Testing Hay for Mineral Deficiencies

All of the barefoot trim websites say the major key to natural hoof care is diet, diet, diet. They all say to test your hay. Well I don't grow my own hay and don't have pasture grass to test...he is on a dry lot. So with my one horse I tend to only buy about 4-6 bales of hay a month from different feed stores depending on price and look of the hay at the time. So I don't really see how a mineral analysis would be accurate unless I did it on every batch every month...and I don't have the $80 for that every month.

Would a test be accurate for the region? So that no matter what feed store I bought the hay from the mineral tests would be about the same results?

Only if the hay is coming from teh same supplier fields right next to each other can vary greatly upon type of hay, if they have been fertilized or not, how they were seeded, how often and when they were baled

The best those of us who don't nto have a set hay supplier or our own fields can do is feed to the averages of that type of hay and pray honestly ...

Look into a ration balancer made for your area they are made to the averages IOW don't go with a BIG name company that distrutes nationally

Look at the smaller companies like Seminole, Kent, Pennifield, Hall feeds you get my point ... more regional companies

Any idea about what I would need for east Texas piney woods area...I just moved here so I don't know a lot about the region...but there are lots of red clay soils.

Let me do some digging about the area might take me a day or so ...

im in lufkin

Your local cooperative extension service will test hay for free. I don't know how extensive your testing would be, but it's worth looking in to.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Generally though, if you're getting the same kind of hay from the same supplier, then your hay is going to be relatively stable in nutrient content. As long as you get it tested once or twice a year, you should be fine. Then use those tests to figure your diet.

Your local extension service will know all about your soil and nutritional needs as well. They can do soil/pasture testing to get the exact make up of your pasture. All of this testing is generally free!

I really like Uckele's Vitamin & Mineral formulas. They have a wide variety available. Their prices aren't cheap, but their products seem to be good quality. I got my first batch of the Equi-Base Grass and so far so good! Both horses are picky eaters and they are eating it fine. I'll know more in another month on how it's doing overall though.
Uckele Equine Nutrition

I mix it with a 2qt scoop of chopped alfalfa hay (they get pasture and bermuda as their main source of hay) and just a dash of oats. They like their oats and I barely give 1/2 a 2qt scoop a day, so it's not enough sugars to mess up their diet. The chopped alfalfa hay does great at mixing everything up and is forage, so safe to give them. I like adding it for something different since they get straight bermuda hay.

Both horses are healthy and barefoot!

Not all local ag offices even do testing let alone for free where I am it is $20 PER SAMPLE and they tell you straight up to test every cutting because the content does and will change with the seasons and RAIN

A horse's diet doesn't have to be EXACTLY perfect to be healthy. As long as you balance the diet based the average nutritional value for the hay from your seller/grower or your area, then that is plenty fine. I don't think any of us on this thread are riding or caring for Olympic potential .

And if YOU read my FIRST post that is what I said

My reply you are quoting wasinresponse to you

Don't assume that...Im shooting for 2016...seriously. Besides every horse...olympian or pasture ornament deserves the best we can offer. Now stop fighting.