Q: I am trying to decide on a good feed for my 18-year-old gelding. He had a bout with laminitis about two years ago & I have been afraid to feed him ever since. He has been on pasture (at night only), good grass hays, beet pulp and Farrier's Formula. Now my vet says he is losing muscle tone & needs a low-starch, high fat, 10-percent complete feed. Can you recommend a product? Any help you can give me on this will be greatly appreciated. -- Seffner, Florida

A: Seminole Senior Formula is made exactly for horses like yours. Its low-starch formula helps prevent additional occurrences with laminitis problems, and at the same time it provides a source of calories (digestible fibers and fat) that horses can absorb, utilize and gain weight on. It also contains yucca as an anti-inflammatory, MOS (mannanoligasaccharide) that binds pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract and a mycotoxin binder. Any of these situations can be a contributor to laminitis problems and to maintaining weight.

Spillers/Seminole HDF Pellet is also a low-starch, high-digestible fiber product that you may consider using for safe weight gain.

We always recommend free access to Seminole Grass Balancer Horse Mineral Blocks for a source of minerals. These blocks are concentrated enough for horses that are on mostly grass hay or pasture. The trace minerals in the block are helpful to the horse to develop good hoof, skin, hair, bone muscle, tendon and all of the endocrine and digestive functions.

Q: I am a breeder in Tallahassee, breeding Warmblood/Thoroughbred crosses (more TB than Warmblood) I have been feeding Equine Junior and coastal hay as directed. I have some concerns about the digestible energy as I have had several bone/growth issues over the years.
I would like to know what you would recommend feeding. I have four weanlings born in April 2003 about 550 pounds (in October 2003). One has physitis, one wants to get a clubby foot, and the other two are fine. I prefer a complete feed rather than feeding lots of supplements. I offer free-choice coastal hay and only a mineral salt block. --Talahassee, Florida

A: You are experiencing the “joys” of raising babies. Seminole's program for raising foals starts with our Mare and Foal Formula when the foals are born. Then, at weaning, switch the mare back to her maintenance ration and keep the foal on the Mare and Foal Formula until 12 months of age. With your situation, I would not change to the Mare and Foal at this time as it may cause more of the problems you are facing now. I would put them on Seminole Blue Ribbon 12+ sweet feed or Seminole Gold Chance 12+ pellets. These products are formulated to support the bone, tendon and muscle growth your young horses are experiencing during their first years of rapid growth. They are both 12 percent total protein but with added lysine, which is the first limiting amino acid for growth. They also contain levels of calcium, phosphorus, chelated trace minerals, vitamins, yeast culture and soy oil that support growth and development.

The breeding of your horses suggest that they might mature later than most light breeds, so I would continue with this feed program until they are 4-5 years of age, depending on whether they show more of the Thoroughbred or Warmblood characteristics. Most light breeds are mature at 3-3.5 years.
Free-choice salt mineral blocks are recommended to be available to horses year-round. Be sure to use a “free-choice” mineral block that is made for horses, such as Seminole Grass Balancer Horse Mineral. These products are soft enough that horses can eat off of them, yet they are waterproof so they don't wash away. Trace mineral blocks do not contain sufficient mineral concentration to support horses’ needs.

When you begin training, if you experience hyper characteristics in your horses, you may want to try one of the low-starch feeds: Spillers/Seminole, Seminole Victory ! sweet feed, Seminole Challenge or Seminole Senior Formula.