Feeding Supplements....how to disguise them!

[nappy-R-us]

Hi all


Another day, another question......

I was recommended Topspec Calmer for my heavyweight Cob, Socks as he is very nervy and very spooky.

I got some yesterday and having read the box after I got home in detail (should have read it at the saddlery but kids were creating havoc in shop!) I now know you are supposed to mix it into damp feed.

Socks had been very overweight when I got him so he only needed forage. But I was having issues getting him to stay in stable long enough for me to shut the door so I introduced a handful of "dengi good-doer" in a feed trug that he would happily pop his head down into giving me time to get out of stable without him following!!

However, with spring grass upon us I had ceased feeding this but last night I mixed some of the dengie with the calmer (two scoops of apple flavour powder!) and added water and it sort of made a glupey mash.

However, it is SILL untouched this morning! Not going to calm him much like that or me at £20.50 a tub to get thrown away!!!

So, any thoughts on something I can mix it with that is low in calories and proteins but palatable to most horses. failing that, any other advice on how supplements are best disguised in feed

Regards

Clare and Socks

[martini55]

I used to always disguise bute by either mixing molasses into her feed or mixing it with jam and puting it on a sandwich. I know its different with feed supplements, but you could try the first.

[Gemma16]

I had the same problems when I had to try and get two sachets of bute down a lamantic pony. He wouldn't touch his feed with even half a packet in. I used to end up having to put it onto a treacle butty. This isn't very healthy proberbly for horses but it worked wonders.

I would only use this as a VERY last resort though.

It is hard as you can only feed very limited amounts to you horse, he will be able to taste more. could you try adding a smaller amount and gradually ading it in. Or put something equally as pungent in his feed like garlic? this might help disguise the flavour of the new suplement.

[Moody Mare]

I too was going to sugest feeding it in a breadsandwich of some sort - but that might be a problem if it needs to be mixed into damp feed.

You could *try*, although I'm not sure how well it would work, disguising it into treats such as apples or carrots.

Or failing thay, adding something 'tasty' into his feed so he doesn't notice the supplements!

[nappy-R-us]

I tried being a nasty mum tonight and when I brought him in there was no forage in the stable just the trug of feed with the calmer in it.

Thought if he was hungry enough he'd HAVE to eat it.....hmmm......well, he spent over an hour just sniffing at it before deciding to eat his bedding instead!

Back to the drawing board I think!!

The sandwich is a great idea but he needs two scoops of this calmer at 50g a scoop! No wonder it's hard to disguise! He's never had a damp feed before so I am not suprised he's refusing it....might not be the taste could be the texture


Will work on it!


Thanks

Clare

[martini55]

Maybe it is the smell of the supplement that he dislikes rather than the taste, and in that case maybe garlic will the answer. If not then you are best adding it in small amounts first and gradually increasing it over time.

[galadriel]

Applesauce!

I only use it occasionally, for hiding meds or for giving via syringe (so that when I give meds/wormer via syringe, they are inclined to permit it ;)) But my girls like it a lot.

[nappy-R-us]

Galadriel....apple sauce....I know I'd like that!! This Topspec Calmer is in fact apple flavoured so I doubt that would work on socks though! It smells yummy...like breakfast cereal bars in fact!

I have already gone from trying to be the nasty mum hoping he'd just eat it instead of going hungry to the mum who went out with scissors and chopped up some haylage we made last autumn and adding that to the feed tub also. (he loves haylage....sulks when I feed it to the bulls but not him! However, extra protein could make him more "fizzy" so I only feed him hay) Anyway, that didn't work either!

Given up for today....will try yet again tomorrow. Sandwiches, garlic and apple sauce are on the menu!

Will let you know how we get on!

Regards

Clare

[HairyCob]

Hi Clare!

It's all good fun, isn't it?!

Have you tried giving him the damp feed without the supplement- if he'll eat it without, at least you'll know it's the supplement he's objecting to!

If that is the case I'd try putting a teaspoon of calmer in to start with, and building it up..... or garlic is always a good idea- have never yet met a horse that won't eat garlic, and it's good for them in small amounts and won't 'fizz' him up!

The only other thing I can think of is olive oil.... sainsbury's do a 'mild and fruity' one that HC will practically kill for.... I'm quite sure he'd eat his own leg if it had that on it! It certainly works when trying to convince HC that his 'boring' chaff (with sweetitch supplement in it!) is worth eating!;)

Good luck!:D

[nappy-R-us]

Claire

As you can see.....calmer supplement not going down too well! Two steps forwards, one step back......yadder yadder

I had never even thought about trying to feed the dengie damp to see what it is he is objecting to. How blonde is that of me?

Will try that later. My friend has a finickity horse and he has asthma and has to have anything and everything fed damp....she recommended moli-chop as it has more taste to it. Have no idea what it is....didn't want to seem even blonder by asking her but I am assuming, from the name, that is is chopped molasses (But being a bit on the dense side it is perhaps anything but!) If any of you feed Moli is it just a packer like the dengie or is my horse likely to gain weight on it or fizziness?

Oil...hmmmm.......sounds disgusting if you ask me but I am willing to give anything a go. Can you imagine how I explain this to my already bankrupt hubby....oh yeah it was £20 but I throw it on the muck heap everyday with the used bedding!!!! Whoopsie poopsie!!

I'm glad my post amused you......I try to make light out of things to take the sheer blinding panic away way I remember what happend. My chasing hubby actually was to fault for the bolt happening in the first instance....I was trying to get a very unfit socks to trot across the field but he kept stopping to put head down to grass every few strides...When I got him going for the upmtheenth time hubby took it upon himself (there goes that infinite wisdom again) to run up along me with the hope that Socks would follow....thing is when he was alongside Socks turned, took one look at him and .........kepoow....booom.....ROAD RUNNER!!!!!!!!

You live and learn.....no running behind my horsey thankyou very much! I dread meeting a jogger on the road!

Like I said I have made progress and there is still a very long way to go. I have just started sitting to canter so my confidence is growing from there as I don't fear Socks taking off so much now in canter as there is no longer any need for me to pull him up.

I could do with looking at how he cow kicks me though as I walk around to mount! Sneeky little mule, he's gone from bit evasion to rider evasion!! HA HA HA HA HA

Will defo get round to posting some pics.....will work on that later...


Clare

[nappy-R-us]

But really....garlic???

God I hate the smell of garlic. My daughter keeps eating garlic bread at school....makes me heave in the car on the way home! Now my horse will have garlic breath too???? YAK!!!

It's all for the good of him though I suppose....so I will perhaps give it a go!

Thanks for all the tips

Clare

[Measwell]

We buy a spray from Robinsons that goes into the feed, you can get different flavours aswell. Disguises wormer brilliantly!:D

[nappy-R-us]

Robinsons.....hmmmm.....I love ordering from them......will cost me though.....no way I can just click buy for one item only!!!

It's just too tempting....new jods, headcollars in every colour under the sun, blah blah yadder yadder

Thanks for that tip!

[Measwell]

I know what you mean I end buying loads of stuff!!!!

Its just to easy to add stuff to the order and pay later!:D

[nappy-R-us]

I pay for mine at time of order....using hubby's debit card!!

Takes the pain out of spending so much knowing it's not coming out of my account!!!!

Poor hubby!!!

[Lovecat]

Does he like carrots?

A tip I was given (never had to use it, Murphy will eat anything & everything including his rugs and his nice new V-bandz leg wraps (apparently the mud on them acted as a kind of garnish...:rolleyes: ) is to grate carrots and apples into the mix - they are quite moist when grated so should mix well with the damp feed. Apparently it works wonders...

[nappy-R-us]

I very nearly grated carrots last night into it. He is a carrot monster. I used to feed them every day but vet said they can make a horse impacted...especially if, like Socks, they have never eaten anything other than grass!

I will try that tonight. Will spend more time and effort feeding the horse than my kids and hubby....will just go to confirm to the hubby that he is way down on my list of priorities......Socks defo tops the poll!!!


Thanks...will defo try that later....great idea! Grated he can't "pick" them out of it ...... great thinking batman!

[nappy-R-us]

lovecat.....you should reply now...


...sure is robbin!!!


I know, not great at humour but I am soooooo bored today!

[Lovecat]

*groan*

Sorry, slow today! (both computer and myself...)

My OH know exactly where he stands in the pecking order - below Murph AND both the cats...

[nappy-R-us]

My hubby is seriously starting to believe my once very jokey comment that I only married him for the opportunity to have free livery! :D

(he is a dairy farmer, three stables, 170+ acres, hay and straw in abundance!!)

I do love him....HONEST!!!

[Lovecat]

Does he have a brother?? :p

*draws up divorce papers*

[nappy-R-us]

Lovecat....it gets better he is an ONLY child!! I do know how to pick them!!!