Re: Has anyone here used Thrive?
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Maggie
Hi Lynn, I think it's possible that maybe you misinterpreted something along the way here. You do not have to replace your coastal hay with Timothy hay. What we recommend is grass hay as opposed to legume hay. No matter what kind of grass hay, it needs to be tested to be sure it's "safe", i.e., under 10% sugar (ESC) + starch. The #603, trainers package from EA (link provided in my earlier message to you), will give you the sugar and starch and the mineral profile of your hay. Check with your local coop or extension office to see if they have a hay probe that you can borrow. Many do. Call EA and ask them to send you some Forage kits, which include a prepaid envelope for sending your hay sample in. Here, on EA's site is the common feed profile of Bermudagrass (aka coastal) hay. http://equi-analytical.com/interactive-common-feed-profile/ I'm not sure that will come up on the Bermudagrass page. You may have to look for it again, but it's there. It gives you the analyses from the samples they have tested over the years with the averages and normal ranges. As you can see, Bermudagrass, as well as ALL hays can vary in the sugar and starch content quite a bit. The weather, time of cutting, fertilization, drought conditions, etc etc all effect the s/s content and some those factors effect the mineral content as well. You can certainly send a sample of the Thrive in to have it tested, but I can save you $54 there. We will not recommend it. I was pressed for time this morning so did not go over each ingredient with you that we do not recommend, but here is a partial evaluation of Thrive from the ECIR standpoint:. 1) Alfalfa--a legume hay. Can be low in sugar, but can also be high in starch. Also, some horses get footsore on it. If yours haven't, great, just some do. 2) Grain sorghum. NO grain is recommended until your horse(s) are in much harder work than they currently are and then oats can be used in a very controlled manner. More details on that in the files if/when the time comes for you to need it. 3) Soy meal. Not recommended. Read this message: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EquineCushings/conversations/messages/124594 And this one from Dr Kellon: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EquineCushings/conversations/messages/124609 4) Rice bran. Not recommended. Aside from the fact that it has arsenic in it, the Omega 3:6 ratio is upside down. We use ground flax seed in our non grazing animals to provide Omega 3's and 6's in the ratio that most closely matches fresh grass, about 4:1. Rice bran has LOTS of Omega 6 (pro inflammatory) but hardly any Omega 3's (anti-inflammatory). 5) Kelp. Not recommended because of contamination and varying Iodine amounts. Read this post by Dr Kellon: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EquineCushings/conversations/messages/75746 6) Ferrous sulfate. Not recommended. Most IR horses are already iron overloaded and they get plenty of iron from the dirt in their diet. You can find more information about iron overload in our files and archives message and on our website in the NO Laminits proceedings. Hope that helps! Maggie, Chancey and Spiral in VA March 2011 EC moderator/Primary Response |
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