A Peek Inside Scout's Feed Bucket
The last one in my series of a peek in my horses’ feed buckets. This time it is Scout’s turn. Scout is a 10 year old solid paint mare who is essentially just a pet. We have owned her since she was born and I showed her in in-hand trail as a yearling and showmanship for a few years. She is a super easy keeper and we are always watching her weight. She gets semi-free choice bermuda hay (but do have to monitor her intake of it) and often times will use a slow feed hay bag to keep her from inhaling her portion all at once.
She got a little overweight this winter and her front feet became sore. My vet tested her insulin and diagnosed her as insulin resistance and suggested she go on a low starch feed, Thyrol powder (used to help induce weight loss in horses with insulin resistance, as well as aid in the prevention of laminitis) and a diet. After researching a wide variety of low starch feeds I decided on Triple Crown Lite which has an NSC value of 9.3% (any feed that has an NSC of 12% or lower is considered low starch). This reduced-calorie, grain and molasses free, feed is a heavily fortified formula and two pounds of Triple Crown Lite provides the same amount of vitamins and minerals that are normally provided in five to eight pounds of competitor feeds, making it ideal to feed an easy keeper. I have been thrilled with how Scout looks on it, maintaining her gorgeous copper penny shine while losing weight safely.
Luckily after switching feed and losing some weight she quit being sore and we were able to take her off the Thyrol powder and just maintain her with the Triple Crown Lite feed and some good supplements. Like her two brothers, Shooter and Dreamer she gets Farrier’s Formula Hoof Supplement. So far, it has been the only hoof supplement where I have actually been able to see a huge difference in the quality of all my horses’ hooves and am definitely a fan.
Since Scout is not a show horse and has never had a lot of joint trauma or any other issues she only ever took a hoof supplement with her feed. But after her bout with insulin resistance I have added SmartPak’s Smart-Metabo Lean and Smart Lamina. SmartMetabo-Lean Pellets are designed to help manage insulin resistance and obesity. This comprehensive formula supports healthy metabolic function by providing ingredients such as chromium and magnesium to support proper insulin function, along with vitamin E and other antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. It also includes cinnamon and bitter melon to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Since Scout’s first sign of insulin resistance was sore feet it was only natural to find her a supplement that will help support her lamina. SmartLamina Pellets are specially designed to help maintain laminar health in easy keepers and horses with insulin resistance or pituitary dysfunction. This innovative hoof health formula includes hops and omega 3 fatty acids, two ingredients demonstrated by research to support healthy laminae. SmartLamina Pellets also include the super-potent antioxidant Auradagex™ to combat oxidative stress in hoof tissues, along with MSM and devil’s claw to promote a healthy inflammatory response and help manage discomfort in the foot.
Hopefully keeping her on a healthy diet combined with supplements that support her metabolic system and hooves we can keep her weight and insulin in check so we don’t have any more flare ups.
That concludes a peek inside all of my horses’ feed buckets. You can read about Dreamer’s here and Shooter’s here if you missed them.
