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Emura
Lv 6
Emura asked in PetsHorses · 8 years ago

Mare won't eat her supplements/will this go bad fast?

My mare recently got put on two extra supplements, electrolytes and probios. She also gets SmartMare Harmony and Aniflex GL, both of which she eats fine. I am required to premix her rations and since it is almost all powder it doesn't stick to the feed (I premake it in baggies). Right now she gets all in the morning and once I'm done with this batch of bags I'm going to split it between morning and evening. But until then I have 15 bags made up. Can I wet a few days worth (4 days tops) just to get the supplements to stick to her feed (she gets purina strategy)?

Update:

I'm not switching feed. She has done well for years on strategy. She probably doesn't need the electrolytes or probios, never has in the past, but I'm doing them just as an extra care step, just in case, but no, she has been in Strategy for 2 years now and is fine.

5 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    If its powder try putting the powder in a plastic bag with some cut up apples and wet fruits at feeding time and shake it up so it sticks to the fruit if your horse likes apples she will definitely eat it. Or wet some carrots and do the same. If she still doesn't eat it, add more fruit to the powder, it'll make a less concentration and harder to notice. Goodluck!

  • JSHalo
    Lv 6
    8 years ago

    I definitely would not wet them days in advance (or even hours). That's something that should be done at feeding time. If you board her, and you're concerned about them not wetting it, leave them water bottles (or whatever oil you use) to keep in the feed room to make it easier on whoever is feeding. If they won't take the time to wet it for you, they need a new job ;)

    Just as a side, since it was brought up, and not to judge you or try to convince you to change... I don't like Strategy, either. I've been managing barns for years, and NEVER had a horse colic on my watch until I moved to a barn that feeds Strategy. Now I've got colics left, right, and centre because the barn owner is adamant about what she feeds them (Strategy with a little Omelene... gag on the last bit!). She even gets her hay from the same man the rest of "my" barns do. The only difference is the grain. And there was a study done years ago that showed a higher incident of colic in horses that eat Strategy.

  • 8 years ago

    Four days should be okay, but no longer. Electrolytes and Probiotics work to keep the horses digestive system on track, and without these for an extended period of time you'll have a mare with an upset stomach and runny bowel movements. You should be okay, and think about switching feed, I don't like Purina Strategy, think about doing your research on new food so you won't need those Electrolytes and Probiotics because healthy mares shouldn't have to have those if their normal everyday diet is good. I hope this helps!

  • Driver
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    No, you shouldn't wet them days in advance - it will get nasty. Will the barn wet it for you when feeding? I make up my horses' morning feed the night before but leave the old guy's dry until I feed it. My son fed one evening and pre-wet the feed, and by the next morning it had a sour, fermenting smell to it already. I think you could get away with some pre-wetting in the wintertime, but definitely not now.

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  • CDog
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    I wouldn't wet them until just before use. It would encourage bacteria/mold growth.

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