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For many horse owners, the sight of a horse grazing peacefully on green pasture or contentedly munching on high-quality hay represents the pinnacle of equine health. It feels natural, wholesome, and sufficient. However, a common misconception in equine husbandry is that forage alone provides every nutrient a horse requires to thrive. In reality, even the most beautiful fields and quality hay often contain significant nutritional gaps. This is where the ration balancer enters the picture: not as an unnecessary “grain” or a source of unwanted energy, but as the essential bridge in a forage-based diet. 

The Myth of Forage Completeness

While forage is the foundation of any equine diet, it is rarely a complete nutritional package. Soil depletion and regional mineral deficiencies often leave gaps in vital micronutrients. For instance, many forages are naturally low in copper, zinc, and selenium—minerals critical for immune function, coat health, and hoof integrity. Furthermore, hay has significantly altered vitamin content once harvested; while it provides essential fiber, the curing process and storage time cause a rapid decline in vital vitamins. 

A horse relying solely on pasture or hay is essentially eating a diet that may satisfy their caloric needs but leaves them lacking foundational micronutrients. A ration balancer acts as a concentrated daily multivitamin, specifically designed to be fed at low rates—typically just 1-2 pounds per day—to ensure comprehensive support without adding unnecessary calories. 

Addressing the “Grain” and “Hot” Horse Fear

One of the primary reasons owners hesitate to add a balancer is the fear of feeding “grain”. In the horse world, grain is often synonymous with high sugar, high starch, and the dreaded “hot” behavior. It is crucial to distinguish a ration balancer from a performance feed. 

• Low Sugar and Starch: Because balancers are fed in such small quantities, their contribution to the total sugar and starch intake is not substantial. 
• The Protein Misconception: While a balancer might list a high protein percentage (often around 30%), the actual amount consumed in a single pound does not significantly alter the diet; rather, it complements the existing forage. 
• Behavioral Clarity: Excitability is usually the result of an energy surplus—feeding more calories than the horse uses or needs. A balancer provides nutrients, not calories, meaning it supports well-being without making the horse “hot”. 

The Ideal Solution for “Easy Keepers”

Ration balancers are the unsung heroes for “easy keepers” (those horses who maintain their weight effortlessly). These horses often cannot handle the caloric load of traditional grain, yet they still require a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals. By using a balancer, you can provide comprehensive nutrition, reducing the risk of obesity or metabolic upset.

Precision Nutrition: Stable MAX™ Ultra Mate

When choosing a tool to close these nutritional gaps, precision and bioavailability matter. Stable MAX™ Ultra Mate from Elk Grove Milling, Inc. is a comprehensive option designed to elevate the standard of care. Unlike many national brands, Ultra Mate focuses on science-backed ingredients and gut health: 

• Total Organic Minerals: Uses organic minerals for better absorption compared to inorganic sources. 
• Digestive Support: Includes probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and toxin binders to ensure the horse actually utilizes the nutrients provided. 
• LifeFORCE Formula: This Alltech-backed formula targets immune support, hoof integrity, healthy skin, and reproductive function. 

Conclusion

By recognizing that hay and pasture are a base rather than a complete solution, we can use ration balancers to provide the targeted nutrition our horses deserve. It is a small daily addition with a significant impact, ensuring your horse isn’t just surviving on forage, but truly thriving from the inside out. 

Written by:
Lindsey Close, PAS Professional Animal Scientist
Director of Operations and Sales ManagerElk Grove Milling, Inc.Phone: 916-684-2056 Email: lindsey@elkgrovemilling.com Website:www.elkgrovemilling.com 
Social: https://www.facebook.com/CloseEquineNutritionConsulting

Stepping into a feed store can feel like walking into a labyrinth. With rows of colorful bags promising everything, and an endless sea of supplements, the modern horse owner is faced with a paradox of choice. However, nutrition is more than just filling a bucket; it is the fundamental cornerstone of your horse’s longevity, performance, and mental focus.

While the primary goal of any feeding program is to meet basic nutritional requirements, how we meet those needs is just as critical as the nutrients themselves.

The Individual Blueprint

Before reaching for a scoop, we must look at the horse standing in front of us. No two horses have the exact same metabolic fingerprint. To build a successful diet, we factor in several key criteria:

• Body Condition Score (BCS)
• Health Status
• The Discipline Demand: The type of work dictates what we should feed, not just the raw nutrient value.

Fueling the Job: Performance Specificity

We often focus on how much energy a horse needs, but we must also consider the source of that energy to match the horse’s job. A hunter, for example, requires consistent, calm energy to maintain a steady rhythm throughout a round. Conversely, a jumper needs quick-release fuel to provide the explosive power and precise athleticism required at high speeds.

This distinction is just as vital in the Western world. The nutritional strategy for a Western Pleasure horse, where slow, rhythmic cadence is king, is vastly different from the high-octane requirements of a cutter or a barrel horse that needs immediate glycogen stores for dynamic work. 

Decoding the Feed Tag

When the options feel overwhelming, the feed tag is your map. It’s easy to be swayed by beautiful marketing on the front of the bag, but the truth is hidden on the tag. To truly understand what you are feeding, you must look at three specific areas:

1. The Purpose Statement

2. The Guaranteed Analysis

3. The Ingredient List: This is where the mystery is truly solved. While a tag doesn’t explicitly reveal the quality of the grain, it reveals the fuel sources. Are the calories coming from “cool” energy sources like beet pulp (highly digestible fiber), or are they coming from “hot” sources like corn and molasses?

Pro Tip: Look for “fixed formula” feeds. In these feeds, the ingredients do not change based on commodity prices, ensuring that every bag you buy provides the exact same digestive experience for your horse.

Quality In, Quality Out

Choosing a feed with high-quality protein sources ensures the body has the building blocks to repair muscle tissue after a workout. When we align the ingredients on the tag with the horse’s specific physiological needs and their daily job, we aren’t just feeding them; we are fueling their potential.

In a world of a million options, the best choice is the one informed by science, individual health, and a clear understanding of what’s inside the bag. After all, your horse’s performance and recovery is a direct reflection of what you put in the bucket.

The Elk Grove Milling Difference

Ultimately, achieving a healthier, happier horse starts with recognizing them as an individual. This is why Elk Grove Milling, Inc. provides a comprehensive and diverse feed line designed to meet those unique needs. Whether you are managing a metabolic senior, a high-performance jumper, or a steady-moving pleasure horse, their range of feeds allows you to select the precise fuel source and nutrient profile required for your specific goals. By focusing on quality ingredients and specialized fixed formulas, Elk Grove Milling helps take the guesswork out of the feed room, ensuring that every horse gets exactly what they need to thrive.

Written by:
Lindsey Close, PAS Professional Animal Scientist
Director of Operations and Sales Manager

Elk Grove Milling, Inc. Phone: 916-684-2056 Email: lindsey@elkgrovemilling.com Website:www.elkgrovemilling.com 
Social: https://www.facebook.com/CloseEquineNutritionConsulting

Advancements in veterinary care and owner education have allowed horses to live longer, more productive lives. However, “senior” status is defined more by physiological signs than a specific age. As horses age, they face unique challenges, including dental issues, decreased digestive efficiency, and metabolic shifts that necessitate a targeted nutritional approach.

Recognizing the Aging Process
A primary indicator of senior status is the loss of body condition on a diet that was previously adequate. This often manifests as muscle wasting (atrophy) or a “loss of topline,” even when hay and supplements are plentiful. Research suggests that older horses may have a reduced ability to digest crude protein, leading to a higher daily requirement—typically 12% to 14%—to maintain muscle mass.
Dental health is another critical factor. Waves, hooks, or missing teeth can make chewing long-stemmed hay difficult or impossible, leading to poor nutrient absorption or even esophageal obstruction (choke). Annual dental exams are essential to ensure the chewing surface remains effective.

Managing Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Aging often brings metabolic complications like Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID, or Cushing’s) and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). PPID is frequently recognized by a long, curly coat that fails to shed, while EMS is characterized by insulin dysregulation, regional fat deposits (like a “cresty neck”), and a high risk of laminitis. In some cases, the horse can have both conditions. Particularly with PPID, muscle wasting can be seen in progressive stages of the disease. 
For these “metabolic” seniors, managing non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) – the sum of starch and sugar – is vital. Scientific consensus recommends keeping total dietary NSC below 10–12% to prevent dangerous insulin spikes. Meal size and frequency is also important to consider with severe cases. 

Solutions for Muscle Atrophy and Vitality
To combat muscle atrophy (sarcopenia), recent studies emphasize the importance of “balanced protein” – specifically essential amino acids like Lysine, Threonine, and Methionine – which are the building blocks of muscle tissue. Providing high-quality protein allows the horse to synthesize muscle more efficiently, even as their overall digestive capacity wanes.

For owners seeking specialized solutions, Elk Grove Milling offers targeted options:

• Stable Mix Senior: A complete feed designed to fulfill all daily requirements for senior horses. It includes super fibers like beet pulp and almond hulls, plus pre-, pro-, and postbiotics to support a sensitive aging gut.
• Stable MAX Senior: Formulated specifically for seniors needing extra support, this option provides a low NSC profile to manage metabolic risks while delivering high protein levels to directly support the topline during muscle atrophy. It includes a comprehensive gut health support package to support a sensitive aging gut. 
• G.I. Stable-ez: For extra gastric support, or during times of stress or hauling, this pelleted supplement has a small service size and can be fed alone or in combination with feed. Because of its pelleted form, it can’t be sorted and won’t fall to the bottom of the feed pan. This supplement can help support your horse’s microbiome, while also promoting better digestion and fermentation of the feed. 

Feeding for Success
When a horse can no longer process hay – poor digestion and absorption, or poor dentition – a “complete feed” serves as a total replacement, providing fiber, energy, and minerals in a highly digestible, pelleted form. These pellets can be soaked into a soft mash to accommodate horses with severe dental loss.

By combining regular veterinary care with a diet rich in high-quality protein and controlled carbohydrates, owners can ensure their senior companions thrive well into their golden years. For more information on tailored feeding programs, visit www.elkgrovemilling.com.

Apply for a Free Consultation Here

Lindsey Close, PAS Professional Animal Scientist 
Director of Operations and Sales Manager

Elk Grove Milling, Inc. Phone: 916-684-2056 Email: lindsey@elkgrovemilling.com 
Website:www.elkgrovemilling.com 
Social: https://www.facebook.com/CloseEquineNutritionConsulting

Caring for your foal begins before they are even on the ground. As your broodmare starts reaching her third trimester mark, her nutrient requirements begin to spike in preparation for final stages in foal development and lactation. We know that we do not want to make any rash feed changes to avoid gastric upset, so being proactive is the best way to start making timely diet adjustments. The goal is to maintain the mare’s body condition, starting by slowly and safely increasing her feed during the end of the second trimester or at the beginning of the third trimester. It is best to work with an equine nutritionist and veterinarian to ensure that your mare is receiving the appropriate levels of all required nutrients, including minerals and vitamins, which are vital for setting the foal up for success.

Stress Management, Gut Health, and Foal Development

Additionally, during the last trimester and after foaling, the mare goes through more changes than usual. She is often moved to a new living situation, has frequent visits with the vet, and is ultimately caring for a newborn foal while her body heals from foaling out. These changes are undoubtedly stressful and may negatively impact her gut microbiome. Not only can you help the mare nutritionally by having an appropriate highly fortified diet, but you can consider offering some kind of gastric or gut support to help keep the mare’s microbiome in a happy state.

The Role of Bioavailability in Passive Transfer

Another element to consider is passive transfer. We’ve heard about passive transfer when we think about immunity, but what about nutrition? This is where high-quality nutrition comes into play. The more quality and bio-available the nutrients are, the more likely the mare will absorb the nutrition and put it to work for a healthy mare and foal. The success of passive transfer is dependent on a healthy mare, with a primed and functioning immune system. Your nutrition plan has a significant impact on this.

Another, seemingly related element is the concept of nutritional programming. Maternal over nutrition or under nutrition can influence foal performance or even predispose them to metabolic disease as adults. As continued research investigates these concepts further, what we can determine is that nutrition and care of the broodmare is critical for foal development and further success.

Feed Solutions: Powering Health with Elk Grove Milling

Elk Grove Milling, Inc. feeds provide solutions to broodmare and foal demands with a comprehensive feed line offering complete feeds (hay stretchers), performance feeds (concentrates), and a ration balancer.

Our use of organic minerals enhances the bioavailability of these building blocks for immune function and development of the foal. Elevated absorption rates of these minerals impact colostrum quality, and research has shown that colostrum from mares supplemented with organic mineral sources (instead of sulfates) have higher concentrations of critical immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA).

Beyond mineral supplementation, digestive health is a non-negotiable component of a comprehensive program. Elk Grove Milling’s feed lines combine gut and antioxidant support with live yeast cultures, organic selenium, and maximize fiber digestion to help reduce instances of acidosis from stress or feed changes. A thriving digestive environment means the mare is absorbing critical nutrition needed for rapid tissue repair during the postpartum period and supporting continuous milk production.

By proactively transitioning your broodmare onto a scientifically backed, nutrient-dense feed program like Stable MAX, you are not just feeding a pregnant horse; you are actively optimizing the health, immunity, and lifelong potential of your foal.

Ready to Optimize Your Broodmare’s Diet?

Do you need help piecing this all together and creating a diet for your horse? Contact Elk Grove Milling, Inc. for a free nutritional consultation on their products.

Apply for a Free Consultation Here

Lindsey Close, PAS Professional Animal Scientist Director of Operations and Sales Manager

Elk Grove Milling, Inc. Phone: 916-684-2056 Email: lindsey@elkgrovemilling.com Website:www.elkgrovemilling.com 

Social: https://www.facebook.com/CloseEquineNutritionConsulting

In the modern landscape of animal nutrition, it is easy to find feeds boasting added ingredients. This makes it all the more important to understand what truly distinguishes a superior feed – a well-balanced formula, quality ingredients, and a synchronized blend of research-backed additives. Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery counts on Elk Grove Milling’s Coop Mix for this very reason. Coop Mix is a cornerstone of their feeding program that delivers complete, supportive nutrition, tailored to the needs of their hens.

Why Feed Matters

An exceptional laying hen diet is backed by research to be high-quality and health-focused, specifically formulated to support long-term vitality of the hen, and maximize the nutritional and structural quality of the eggs she produces. While egg production is important, it is equally important to focus on the hen. 

This requires egg producers (from backyard stewards to large farms) to look beyond the upfront cost of a feed, and focus on total nutritional value. Investing in premium nutrition promotes superior long-term hen health and results in a more consistently enriched egg. 

Moreover, food safety starts before the egg is laid. It is important that a hen is not challenged by pathogens, or it may be possible for those pathogens to make it into the egg. For this reason, some of the same ingredients offered in Coop Mix are fed by egg producers around the globe, to reduce pathogens within the hen’s system that may cause foodborne illness. 

The most important factor for a delicious, nutritious egg is a healthy, nourished hen. Coop Mix was designed with that principle at its core—supporting the hen, the egg, the farmer, and the consumer.

What Makes Coop Mix Different?

Coop Mix was developed as a multi-faceted approach to wellness, gut health, immunity, productivity and vitality. The Coop Mix formula was crafted by a skilled team of poultry nutrition specialists, to ensure a balanced base diet enriched with natural additives that work synergistically, to benefit flocks of all types and sizes. 

In addition to the additive lineup, Coop Mix contains 100% organic minerals, meaning they are chelated—attached to amino acids and proteins— giving them superior stability and bioavailability. This allows hens to absorb and metabolize the nutrients in their feed more effectively, supporting everything from immune function and gut health to eggshell quality.

Ingredient Breakdown: What’s Inside and Why It Matters

Coop Mix is corn and soy-based, a pairing that delivers optimal energy and a robust amino acid profile. Soy provides highly digestible protein, while corn offers sustained energy—together forming a well-rounded nutritional foundation. Whole wheat is also included to enhance the energy balance of the diet – and is very palatable for chickens! The naturally occurring xanthophylls in these base ingredients are used by the hens to create eggs with yolks rich in color.  

The formulation also includes:

• Enzymes to boost nutrient extraction and uptake.
• Specific amino acids to fine-tune the protein balance.
• Organic minerals (as proteinates and selenium yeast), which are more stable and more bioavailable than inorganic forms, and in some cases have lower risk of toxicity. The organic minerals in Coop Mix support immune health, shell strength, egg production and size, and longevity. 
• A unique bioactive hydrolyzed yeast which serves as a prebiotic; this specialized portion of the yeast cell wall has been shown to reduce pathogens (harmful microbes) in the gut, as well as support gut health, enhance immunity, and improve overall health. Prebiotics help feed the beneficial microbes in the intestinal tract, encouraging them to proliferate; in turn, this can help reduce the number of harmful microbes via competitive exclusion and bolstering the hen’s natural defenses.
• A blend of a second, specialized, hydrolyzed yeast and algae, which helps to protect against the damaging effects of any toxins that may naturally (and commonly) occur in the base ingredients/grains.  
• Yucca schidigera extract, which reduces ammonia excretion and odor.

Feed Integrity and Sourcing

While Coop Mix is not certified non-GMO, it is certified weed-free and produced in a 100% medication-free facility. Elk Grove Milling prioritizes ingredient integrity and sources non-GMO commodities whenever geographically and economically viable. They also maintain a strong commitment to regional partnership by collaborating with local grain terminals for primary ingredients. Furthermore, they actively seek out and prioritize agreements with local farmers for specific commodities, such as the whole wheat used in Coop Mix, strengthening the regional supply chain.

Freshness and Sustainability

Coop Mix is milled on a demand-driven basis, ensuring freshness and preserving nutritional content. Sustainability practices include:

• Use of organic minerals to reduce environmental impact.
• Low-waste production.
• Pelleted and coarse crumble formats to minimize feed waste.
• A barrel program that upcycles durable containers from human food uses, reducing packaging waste.

Local Support and Versatility

Elk Grove Milling is a regional mill with a strong reputation, defined by their commitment to partnership. They are dedicated to providing comprehensive support, offering not only feed but also access to an extensive network of expert nutritional and animal health resources. They are just a short drive off the interstate near Sacramento, and when customers call, they will reach a real person. 

Alltech’s Role in the Formula

Alltech is a manufacturer of high-quality, natural feed additives. Furthermore, Alltech is a global company with a diverse array of resources, including a team of talented poultry nutrition specialists with extensive experience serving the poultry industry. Feed companies who work with Alltech are able to lean on that nutritional expertise to help with formulation, and using Alltech ingredients to their optimal effect. 

In the case of Coop Mix, Elk Grove Milling recognized an opportunity to elevate the standard layer blend available on the market. They combined their meticulous ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices with Alltech’s ingredients and nutritional support, as they developed and perfected this feed.  The result is a product that meets the highest standards of quality and efficacy. 

Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery, Elk Grove Milling, and Alltech are proud to work together to provide high quality, nutritious eggs, and optimal health and wellness for the hens who produce them. 

Questions? We would be happy to answer! 

Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery

https://dwayneedisoneggery.com/pages/contact

Elk Grove Milling 

Customerservice@elkgrovemilling.com

Alltech 

Ariel.Revell@Alltech.com

It’s a familiar frustration for any horse owner: countless hours, significant energy, and substantial financial investment poured into preparing a horse, only for a soft tissue injury or debilitating ulcers to sideline them for months. Is your horse’s diet truly optimized to meet the rigorous demands of their activity and discipline?

A well-balanced diet is more than just a foundation for basic health; it’s critical for your horse’s resilience against daily stressors, efficient recovery from intense training and competition, and maximizing essential rest periods. Success isn’t simply about choosing a high-protein feed or top-tier forage. It’s about understanding the synergistic relationship of the entire diet and how each component fuels your horse’s peak performance.

It’s easy to get swept up in the latest supplement trends—more magnesium, more vitamin E. But what’s the ultimate goal? Consider these fundamental pillars of your horse’s daily ration:

• Quality Protein
• Minerals
• Vitamins
• High-Quality Forage
• Fresh, Clean Water

Remember, vitamins and minerals share a delicate, interconnected relationship, working synergistically across numerous metabolic functions. An imbalance—whether deficiency or excess—can significantly impair their roles.

Stable Mix and Stable MAX feeds offer comprehensive solutions for every feed room. Eliminate the guesswork in balancing your horse’s diet and maintain optimal body condition, even during layup and rehabilitation.

Winter brings its own unique challenges to horse owners. These challenges include decreased daylight hours, colder temperatures, and mud or snow. Winter also means changes in coat maintenance and potential for frequent blanketing. Here are some tips to make sure you and your horse are prepared for Mother Nature’s often perplexing weather.

Preparing for the Changing Season

As fall approaches and the days get shorter, you’ll notice your horse’s winter coat starting to grow. This is their natural preparation for the cold, but as horse owners, we need to think ahead.

• Adjust Blanketing: Just as you transition your own wardrobe, you may need to adjust your horse’s blanketing. The first cold snaps of fall are a good time to get blankets out of storage, inspect them for tears, check that they are still waterproof, and make sure they fit properly. If your horse grows a thick coat, they may not need to be blanketed until temperatures are consistently below freezing. However, a blanket is a good idea for clipped or senior horses that struggle to thermoregulate, or for those who are sensitive to the cold. As the temperatures drop, you can transition to a medium-weight blanket and then to a heavy-weight winter blanket.
• Consider a Clip: If you plan on riding through the winter, especially if your horse gets sweaty, consider a body clip. A horse with a thick winter coat that works up a sweat can take a long time to dry, which can lead to a chill. By clipping, you can help them cool down and dry more quickly after a ride. There are many different types of clips, from a full body clip to a trace clip that only removes hair from the areas where the horse sweats most. If you do not plan to clip, make sure to have an appropriate cooler on hand to help keep your horse comfortable, warm, and promote moisture wicking.

Hydration Is Key

Water is the most essential nutrient for a horse. It is critical for a horse’s health, digestion, and metabolism. Time to clean those water troughs!

• Combatting Cold Water: Horses may not drink as much water when it’s cold, so keeping it from freezing is essential. A bucket or trough heater can encourage your horse to drink more, which is vital for preventing impaction colic. Be sure to choose an option that is safe for your barn or pasture setup and minimizes risks of fire hazards. 
• Encourage Drinking: Always offer access to free choice loose plain salt or include it in their feed. If your horse isn’t used to consuming salt regularly, start introducing it slowly. You can also make a warm mash, but only if it’s a feed they get on a regular basis. You can also mix in a small amount of apple juice or a handful of grain to encourage them to drink more.

Feed and Nutrition

Consider any changes in your horse’s activity level. Are you feeding them enough or too much for their caloric and nutritional needs going into winter? If you live in an area with particularly harsh winters, you might need to increase their feed or supplementation so their body can successfully thermoregulate.

• Increase Forage: As temperatures drop, a horse’s energy needs increase to help them stay warm. Providing free-choice hay is a great way to help them stay warm and happy. The fermentation of fiber in the hindgut produces heat, which helps keep their core temperature up.
• Slow Changes: Resist the urge to make your horse a tasty warm mash on a cold night if it’s not a feed they get on a regular basis. Avoid any big feed changes that could cause gastric distress. When adding any new feed, do not add more than 1 pound per day.

Body Condition: If your horse is under a body condition score of 5 going into winter, now is the time to get a running start on supporting them. If your horse is over a body condition score of 5, be watchful as green grass starts to emerge after our first rains. Grazing muzzles can help restrict easy keepers from grazing too much on available pasture. 

Keep Those Hind Guts Happy!

GI issues are a leading cause of death in horses. Ensuring your horse is appropriately hydrated and fed a high-fiber diet is a great place to start. If your feed doesn’t have any added gut health support, talk to your vet or an equine nutritionist about adding a gut health supplement. The options are endless, so don’t stress! Many products are comprehensive and offer prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and yeast. This can have an advantage as many of these value-added items have a synergistic relationship with each other – they are all friends!

Let Stable Mix feeds be your complete solution for everything Mother Nature throws at you. Stable Mix complete feeds include salt, are highly fortified with nutrition to boost immune response and contain gut health support. These feeds come in a convenient pelleted form and can make a great mash that your horse is already used to eating!  

For our seniors with extra challenges like EMS or PPID, we are excited to be introducing Senior Stable Mix Lite to the market. This high protein, high fiber, and high fat feed is an excellent choice for senior horses struggling with topline or muscular atrophy and are very sensitive to carbohydrates. 

Do you need help piecing this all together and creating a diet for your horse? Contact Elk Grove Milling, Inc. for a free nutritional consultation on their products. 

The term “grain” for horses has evolved, now broadly identifying any supplemental feed, not just traditional oats, wheat, barley, or corn. This ambiguity means careful product selection is crucial. Options like performance feeds, complete feeds, and ration balancers can be confusing, but the core purpose of “grain” remains to supply extra energy or calories.

Consider supplementing a performance feed if your horse’s activity level and metabolic demands exceed their current diet, or if they need more fuel to maximize performance.

Avoid “graining” if:

• Your horse is overweight.
• Your horse has a maintenance lifestyle.
• Your horse is exercise intolerant or has dietary limitations from genetic/metabolic conditions. (Seek professional advice in these cases.)

When selecting any supplemental feed, whether it’s a performance feed, complete feed, or ration balancer, always adhere to the feeding directions and understand the recommended feeding rate. This ensures you choose the correct product to meet your horse’s specific needs.The new Stable MAX Performance from Elk Grove Milling, Inc. offers comprehensive gut health support, organic minerals, and is high-fat. This unique premium performance feed contains fuel sources for both anaerobic and aerobic activity, fueling your equine athlete to perform to the best of their ability.

It is incredibly frustrating to put a lot of time, energy, and money into getting our horses ready to go down the road, just to end up with a soft tissue injury or debilitating ulcers that can put them out for months at a time. Is your horse’s diet primed to support their activity level and the demands of their discipline? A well-balanced diet is not only necessary for your horse’s natural ability to thrive and maintain basic systemic functions, but it is also important for their ability to withstand everyday stressors, recover from hard training sessions or competitions, and maximize rest periods. 

It’s not just about selecting a high-protein feed or high-quality forage. It’s about the synergistic relationship of the entire diet and how that fuels your horse to succeed. It is easy to get sucked into the hype of adding more magnesium or more vitamin E, but what are we really trying to achieve? Take a look at this list and think about your horse’s daily ration:

• Quality Protein is paramount for horses, especially those in work, growing, or reproducing. It’s not just about the total amount of protein, but the amino acid profile it provides. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and some, like lysine and methionine, are considered essential because horses cannot synthesize them internally and must obtain them through their diet.
  • • Muscle repair & maintenance
  • • Hoof & hair quality
  • • Enzyme & hormone production
  • Immune function
• Minerals are broadly categorized into macro-minerals (needed in larger quantities) and trace minerals (needed in smaller quantities).
  • • Formation, maintenance, and repair of joints and bones, connective tissues 
  • • Hoof & skin health
  • • Synthesis of collagen 
  • Immune Support
• Vitamins – are organic compounds required in small amounts for normal metabolism and growth. They are categorized as either fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) or water-soluble (B vitamins and C).
  • • Bone remodeling
  • • Maintenance of tissues 
  • • Immune response
  • • Antioxidants
  • Energy metabolism
• High-quality forage is the cornerstone of any horse’s diet, mimicking their natural grazing behavior. It’s not just “filler” – it provides essential nutrients and, crucially, maintains digestive health. Maintaining fiber content in the diet is crucial for hindgut health and motility.
  • Do not feed less than 1.5% of your horse’s body weight per day 
• Fresh, Clean Water, while often overlooked, is arguably the most critical nutrient for a horse. A horse can survive much longer without food than without water. Its importance cannot be overstated:
  • • Hydration
  • • Digestion and nutrient transport
  • • Temperature regulation
  • • Joint lubrication
  • Waste elimination

Stable Mix and Stable MAX feeds, manufactured by Elk Grove Milling, Inc., offer comprehensive solutions for every feed room. Eliminate the guesswork in balancing your horse’s diet and maintain optimal body condition, even during layup and rehabilitation. Stable Mix feeds contain high-quality forage, a comprehensive vitamin & mineral package, as well as the bonus of premium gut health support. The new Stable MAX™ feeds feature the LifeFORCE Formula from Alltech. Backed by science, these premium feeds target gut health and immune support, promote healthy skin, coat, hoof integrity, connective tissue, reproductive function, and promote feed efficiency. Enhancing overall health and performance, allowing your horse to thrive to its natural potential.

In the world of equine nutrition, there exists a quiet yet powerful workhorse: the ration balancer. Don’t get shocked by the price tag – let’s break this down. Often overlooked because of price point, this concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement, fed at 1-2 pounds daily, acts as the essential daily multivitamin for your horse. It’s not a meal replacement, nor a substitute for vital forage, but a targeted tool to bridge the nutritional gaps that even the most carefully chosen primary ration might leave behind. When you look at cost per pound, you might find that choosing a ration balancer will end up with cost savings in the long run while gaining more nutritional coverage in your horse’s diet. 

Think of it this way: just as we might take a daily vitamin to ensure our bodies receive a baseline of micronutrients, a ration balancer provides that same foundational support for our equine companions. This makes it an especially astute choice for “easy keepers” – those horses who maintain their weight effortlessly – or for horses thriving on pasture or hay, who may not require additional calories but still need a comprehensive spectrum of vitamins and minerals.Conversely, it’s crucial to understand what a ration balancer isn’t. If your goal is to gain weight or fuel the intense demands of a performance horse, a ration balancer alone won’t deliver the necessary caloric punch. It’s a complement, not a calorie source. That is what makes ration balancers such an excellent choice for our long-eared friends, donkeys, and mules. They are often underfed quality nutrition because they are such easy keepers, however, they still have a nutrient baseline that needs to be met, just like horses. 

One common misconception surrounding ration balancers is their seemingly high protein content, sometimes hovering around 30%. However, the key lies in the minuscule feeding rate. At just 1-2 pounds, the actual amount of protein consumed is not substantial enough to cause the often-feared “hot” behavior. In fact, attributing excitability solely to a balancer is a simplification. More often, a horse labeled as “hot” is simply receiving more energy than their lifestyle and workload demand. Horses lacking essential nutrients may appear lethargic. By filling these gaps, we’re not creating a hyperactive horse, but rather allowing them to feel their best, with the energy to thrive. It’s a crucial distinction: fueling well-being versus overfeeding energy. Similarly, while ration balancers may not be low NSC, the feed rate is so small that they can typically be worked into a diet successfully when considering the meal’s full NSC content. Consult with a professional when designing a low NSC diet, as it is not simply about keeping NSC levels below 10-12% in the total diet. 

Let’s go shopping! Feed stores offer a diverse array of ration balancers, each with its unique formulation and added benefits. This is where informed consumer choice comes into play. Do you prefer a straightforward, foundational balancer that allows you to add additional individual supplements? Or does an “all-in-one” option, perhaps containing biotin for hoof health or gut-supportive ingredients, better suit your needs and preferences? Take a look at the feed tag and see if the product you are looking at contains what you want. You can also source the feed spec sheet online on the manufacturer’s website for a better breakdown of the feed nutritional value. Be sure that you are noting units of measure when comparing one brand to another. One may be listed as “ppm” while another is in “mg,” and that can be deceiving when you are trying to determine what the product is contributing to the diet. Be on the lookout for “tag dressing” or fancy marketing. For example, if a feed says it contains biotin, notice how much is listed. The recommended amount of biotin a horse should be supplemented per day is 15-20 mg. If the balancer only contains 1 mg per pound, you are not meeting the suggested supplementation level. 

Beyond their nutritional profile, ration balancers offer significant practical advantages for barn owners, managers, and trainers. Many horses can maintain optimal health and condition on just a balancer alone, simplifying feeding routines and potentially reducing time spent and feed costs. For horses with higher energy demands, a balancer provides an excellent nutritional foundation to build up with performance or complete feeds. This strategic approach not only saves time for those doing the feeding but also elevates the overall quality and precision of your equine nutrition program.

In conclusion, the ration balancer stands as a testament to the power of targeted nutrition. It’s a small addition with the potential for significant impact, ensuring your horse receives the essential vitamins and minerals they need to thrive, regardless of their workload or metabolic tendencies. By understanding its role and benefits, we can move beyond simply feeding and truly nourish our equine partners from the inside out.

If you are looking for a comprehensive ration balancer, consider the new Stable MAX Ultra Mate from Elk Grove Milling, Inc. Stable MAX™ Ultra Mate features the LifeFORCE Formula from Alltech. Backed by science, this balancer targets gut health and immune support, promotes healthy skin, coat, hoof integrity, connective tissue, reproductive function, and promotes feed efficiency. Enhancing overall health and performance, allowing your horse to thrive to its natural potential. Check at a local feed store near you and request Stable MAX feeds for your horse.