Diet
The importance of a low sugar/starch, mineral balanced diet cannot be emphasized enough. Nutrition can be nearly as important as the trim when it comes to barefoot rehabs.
We source low sugar/starch hay with lower iron content, so easier to balance minerals per NRC guidelines. We test all hay to ensure it is safe for horses with metabolic issues (sugar + starch is well below 10%). Hay is available free choice 24/7 in slow feeders.
We feed a quality forage balancer, with minerals optimized as per hay analysis to fill in any nutritional gaps and mineral imbalances. Our area has very high iron forage, so extra copper and zinc are needed to offset the damaging effects of high iron and subsequent copper and zinc deficiencies. Our mineral mix also includes optimum amounts of magnesium, iodine, selenium, amino acids, vitamins, biotin, yeast and salt. Flax and/or fish oil for omega 3 fatty acids as well as adequate levels of natural vitamin E are added if not on quality pasture.
The customized balancer is the cornerstone to our nutrition program, and is fed in whatever carrier is appropriate for each horse. Typically this may be timothy pellets, ChaffHaye, Triple Crown Timothy Balance Cubes, Unbeetable pellets, and/or triple rinsed beet pulp.
Free choice extras
In addition to our science based precise nutrition plan, we also offer free choice minerals that the horses can self select if they wish. There is also plain white salt available in many locations.
We have planted an herb garden and multiple horse friendly hedgerows for the horses to browse as they grow through the fences within reach.
Fresh clean water is always available in either automatic waterers or troughs, as we have found that some horses prefer one or the other. Having both available also serves as extra assurance in case a waterer malfunctions or a trough runs out. We sometimes offer additional small tubs of water with additives (such as salt, clay, etc) alongside the troughs for self selection.
Supplements and meds
We are happy to add any supplements or medications provided by the owner. Each horse is fed separately to ensure they get their own specific diet. Medications can be administered by hand to be certain they were ingested. We have had many PPID horses on pergolide and are very familiar with appropriate handling, administration and management.