Hello, Dr. Beth!
My husband & I have been feeding a wheat bran and low molasses beet pulp mash with about 1-1/2 cups veggie oil with our Empower. We are feeding 2 draft mares & 2 draft foals. The mothers are a Percheron (16.0 hh, 2000lbs,& 13 years old) & a Belgian (16.1hh, just under 2000lbs, & 10 years old). The foals are both 6 months old and were just weaned on Sunday (16 Nov). Our concern is to make sure that our Belgian is putting back the weight her son took out of her & that we can build up the muscle mass that she is lacking from her many pregnancies and lack of exercise before coming to us (both mares are former PMU broodmares -- these foals are their last babies). The Percheron is doing just fine as is her filly. Shortly after weaning we will be moving from NM to NJ. We have been told that it is difficult to get Empower in the North East. So, we are hoping to transition to a product that is readily accessible to us at our new home. We were introduced to Moorglow by Forage First. It is a high fiber & low starch/low sugar feed, but the fat content is less than the Empower. If we supplement with an oil/fat is this feed alright? We were also looking into Alliance 3D, also from Forage First, as our fat supplement (which we would mix into the bran/beet pulp mash to make sure that the fats mix completely with as little waste as possible). The only other element we would consider adding to their diet at this time would be a mineral supplement. We are currently feeding straight alfalfa as the hay of choice since it has the best nutrient content here in NM -- I know that will change when we move. Also, when can we start feeding grains (like a Jr. version of what we are feeding the mares) to the foals and how much? I know that if these draft babies grow too fast there can be lasting repercussions into their futures. And at what point should we feed a Sr formula? To our knowledge, these mares have never had good grains in their diets and I want them to have an enjoyable lifestyle as they age.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thanks,
Christine

Hi Christine. Sorry to be so long in responding - I was out of town early this week. There are lots of ways to feed high fat and fiber and low starch and sugar diets these days. The products you mention are fine. And senior feeds can be good for youngsters as well as older horses, because they are designed to be higher in fiber and in digestible protein, and lower in starch and sugar. For your Belgian mare I'd increase her oil intake slighlty along with increase in beet pulp to help her to regain weight and muscle safely. If your hay is good quality really the only supplement you will need will be vitamin E and selenium. This will be particularly important without alfalfa hay which has vitamin E and in this area which is very selenium deficient. I would definitely recommend weaning the foals onto a similar high fat and fiber and low starch and sugar diet. You likely need only aim for feeding about 1 cup oil = 0.5 lb fat per 1000 lbs of horse per day since they are so young with no signs of muscle problems. Some alfalfa or other high protein feed will be useful for them as they are growing, and I would also add a daily "broad spectrum" vitamin and mineral supplement designed to support healthy growth. Being fat will be much more of a potential health issue than growing too fast, so aim to keep them slightly on the ribby side for the next year or so. When the are grown and start in training I would recommend increasing their fat intake to provide the needed extra calories. I hope this helps, and good luck with all of them!