Supplements are frustrating!!!

[BrittanyG]

So, I am trying to get my horses started on a supplement plan. It is sooo hard though trying to decide what is best, and not too expensive. I found this site called SmartPak, and I was wondering if anyone else has used/is using them? It is pretty cool that I can customize the supplements that each of my horses get. I want to start my mare on this stuff call RelaxHer (an herbal blend) to see if it helps with her skittishness and nervousness, but my gelding does not need it. They also compare their prices with the prices of buying in bulk, and they seem like the better deal, especially after shipping costs of bulk items. The shipping is a flat rate of $7.50 or so, which is REALLY GOOD! They ship them out every 28 days, and it seems to be cheaper than buying in bulk. They come in these little pudding like paks (one for every day), with each horses individual names and what each supplement is.

Anyway, what do you all use? Other than the RelaxHer, I want them both on a vitamin and mineral supplement and some electolytes and also something for their coat.

[palomino]

I love Horse Guard or Trifecta, and SmartPak offers neither, so I just get mine at the feed store. I have considered trying something else, but Im spooked to switch supplements since these work so well as a multi purpose vitamin. Besides the daily wormer, Trifecta is all that Izzy gets right now. And that is about out LOL.
I actually was thinking of doing the SmartPaks when I get the new filly, but Im still tossing it around.

[WashingtonBay]

Lots of people use SpartPak... Very reputable company for packaging and combining supplements.

On the issue of supplements in general... MOST are not needed and are just expensive pee, as my vet says, if the diet you feed is a balanced one.

[Remali]

Many years ago I used Clovite on my horses, they did really well and had nice coats. SmartPak has a very good rep and a lot of people really do like them. I think supplements enhance a horse's diet and can be really beneficial.

[BrittanyG]

Lots of people use SpartPak... Very reputable company for packaging and combining supplements.

On the issue of supplements in general... MOST are not needed and are just expensive pee, as my vet says, if the diet you feed is a balanced one.

Haha! That's funny! But, how do I know if I am feed a balanced diet? That is what I am worried about...and why I am looking into supplementing.

[Remali]

You could have your hay checked for nutritional value if you are concerned about how good it is.....
But basically, by feeding the best quality hay that you can, and a little good quality grain, you can't go wrong.
I like a nice grass hay, that way horses are able to much on it all day long. And then a little bit of grain, depending on the individual horse.

http://www.southernstates.com/articles/cl/haypasstest.aspx

[Gypsy Rose]

First of all, maybe you could post your horses' diets here? There are several very knowledgable people that could help you. Then, if supplements are needed, I would call SmartPak, and have one of their product specialists help you find just the right ones. I've been using SmartPaks for over 3 years, and don't know how I got along without them. But that's me, with a senior horse that needs multiple supplements, lol!:)

SmartPak also sells most of their supplements in bulk, as well, though, and with the flat rate shipping, you just can't go wrong.

The main thing is to make sure supplements are truly needed before shelling out money on them.

[Vegashorselady]

I've ordered from smartpak before and they are a great company to deal with. I've used them in the past when I was giving my older mares joint supplements.

[Remali]

What kind of hay and grain are you feeding?

[BrittanyG]

Right now, both horses get orchard grass hay in a slow-feeder net 24/7. I also feed beet pulp, wheat bran, whole oats, whole barley, electrolytes (which I am hoping that maybe smartpak can help me with), and black oil sunflower seeds. I feed it to them in the evenings only. I feed about 2 cups of the wheat bran, 1 1/2 cups of the oats and barley, 1/4 cup of the sunflower seeds, 1 scoop of the electolytes, and about 2 cups (maybe less) of the beet pulp. I make it REALLY soupy, with tons of water. They have to slurp it up! lol!!

[BrittanyG]

oh yah, and they are also getting a daily dose of Quiessence (magnesium supplement), that was supposed to help Pixie's nervousness, but she has been on it for a month and there is no change, which is why I am considering the herbal supplement. My only issue with the herbal, is that when I do decide to show her, the herbals will show up on a drug test, and that is not allowed.

[suncolorsranch]

I agree I just hate that there are so many different brands, kinds, combos, etc. It really can be overwhelming. It seems as though supplements have really become quite their own industry almost.

We use many of the Adeptus supplements and have been pretty happy with them. I have taken horses off and really noticed a difference after a couple months in thier coat especially with and without Gleam & Gain. Good luck!!

http://www.adeptusnutrition.com/pages/equine.html

[BrittanyG]

Well, I think I know what I am going to put them on.

This:
SmartVite EZ Keeper Grass Pellets
SmartPak
Item #17890
Our Price: As Low As: $16.95
Form: Pellets
Maintenance Dose: 1 SmartPak Well
NEW - PELLETS! A comprehensive vitamin and mineral formula designed to meet the nutritional needs of the easy keeper being fed little or no fortified grain, and hay or pasture that is grass or a grass/alfalfa mix. These tasty pellets can easily be fed alone, without grain!

In addition to a comprehensive and balanced selection of vitamins and minerals, SmartVite EZ Keeper Grass Pellets provide amino acids and essential fatty acids, along with pre and probiotics for digestive health.

And this:

SmartCalm®
SmartPak
Item #14501
Our Price: As Low As: $16.60
Form: Powder
Maintenance Dose: 1 SmartPak Well

Is your horse spooky, nervous and inattentive? Do you wish he would focus more on you and less on that shadow in the corner? Consider SmartCalm®!This economical, non-herbal formula supports proper nervous system function, helping to minimize skittishness. SmartCalm® contains 5,000 mg of Magnesium, 550 mg of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), 2,000 mg of Inositol (a relative of the B vitamins) and 4,000 mg of Taurine, all shown to be helpful for nervous animals. A customer favorite!

What do you all think? I will also continue feeding them a little bit of the wheat bran and beet pulp, just for some extra calories, at least for the winter.

[Gypsy Rose]

That's making a lot more sense to me than all the extra feeds. Might even be cheaper in the long run. Let us know how it works!:)

[Remali]

That does sound like a good plan!

[Peggy Sue]

You might also get rid of the oats and barley :) They are both pretty high in sugars and starches which can cause behavior problems.. I also had problems with all three of mine on BOSS :)

[BrittanyG]

You might also get rid of the oats and barley :) They are both pretty high in sugars and starches which can cause behavior problems.. I also had problems with all three of mine on BOSS :)

Yes, that is what I was thinking too. I think I will finish up what I have, and then not get those again. I want to order my new supplements right now, but the hubby says I have to finish up what I have first...maybe I will dump a little bit every day in the trash...lol!!!

[palomino]

LMAO I think its funny when my hubby tells me what to do with my horses.

Hubby: You need (insert what I want) ? What happened to x?
Me: Ummmm, yeah. You dont know horses, soooooo, yeah....
Non-horsey hubby: Oh. That sucks, stuffs expensive.
Me: LOL

[BrittanyG]

LMAO I think its funny when my hubby tells me what to do with my horses.

Hubby: You need (insert what I want) ? What happened to x?
Me: Ummmm, yeah. You dont know horses, soooooo, yeah....
Non-horsey hubby: Oh. That sucks, stuffs expensive.
Me: LOL


That's funny! That is how is usually goes in our house, except that I just bought all of the other grain...the bags are still more than half full, so I am going to use them up just a little more, and then get what I want, lol! He is so a non-horsey husband, but I really appreciate him because he does put up with a lot. For instance, I was supposed to sell my paint when I bought Pixie, but that has changed! He said, "I knew this was going to happen. I should have made you sell Baby first. Well, now we have two horses I guess." Lol! He agrees with your husband and tells me all the time, "Couldn't you have picked a cheaper hobby?" lol. As long as he gets his PS3 games, he is usually ok with whatever I have to buy for the horses! It works out pretty good. :money:

[cheval]

Haha! That's funny! But, how do I know if I am feed a balanced diet? That is what I am worried about...and why I am looking into supplementing.

Talk to your vet. He will know what is needed for your horse. It's likely the horse doesn't need half or all of the stuff you are wanting to give him.

Good feed will give them pretty much everything they need unless there is a deficiency in your area (we have a selenium deficiency in this area).

[palomino]

HAHA!! I think our hubbys would get along great! The same thing happened to us when I decided to get that palo- I couldnt part with my appy- heck I cant even stand to see someone else ride her poorly! So we are plus one also!!
The whole time I was pregnant with my daughter I couldnt ride, so I played it up and he cleaned stalls or went and fed for a year LMAO! I went out about twice a week. Hes a great guy and even though its not his passion, he respects that its mine. And he knows I would have a nervous breakdown and everyone elses life would be hell with out my hobby LMAO!!!!!

[Peggy Sue]

if you get the total diet as close to balanced as possible the rest will follow :) Everythign your trying to fix can normally be fixed with diet and training :)

[Peggy Sue]

Men that marry horse women are a breed apart to put with us and our critters LOL

if you have seen my surgery post we all know I am down... Queen Sassy is starting to show her sassyness at Mike and tried to kick him last night(BAD SASSY) he just smiles and leaves her be... now mess with his RosieAss and watch out LOL

[Gypsy Rose]

Men that marry horse women are a breed apart to put with us and our critters LOL

if you have seen my surgery post we all know I am down... Queen Sassy is starting to show her sassyness at Mike and tried to kick him last night(BAD SASSY) he just smiles and leaves her be... now mess with his RosieAss and watch out LOL

OMG! I can only imagine...

[babycakes]

So, I am trying to get my horses started on a supplement plan. It is sooo hard though trying to decide what is best, and not too expensive. I found this site called SmartPak, and I was wondering if anyone else has used/is using them? It is pretty cool that I can customize the supplements that each of my horses get. I want to start my mare on this stuff call RelaxHer (an herbal blend) to see if it helps with her skittishness and nervousness, but my gelding does not need it. They also compare their prices with the prices of buying in bulk, and they seem like the better deal, especially after shipping costs of bulk items. The shipping is a flat rate of $7.50 or so, which is REALLY GOOD! They ship them out every 28 days, and it seems to be cheaper than buying in bulk. They come in these little pudding like paks (one for every day), with each horses individual names and what each supplement is.

Anyway, what do you all use? Other than the RelaxHer, I want them both on a vitamin and mineral supplement and some electolytes and also something for their coat.

I am not sure if this will be of any help to you, but I am an English lady rider now living on a cattle station down here in New Zealand and since arriving here to live (3 years) I have found a range of Equine supplement products that are incredible. They are an organic line of products called "Top Stock Equestrian" products, they make a product for "Headshakers", a product for "Calming & De Tox" and also a product for "General Maintenance". A friend or mine in England put me on to them when she visited New Zealand about 4 years ago and brought some back to England....now that I live here and can get them I wouldn't ever use anything else for my horses...These rpoducts are balanced and contain just about everything a horse could need on a daily basis, and horses love the taste....They have taken my horses health to a new high level, and the products are not too costly, and as you know New Zealand is "clean and green", and they breed and raise great horses.

Let me know if you can get them where you are and if not then I will ask the local agent where I live who is the agent in your part of the world, oh yes let me know the part of the world that you live in.

Kindest wishes and best regards "Babycakes"

[Gypsy Rose]

I am not sure if this will be of any help to you, but I am an English lady rider now living on a cattle station down here in New Zealand and since arriving here to live (3 years) I have found a range of Equine supplement products that are incredible. They are an organic line of products called "Top Stock Equestrian" products, they make a product for "Headshakers", a product for "Calming & De Tox" and also a product for "General Maintenance". A friend or mine in England put me on to them when she visited New Zealand about 4 years ago and brought some back to England....now that I live here and can get them I wouldn't ever use anything else for my horses...These rpoducts are balanced and contain just about everything a horse could need on a daily basis, and horses love the taste....They have taken my horses health to a new high level, and the products are not too costly, and as you know New Zealand is "clean and green", and they breed and raise great horses.

Let me know if you can get them where you are and if not then I will ask the local agent where I live who is the agent in your part of the world, oh yes let me know the part of the world that you live in.

Kindest wishes and best regards "Babycakes"

Welcome, Babycakes!

[BrittanyG]

I am not sure if this will be of any help to you, but I am an English lady rider now living on a cattle station down here in New Zealand and since arriving here to live (3 years) I have found a range of Equine supplement products that are incredible. They are an organic line of products called "Top Stock Equestrian" products, they make a product for "Headshakers", a product for "Calming & De Tox" and also a product for "General Maintenance". A friend or mine in England put me on to them when she visited New Zealand about 4 years ago and brought some back to England....now that I live here and can get them I wouldn't ever use anything else for my horses...These rpoducts are balanced and contain just about everything a horse could need on a daily basis, and horses love the taste....They have taken my horses health to a new high level, and the products are not too costly, and as you know New Zealand is "clean and green", and they breed and raise great horses.

Let me know if you can get them where you are and if not then I will ask the local agent where I live who is the agent in your part of the world, oh yes let me know the part of the world that you live in.

Kindest wishes and best regards "Babycakes"

Thank you very much for that! I will definitely look into them. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

[palomino]

Be careful with telling someone within their first post alot of information about yourself on the internet, Brit!!
No offense if babycakes is legit, just be cautious. We have been getting alot of overseas spam lately.

[BrittanyG]

Be careful with telling someone within their first post alot of information about yourself on the internet, Brit!!
No offense if babycakes is legit, just be cautious. We have been getting alot of overseas spam lately.

Yah, it says it right below my name though on every post! lol!

[BrittanyG]

Very good advice though.... I don't really know how to change that either?

[WashingtonBay]

Be careful with telling someone within their first post alot of information about yourself on the internet, Brit!!
No offense if babycakes is legit, just be cautious. We have been getting alot of overseas spam lately.

Yea, and I think that person is probably spam. To the extent that it's at least on topic about supplements and isn't linking to a Viagra site, I'll leave it.

Brittany, if you want to hide your location you can change that in your settings in your profile... but city and state isn't really too much info... It's really nice to be able to see where people are from on the forum. :) I think palomino was probably just warning about going any further!

[BrittanyG]

Yea, and I think that person is probably spam. To the extent that it's at least on topic about supplements and isn't linking to a Viagra site, I'll leave it.

Brittany, if you want to hide your location you can change that in your settings in your profile... but city and state isn't really too much info... It's really nice to be able to see where people are from on the forum. :) I think palomino was probably just warning about going any further!

Gotchya! Thanks! I think I will leave it, but it is nice to know that I can change it if I want!

[palomino]

Just a heads to be cautious- city and state are no biggie, just to be careful with the rest of your info.

[pandorasmom]

I just wanted to pop in on this, even if late, and say Smartpak is a great company! I've no problems when I've got from them and they are wonderful to work with, and ship super fast.