tell me about triple crown products...

[Trailpal]

Tanner has been on grass hay and Triple Crown 30%, a ration balancer for grass. In addtion, he got a hoof mineral mix and salt, plus about a pound of 10-10 (10%fat-10%prot), mainly to make the barn owner feel better about giving him something when the other horses got supper. He did pretty well on this.

Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Limestone, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Defluorinated Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Yeast Culture, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Distillers Dried Grains, Anise Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Kelp Meal, Copper Proteinate, Lecithin, Iron Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Soybean Oil, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cane Molasses, Stabilized Rice Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Brewers Dried Yeast, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Monosodium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Lignin Sulfonate, L-Lysine, DL- methionine, (Propionic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives)). (Free from Restricted Ruminant Protein Products per Title 21, CFR 589.2000) - See more at: www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/supplements/equinesupplement30percent-equine-supplement/#sthash.9EL3scl2.dpuf

At his new barn, the hay is a good quality alfalfa/grass mix grown on custom contract, and they feed Triple Crown complete. I need to figure out if I want to switch to the Complete or maybe go to another product.

Shredded Beet Pulp, Cane Molasses, Whole Oats, Soybean Oil, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Distillers Dried Grains, Ground Limestone, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Defluorinated Phosphate, Salt, Magnesium Oxide, Yeast Culture, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Anise Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Kelp Meal, Copper Proteinate, Lecithin, Iron Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Stabilized Rice Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Flaxseed, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Sesquicarbonate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Brewers Dried Yeast, L-Lysine, Monosodium Phosphate, Lignin Sulfonate, DL-methionine, DL-methionine Hydroxy Analog, (Propionic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives)). (Free from Restricted Ruminant Protein Products per Title 21, CFR 589.2000) - See more at: www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/upgraded-horse-diet-horse-diet/#sthash.FtSvKwIb.dpuf

I like the idea of a balancer for the vitamins/minerals and fats. But I don't like molasses being the second ingredient. From my reading and understanding, it contributes to bad feet and metabolism - and is mainly used to cover up bad flavors.

Any thoughts on using Triple Crown Low Starch Horse Formula? It's marketed as "Lower carbs, no corn, molasses or alfalfa meal for horses who aren't the easiest keepers.
"

Wheat Middlings, Soybean Hulls, Shredded Beet Pulp, Distillers Dried Grains, Soybean Oil, Ground Limestone, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Sesquicarbonate, Stabilized Rice Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Yeast Culture, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Anise Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Kelp Meal, Copper Proteinate, Lecithin, Magnesium Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Flaxseed, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Defluorinated Phosphate, Lignin Sulfonate, L-Lysine, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Brewers Dried Yeast, DL-methionine, DL-methionine Hydroxy Analog, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide. (Free from Restricted Ruminant Protein Products per Title 21, CFR 589.2000) - See more at: www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/low-starch-horse-feed-formula-lowstarchhorsefeed/#sthash.x2miz5hY.dpuf

[Mary Ann]

Did you see this on their website?

www.triplecrownfeed.com/articles/horse-food-carbohydrate-values-triple-crown-horsefood/

I feed my pony some supplemental senior feed by Triple Crown. Triple Crown is known around here as a premium feed, and the price reflects it; yet there are many good ones, and the opinions on feed vary with who you're talking to, and who's seminars they've attended. I'm none too fond of the label either, and I can smell the molasses in it. But wow, such a difference from the contents of the Complete!

One nice thing is the pony gobbles it. Wants it, loves it, licks the bucket. It's a good thing too, as he spends a lot of time with Zanetta, who is a hoover and super easy keeper. (Her flysheet looks like a sausage casing right now.) During grain time, he's able to get in enough to keep his weight up before he heads back out with the hoover. The others offered by my feed dealer just aren't as palatable. I like that the senior (as well as the Complete) contains some digestive bacteria too; the old man certainly could use it.

[Trailpal]

Thanks, Maryann!

So what I've been feeding is 9.8% NSC, 3% fat and 30% protein, what the new barn feeds is 38% NSC, 12% fat and 12% protein. You're feeding 11.7% NSC, 10% fat and 14% protein.

The hay here is mostly alfalfa, so I want to balance the calcium and other nutrients. I do like the digestive bacteria - like getting a pro-bi in every meal. I'm not sure how to compare these feeds, and now that I look at the low-starch He's not in terribly hard work - an hour of riding 4-5 times a week, and mostly at a walk. Now that we are doing a lesson twice a week and asking him to use himself, his muscles are better defined but he seems to be maintaining weight fine.

hmmm Here's one I hadn't noticed last night, www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/equine-supplement-lite-formula-equinesupplement/ with 9.3% NSC, 3% fat, and 12% protein. Looks like you feed nearly twice as much of this as with the other feeds though, so those numbers should be nearly doubled when figuring total amount the horse gets?

I do like the digestive bacteria - that is a real plus. What I am surprised about is that there are several seniors (mid 20s and 30s) here who are cushings or laminitic. I wonder if he is feeding the Complete to them?

[res]

My experience with Triple Crown is from feeding their Senior, Timothy Balancer cubes, and the 30% ration balancer. I am beyond pleased with all the products, for the same reasons MA listed - the horses LOVE it. I haven't had a problem with feed being left behind since I switched to it, compared to the Blue Seal products I was feeding that nobody wanted to touch... The Triple Crown products just *look* better and smell better, too.

Their customer support is amazing, you should call them tomorrow and they will give you their advice on what feed is best for Tanner. And they will likely give you some free bag coupons, too. They sent me 3....

Price wise, here in Charles/St. Mary's county, the TC senior is $3 per bag CHEAPER than the comparable version of crappy flavored sawdust that Blue Seal sells. Plus, I love that Southern States carries and loads the bags for you, vs. having to lug the brands at TSC around yourself. I usually am in "nice" clothes when I drive 20 miles to town, so I can hit 3-4 different stores for errands. I HATE getting dirty from dusty bags at TSC, or having delicate fabrics ripped from heaving bags around. Just a little thing, but I do love not having to handle the bags!

[DorothyB]

I like the Triple Crown Senior. The vet fed Pia 1 scoop Triple Crown, 1/2 scoop of another complete feed that doesn't have much if any molasses, 1/2 scoop beet pulp and 1 scoop alfalfa pellets - all three times a day.

I'm feeding the 30% ration balancer to the boys now.

[MJ]

I have been feeding the Nutrena Empower Ration Balancer, have you done any comparisons on the two?

[Trailpal]

The 30% ration balancers are for grass hays, as far as I understand. I did swap between the TC 30% and the similar Purina product (the 32% version of the product below) - I liked the TC because it had yeasts that the Purina didn't.

I did find "Nature’s Essentials® Enrich 12® Supplement" from Purina - the protein is more appropriate for the hay we have and I think the minerals are balanced properly. I can't find any NSC numbers for it but the molasses is listed pretty far down the list.

Thanks!

[Deleted]

I loved and fed both the TC Senior and Complete. And I would be feeding it now if I had the option. But I don't. Dottie eats another brand senior feed But she does continue to eat their ration balancer for alfalfa hay. That I can control because it's a supplement and they will add it. I like the new feed you just posted. Hmmm, maybe when things get a little better I give that a shot.

Can you just feed him the RB and some hay pellets? Or does he need the extra calories from the grain type products? Honestly, If I didn't have to feed grain type products I wouldn't. But it's not ideal in the situation we're living in down here.

[Yip]

We use TC 30% and alfalfa pellets from Southern States, but bagged under a name I can't remember. No complaints.

[Mary Ann]

I hope Reds will see this and chime in. She's pretty knowledgeable about what's on the market these days.

[Trailpal]

He doesn't need actual grain, I'm just looking for a ration balancer for alfalfa. The 30% is a ration balancer for grass - it has too much protein and the wrong vit/min balance for alfalfa. He is getting a fair bit of turnout - only in when it's "too hot" or raining, and pretty much all the hay he can eat otherwise. I've asked his hay to be put into his small hole haybag, since he will over eat. So no haypellets are needed, unless TC's RB for alfalfa is just a powder or something.

Lildot - what is TC's RB for alfalfa? I'm just not seeing it when I go to their page.

[Mary Ann]

If you want just add a handful of something to their existing ration to balance the Ca:P ratio, you can use something like Select I, which is formulated for alfalfa-based rations. Select II is for grass ones. But they need to get at least 50% of their forage from alfalfa.

www.selectthebest.com/vitamin-mineral-support.html#4

[Trailpal]

Thanks, Mary Ann - The only pellets Tanner gets now is the Triple Crown 30%** I'd be removing that. If I gave something like the Select I, I'd just give him some sort of hay pellet to mix that (and his hoof minerals) in.

The hay is alf/grass, more than 50% alf I think. I got R involved since her horse is also affected so we are now getting the analysis to tell what we are starting from.

** Oh, I forgot, he gets about a pound of 10-10, which is sort of useless in that amount. The previous barn owner liked to give that at night when the TBs got fed so the other horses wouldn't feel left out.

[Sheryl]

TC is considered premium by my local equine nutritionalist. Buster inhales the TC senior and it was one of the thigns that helped me get weight back on him...

[dawnh]

Was using this then switched off it and am now back to it just happier with how our horses look/act/feel on it. But that's just my 2 cents and I was able to get this locally at Farm n Home stores now will have to drive a bit further but not outrageously so and since they get such a low amount it last quite a while for me even with 5 horses. (I normally pick up 2 bags at a time).    They also have one with glucosamine/chondroitin included haven't used that yet but may work them onto it towards fall for the oldies benefit have to see cost difference etc.

Essential K