |
| 5 | 40% existing feed | 60% new feed |
| 6 | 30% existing feed | 70% new feed |
| 7 | 20% existing feed | 80% new feed |
| 8 | 0% existing feed | 100% new feed |
Q: What is fixed formula and what does it mean to me?
A: Fixed formulation describes one method of horse feed manufacturing where the formulas and ingredients remain the same regardless of changing ingredient costs. What does this mean for your horse? A more consistent and quality product bag to bag.
Q: Where can I get my hay tested?
A: We offer a convenient hay analysis service.
More questions? Ask our experts.