So I’ve been messing around with feeding my horses lately, trying to find something that’s both good for them and easy on the wallet. That’s when I stumbled upon teff, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a journey figuring it all out.
Starting Out with Teff
First off, I started reading up on what teff actually is. Turns out, it’s this fine-stemmed grass that’s supposed to be pretty low in sugar and starch, which is great for horses that need to watch their weight or have issues with laminitis. I thought, “Perfect, let’s give it a shot!”
Getting My Hands on It
Next, I had to find a supplier. It wasn’t as easy as walking into my usual feed store and picking up a bag. I had to ask around, do some searching online, and finally, I found a place that sold it. I picked up a few bales to start with, just to see how my horses would take to it.
Introducing Teff to the Herd
I slowly started mixing the teff hay with their regular hay. I didn’t want to shock their systems or anything. At first, a little bit of teff mixed in with a lot of their usual stuff. Then, over a couple of weeks, I gradually increased the teff and decreased the other hay.
Observing the Results
- Some of my horses took to it right away, no problem.
- Others were a bit more picky. They’d kind of nose around it, eat a bit, then look at me like, “What’s this stuff?”
- But eventually, they all started eating it without much fuss.
Figuring Out the Right Amount
This was a bit tricky. I knew I couldn’t just replace all their hay with teff and call it a day. Horses need a balanced diet, after all. So, I started off with the guidelines I could find – making sure not to give them too much of any one type of feed at once. Remember, it’s about keeping it to no more than 0.5% of their body weight for stuff that’s high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). And teff isn’t high, but still, balance is key.
Keeping an Eye on Their Health
All through this, I was watching my horses like a hawk. Checking their weight, their energy levels, their overall health. I didn’t want any surprises, like colic or laminitis, popping up because I’d messed up their diet. Luckily, everyone seemed to be doing great. They were happy, healthy, and their weight was staying in check.
Making Adjustments
Based on how they were doing, I tweaked the amount of teff a bit here and there. Some needed a bit more, some a bit less. It really depends on the horse. I also made sure they were still getting all the other nutrients they need by keeping a variety of other feeds in their diet.
Wrapping It Up
So, that’s where I’m at now. My horses are on a good mix of teff and other hays, and they’re doing great. It took a bit of trial and error, some careful observation, and a lot of patience, but we got there. It’s definitely been worth the effort to see them thriving. And hey, it feels good to know I’m doing right by them, giving them something that’s good for their health and that they enjoy eating. That’s the important thing, right?