All
Mixed Up
Q.
My trainer advised me to mix my feed with oats – will
this affect the nutritional balance of the feed? Should I
add any supplements to the blend?
A. Mixing oats,
or any grains with feed, changes the concentration and ratio
of nutrients that are formulated to meet the needs of horses.
Additionally, adding oats provides no real benefit to the
horse. “I’ve heard it explained like this”
states Larry Mack, equine nutritionist, “mixing grain
with balanced feed usually makes the ‘person’
feel good but it does not necessarily do anything for the
good of the horse.”
If you do decide
to mix oats with your feed you will need to rebalance the
mixture with a mixing concentrate like Seminole Equalizer.
How much Equalizer you will need to use will vary depending
upon the amount of oats that are used. Generally speaking
the rule is to add ½ pound of Equalizer for every 4
pounds of oats.
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