I don't know if it was coincidence with something else or what, but 2 separate times, he was put on molasses mixed feeds, and progressively got more and more insane...then within days of being off, mellowed. These affects have not been seen with the COB - and he IS a horse that uses a lot of calories as he jumps competitively.
I get why fiber and fat are needed for weight, but aren't calories important also? My other horses are active as well as needing to stay warm in the cold, so do I need to add in a grain for the calories? Or does the Nutrena all breed cover calories?
These are the feeds I can think of off the top of my head:
Brome pellets
alfalfa pellets
beet pulp
COB
Nutrena All breed, safe choice, senior, (and some others...I have never used others though)
My zip is 99712
I did take the time tonight to go through and mark my scoops so that I can more carefully track exactly what each of them is getting making it easier to adjust as I see each of them... I know weight is better than volume, and I may be able to mark it that way soon (when I find my scale), but I marked it by cups for now. They are currently getting:
Dusty (Morgan/QH) - 3 cups COB/Alfalfa mix, 3 cups beet pulp, 1/2 cup rice bran. His weight was a bit low, but seems to be improving. He is blanketed.
Dreamer and Dez (QH mare and Paint gelding) - 3 cups all breed (considering going to safe choice because of higher fat content), 3 cups beet pulp, 1/2 cup rice bran. Neither is blanketed. Since starting on "grain" they seem to have picked up, but I would like to see them fatter.
Blizzard (paint colt) - 2 cups all breed, 2 cups beet pulp, 1/2 cup rice bran. Was looking great until about two weeks ago, when his spine started showing - he gets a lot of hay. I have had him blanketed for about a week.
TJ & Chinio (TB & 20yr QH) - 5 cups all breed, 5 cups beet pulp, 1 cup rice bran. TJ is new, and still looks good. Chino was quite low, but has picked up some since I started the grain. Chino is blanketed. TJ has had a light (wind/rain) blanket on.
Bambi (20 yr pony) - a handfull to make her happy - she is fat.
Thanks for helping me work through this...I just want to get this down to a good routine where I am not behind the curve ever with their weight - I HATE IT.
Also, hotdun, thanks for the link.