But ShE dOeSnT fEeD hEr HoRsEs
Let’s talk about the number one insult in the equine industry. When they have nothing else to say, they say you don’t feed your horses.
You should NEVER have to brag about giving your horses hay/feed on social media. You shouldn’t have to post about picking up or having feed delivered. It gives off the impression that you only feed your horses when it’s convenient for likes/follows/social media drama.
We ALL feed our horses. We all have preferences on the feed/hay/supplements we provide our horses. For example, I don’t believe in molasses based lick tubs or gut health supplements that are liquified due to molasses. I’ve had some unfortunate luck with buying horses with founder and cushings over the past year so I am particular about what I feed. I have found sugar-free and molasses-free options for electrolytes, gastric health, and lick tubs.
Equilix 125lb tubs w/garlic
Finish Line Apple-A-Day electrolytes
Finish Line U7 Gastric Aid (the powder, not the liquid)
What works for me/my horses, won’t always work for your horses. SO many people love CEP products, I saw no results when I used it so I can’t say I’m a CEP fan. I used to love Purina, my barrel mare thrived on Ultium products. My off-the-track QH mare lost her mind on Purina. So since my barrel mare is now retired, I switched to Nutrena, which has been great for all horses of all different shapes in a single pasture. Again, just because it works for me and my horses, doesn’t mean it will work for you. I love CubeIt alfalfa cubes, alfalfa in Oklahoma isn’t always great, and freight for out of state, blister beetle free alfalfa isn’t always feasible, so we offer alfalfa cubes. When a pallet breaks down to $14/bag, that feeds far more horses than a small square of alfalfa for $19/bale. But previously, I was anti-cubes due to fear of choke. And most people fear this, so if you don’t want to feed cubes, I understand that. Do what’s best for you/your horses.
I’m not going to give you my feed routine, because again what works for my horses probably won’t work for you. It takes trial and error, lots of patience, and a lot of research to find what works. Don’t be quick to stir the pot and say “she doesn’t feed her horses” when you disagree with someone’s feed routine. People like that are what’s wrong with the industry, and more often than not, are reflecting their own personal wrongdoings onto others on social media.
Be better, do better, and worry about your own horses. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is as a buyer when you have the seller in your DMs telling you how to feed your horses, but yet that same person hasn’t trimmed a horse’s hooves that they’ve owned for 2 years, hasn’t floated a broodmare’s teeth in over 2 years, and didn’t know that two different 5-figure horses you bought had OCDs or were foundering, but they have the audacity to tell you how to feed horses they no longer own.
We all feed our horses. Not everyone takes care of them beyond feeding them, and that is why this industry sucks for the people who do care for, and about, their horses.
