Through economic ups and downs, feeding horses top quality nutrition remains a priority for healthy, happy lives. Cutting corners on your horses’ nutrition can impact their overall wellbeing, so considering ways you can optimize the diet while being conscious of your budget can be a cost-savings measure while also ensuring your equine friend doesn’t go without essential nutrients obtained through the diet.
Our budget-friendly nutrition plan – the Masterfeeds Co-Care Program – is one built to meet the requirements for maintenance and light performance horses. The feeds in this program provide quality, balanced nutrition for your school horses, pleasure performance and easier keepers so you provide the nutrients they need in the most effective way possible.
Light Performance Feeds – Quality Protein, Energy and Fat
Despite what we may think, many horses fall in to the “light performance” category, even when working multiple times per week, particularly those naturally easy keepers. Unless partaking in strenuous exercise or extensive travel, light performance feeds are a suitable complete feed for the active horse.
Our budget friendly 12% Light Performance pellets and 12% Fat ‘N’ Fibre pellets provide well rounded nutrition for your horses’ daily needs in a maintenance type activity level. Both pellets provide a safe, elevated fibre level making them easy to digest. In addition, they are fortified with our organic chelated trace minerals for optimal absorption of those necessary daily vitamins and minerals. Fed alongside good quality hay, these two products are sure to fulfill the requirements of virtually any horse in your stable at a reasonable price point.
When used at the suggested rates, these maintenance pellets do not require added supplementation, which can further help with simplifying your feed program. For those harder keepers in your stable, Fat ‘N’ Fibre offers a slightly higher fat content than the Light Performance pellet so would be the go to choice for horses that consistently need a little extra. Both of these feeds are the perfect cost saving choices for riding schools, boarding stables, or trainers looking for basic fat and fibre diets at any time – not just during stressful economic times.
Supplements and Hay Extenders – Ration Balancers and Fibrous Energy
Included in our Co-Care program is Easy Cube, a cubed supplement for those on a diet consisting primarily of hay or simple grains. Some of us are lucky enough to have extremely easy keepers year round – we’re talking the horses that look at that fresh spring grass and seem to expand before our very eyes! These horses do not need any added fat in the diet. They do need added supplementation for their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals absent in North American soil. Easy Cube is an easy solution (pun intended) to fill that nutritional void. If you are feeding primarily hay, grass pasture, or a base grain diet, adding Easy Cubes provides a good daily dose of organic trace minerals and vitamins.
Completing our Co-Care program is our sought after Rx Roughage cubes. A cube intended to be a hay stretcher in times of short supply, it can also be used when owners want to conserve the quality long-stem fibre they have. Rx Roughage cubes provide lower levels of vitamin and mineral supplementation, allowing it to be fed at higher rates safely. The elevated fibre levels make it ideal for horses who: a) require more fibre in their overall diet for digestive tract efficiency and health, or b) seniors or horses that struggle with loose manure, or dehydration.
Keep in mind that hay extenders are not meant to replace all fibre sources in the horses’ diet. Rx Roughage cubes can be an economical choice to prolong the life of your good quality hay and provide great quality nutrients.
Good horse nutrition is always imperative for overall health and wellness. Taking time to review your feed program is a way to make sure you supply all the daily requirements for healthiness inside and out. If saving some money with price friendly products is a goal, our Masterfeeds representatives are available to go over your program. These Co-Care products may be a fit for your operation. Check out the links to our Masterfeeds Co-Care Program products below!
For more information or to schedule an on-farm call or hay analysis from one of our reps, visit our website, contact us, or email us directly at: happyhorses@masterfeeds.com
Product Spotlight
12% LIGHT PERFORMANCE (PELLET)
FOR MAINTENANCE AND LIGHT PERFORMANCE HORSES
A complete and balanced 12% protein ration that meets the needs of horses in light to moderate work and comes at a budget friendly price point.
EASY CUBE (CUBE)
FOR EASY KEEPERS AND EXTRA NUTRIENTS
A 12% protein, vitamin and mineral supplement designed to be fed with hay for horses who need little to no grain to maintain weight. Easy Cube can be fed alone or as a vitamin and mineral topdress in addition to other feeds.
RX ROUGHAGE (CUBE)
MULTI-USE FOR MATURE HORSES & PONIES
A high fibre cube used as a hay stretcher/extender at times when hay is in short supply. It is also ideal for horses with respiratory or dental issues and, with lower vitamin and mineral levels, is safe to be fed at high rates.
12% FAT ‘N’ FIBRE (PELLET)
FOR MAINTENANCE AND LIGHT PERFORMANCE HORSES
A complete and balanced controlled starch feed at a budget friendly price point. It is a perfect choice for riding schools and trainers looking for a good, basic higher fibre, added fat ration.
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- MasterCare Life Plan: Feeding for the Lifetime of Your Horse