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kirst
Silver Member
Scotland
460 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 11:54:23 AM
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Hi folks,
I was wondering if anyone has tried any of the Thunderbrook feeds or balancers?
A friend has recommended the equestrian base mix to me.
Kirsty
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 12:54:12 PM
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| Not heard of those, I have used Lo cal by Baileys,and Think pink both seemed ok. |
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zooscat
Gold Member
United Kingdom
882 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 1:36:30 PM
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| All mine have done really well on TopSpec Balancers. |
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basbob
Gold Member
France
1356 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 3:14:11 PM
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I always liked saracen. Maybe because it smelt like shortbread!
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 4:57:55 PM
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Hi Kirsty, I use Thunderbrook base mix and it is fabulous. Really cannot speak highly enough of it. I'd already bought my winter feed i.e. Pura beet by Simple Systems, grass nuts, Timothy Hay chop and I have always, on and off, used soaked whole oats although at the moment using Naked Oats which I soak. I was told about the Thunderbrook base mix so bought a small sample and found it really good. Because I already had my winter feed I only use a little in each feed, i.e. a small scoop which holds about 10 or 15 ml.
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kirst
Silver Member
Scotland
460 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 6:08:54 PM
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I have used TopSpec in the past too and thought it was great. It seemed to also promote excellent condition in my horses hooves.
CATE, thanks for that. What do you like so much about the base mix and why would you recommend it? |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 9:30:08 PM
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Hi Kirst,
All my 4 (3 arabs and a pony) are on Thunderbrook feeds. I think it's absolutely fabulous. Debbie is really knowledgable and helpful.
Mine have basemix, bran (for the fatties) and dried grass for the other 2, then the "herbs that horses seek" blend. They've also been on her herbal dewormer (though i do an equest pramox every autumn just to make sure they're done for bots and tapes) clear worm counts so far.
All of min e have really glossy coats and good feet. They love their feed, lick the bowls clean.
I'm really happy with it. They used to all be on top spec, but their coats weren't as glossy and their hooves looked dry and brittle.
Ros |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 02:03:37 AM
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Kirsty, I completely second what Ros (Mogwai) has said. Horses have fabulous soft coats, lick their bowls clean, good hooves seem to be really happy in themselves and just look so healthy. I've also tried the wormer with great success, but for 7 years have used Silver Lining Herbs wormer. Although I have noticed a difference in all my horses Ahanu has especially blossomed on this mix; his mane and tail are looking the best they've ever looked since I bought him three years ago.
Ros, Must try the "herbs that horses seek"
I have used everything from the Simple Systems mix, to different balancers, Equi Jewel which is fabulous, but I must say out of them all I find Thunderbrook's base mix produces better with very little. |
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Edited by - Cate on 10 Mar 2011 02:06:22 AM |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 07:08:29 AM
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Yes, i totally agree about manes. 3 of Mine have really thick glossy manes, the third rubbed half of hers out in the spring last year (pre thunderbrook) but it growing back so thick and lovely.
Give Debbie a call. She's so passionate about what she does, and everything she says just makes perfect sense to me. There are some people who say the basemix is too high in starch to be any good for lamanitics, but you only feed it in such small amounts. My lamanitic has done superbly on it.
The herbs that horses seek is a blend of herbs for horses that don't have access to natural varied browse. There is a winter and a summer blend. It smells heavenly and it's really reasonable cost wise.
They really do seem to blossom on this.
Ros |
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kirst
Silver Member
Scotland
460 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 08:04:23 AM
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| Thats great to know, thanks. I had already been on their website but now I think I will call and place that order! |
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kofihorse
Bronze Member
241 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 09:19:08 AM
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I was disappointed not to be able to try it out as neither my Arab nor my Shetland would eat the base mix! I tried introducing it in very small amounts over a few days to their usual speedibeet but they wouldn't be persuaded. Neither could I persuade the Fat Shetland to eat bran. He got very cross trying,and failing, to pick out the speedibeet and just walked away in disgust!
They are on LoCal at the moment,which does them fine and they also like Top Spec.They are both shiny and have good quality hooves. |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 10:25:10 AM
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Kofihorse, that's really unusual i think. Every other horse i've heard of has found it pretty palatable. Strange
Ros |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 10:55:57 AM
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Thank you so much for this - just looked on their website and going to give them a call! Seems to make sense to me 
Soo... what pure grass or hay chaff do you feed with the base mix? and does everyone feed the bran? |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 11:20:26 AM
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Hi Pasha, I don't feed the bran, but learned of soaking oats many many moons ago. I use Timothy hay chop.
As I said before I feed unmollassed beet (simple systems if not speedibeet), soaked grass nuts, soaked oats, and Timothy chaff along with the base mix, or have used one of the other chopped grasses mentioned on the Thunderbrook site before ever using the base mix. I also feed adlib hay. I already had my winter feed before going onto the base mix so don't feed the proportions recommended, but still find it makes a huge difference to my horses and as said before they love it. They all make a noise waiting for the feed now and get really impatient when I'm slow! I don't give huge portions of the oats or grass nuts. I use Simple Systems small red scoop to measure out once soaked. Used to weigh everything in the beginning, but can't remember now what it all weighs, I know, shame on me.
Hope this helps. Can't beat feeding naturally. I know it looks as though I feed lots, but actually I find it much cheaper this year now that I've gone back to feeding so simply. I think all being well next year I will still use the same feeds with the base mix as my lot like it. |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 12:00:49 PM
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I've just spoken to them and I am highly impressed!!!
They have recommended Base Mix, Bran and the Gut Restore for both boys. I can also add a handful of Readi Grass which I might do as I need to mask medication.
It will all arrive tomorrow - so excited! Can't wait to chuck out the 3/4 different supplements i'm currently feeding and get back to basics... also sick of soaking speedi beet |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 12:02:24 PM
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| Forgot to add that they also recommend cleaning the hay (i.e. dunking it) but not soaking it, which suits me just fine thank you Pasha will still have to have his steamed as he has COPD, but all good... so BIG THANK YOU KIRST for starting this thread |
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kirst
Silver Member
Scotland
460 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:27:17 PM
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You are welcome, Pasha!
I agree with Cate: "Can't beat feeding naturally"
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 4:24:46 PM
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I totally agree. It just felt so right when i styarted feeding it. No waste, so rubbish, simple to feed and cheaper than what i was feeding before!
In the winter i was taking a flask of hot water to pour on for a warm mash. I'd have a little crowd of dogs, children, cats and horses standing drooling round the feed shed! It does smell good!
Ros |
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Jumanji
Bronze Member
Scotland
173 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 9:38:32 PM
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I have an arab here that will not eat the basemix either.He was getting basemix with speedl-beet and some oat pellets ,but tried to pick out the pellets and left the rest.Stopped the basemix and he now eats it all. |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 9:44:12 PM
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| Weird as my two have gone off speedi beet!!! Left it out tonight and just gave them 1/2 scoop Hi Fi Molasses Free and a handful of Fibre Cubes and they wolfed it down...strange boys x |
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Edited by - Pasha on 10 Mar 2011 9:45:11 PM |
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Offira
Platinum Member
England
1583 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 10:56:48 AM
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Prompted by this thread, I have just spoken to them as well and am impressed too!
Am going to try it on my 36 year old who has done very well on high fibre cubes, sugar beet etc but I feel he needs just a little bit more help - so good thread  |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 2:26:40 PM
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Does anyone feed the oats?
I'm not going to now, but when Shesky is out competing nearly every weekend, he does drop weight so want to have something in my back pocket... just struggling to get my head around feeding Oats to an IR Lami prone Rodeo Donkey 
Also, was a bit worried about 11% starch.... but the High Fibre Cubes I feed are 10% and Saracen Shape-up (which I believe was developed in conjunction with KER) has 9.5 - 13.5% and I will only be feeding 2 mugfuls a day so i'm ok now
Hope it's arrived - can't wait to get going with the gut restore and hoping it will turn the Rodeo Donkey into Captain Sensible xxx |
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Edited by - Pasha on 11 Mar 2011 2:27:31 PM |
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Offira
Platinum Member
England
1583 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 2:50:41 PM
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I am going to try the oats, bit worried about the sprouting-ness of them  esp for an oldie (when he had them in his youth he turned into a psychopath ) but I am going to try a handful at a time and stand well clear  |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 3:00:31 PM
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| Soaking the oats takes the fizz out of them. I wouldn't be able to feed them to my lot if it didn't. Although so far none of my oats have sprouted, so not sure what sprouted oats would do. |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 8:13:33 PM
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| How long do you soak them for? I bought some for my two youngsters but haven't got round to feeding them yet...I keep forgetting to ask debbie about it! |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2011 : 08:56:25 AM
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| Soak for two days then rinse off, but I start using mine after the overnight soak. Always make sure you rinse them before feeding. I read about soaking whole oats many many years ago, but only knew about allowing them to sprout from Thunderbrook Farm. I haven't a bucket big enough to soak enough to allow to sprout. If you look on TBrook's website it will tell you more. |
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Topic |
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Horse Feed Balancers - Has anyone tried...?
