Probiotics/Prebiotics questions

[BEARCAT]

Do you use them?
What is your favorite?
What's the most affordable yet efficient one?

[BEARCAT]

Reason I ask is because my farrier recommended Equipride, but from the research I've done, recommended feeding is 10oz per day for a 1000lbs horse, whereas most other probiotics suggest feeding 2oz per day.
It makes the equipride very expensive per day compared to others...

[LarkspurCO]

I use Forco (http://www.forcollc.com). I haven't really done a cost comparison with other products. I just buy the giant container at the feed store and it lasts a long time.:D

[BEARCAT]

I am having a hard time comparing labels/ingredients. Maybe someone can help...
For example, differences between these 2:
http://www.horsetech.com/dfm.htm#Quick%20Links%20to%20Product%20Pages

and


http://www.wonderhorseranch.com/equipride.html

[sublimequine]

That Equipride is more expensive because it's not solely a pro/prebiotic. It's got vitamins and minerals in it as well, and flax, and all that other good stuff. Pure pro/prebiotics are usually cheaper.

I've used RationPlus (prebiotic), Probios (probiotic), and Fastrack (Pre and Probiotic). Really didn't notice any difference between the three, but I do like the Fastrack because it's relatively inexpensive, and has both pro and prebiotics in it. Right now I'm just giving the Probios cookies, as the only time she REALLY needs the extra help is when there's grass. Now it's more just a maintenence thing. :)

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

I use Opti-zyme from Manna Pro. You can get it at www.Jeffers.com & it also has digestive enzymes. Pretty inexpensive also.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I use Pro-Balance. It has a good price and offers pro and pre-biotics. A fellow boarder recommended it and her mare has done well on it. So far so good with my TB on it as well.

[Sonic Boom]

I use Smartpak's SmartDigest...like it a lot, economical, and as I am already a customer, easy. Their Ultra of the same has more than pre/probios for not a lot more/month.

[gabz]

I use Ration Plus. I have used the ProBios paste when needed for a fast boost.

For comparison... go to SmartPak... but use common sense because their tables are not complete - as noted for those multi-purpose vitamin/mineral/ joint supplement mixtures that also contain a pre/pro biotic and may appear to be more costly.

[joharavhf]

Why do you guys feed probiotics?

I have a horse that it going to be on steroids for the next 10 days and I'm thinking it might be a good idea to add the probiotics.....Any thoughts?

[Angela Freda]

I use Pro-Balance. It has a good price and offers pro and pre-biotics. A fellow boarder recommended it and her mare has done well on it. So far so good with my TB on it as well.
I use this one also, it's a pellet and my horse hates powders.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

Why do you guys feed probiotics?

I have a horse that it going to be on steroids for the next 10 days and I'm thinking it might be a good idea to add the probiotics.....Any thoughts?

I feed pro/pre-biotics because my TB is sensitive when it comes to his digestive tract so I figured some extra help would be good for him. It helps him absorb his food and ease stress on his tummy. He is a TB so he can lean towards being a hard keeper/stressful horse.

He's actually gained a bit of weight since I have put him on it.

The vet said it wouldn't be a bad idea either since he has had a few small colics here and there and this helps the balance of his digestive system.

[leakyb]

I use Smartpak's SmartDigest...like it a lot, economical, and as I am already a customer, easy. Their Ultra of the same has more than pre/probios for not a lot more/month.

I use the smartdigest also......and have fastrack on hand for storm days when my horse can't get out.

My girl, age 15, has had a few mild colics this past year which seem to be during the humid weather and storms, then cold weather in a 24 hr period. I would call the vet to check in, give her a dose of banamine, and she'd be banging her door for dinner an hour later.

We ruled out ulcers, put her on strongid daily dewormer, changed her to pure Timothy hay (from Bermuda and Tim mixed), and she had one last mild colic. Then I added the smartdigest/fastrack daily and she 's been 100% okay for 6 months (knocking on wood). She gets smartdigest every night and we dump a scoop of fasttrack in the a.m. feed on storm days when the horses may only get out for an hour or two.

We are relocating this spring and I think this horse will be in a stall open to a paddock 24/7 at our new place to keep everything moving.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I use the smartdigest also......and have fastrack on hand for storm days when my horse can't get out.

My girl, age 15, has had a few mild colics this past year which seem to be during the humid weather and storms, then cold weather in a 24 hr period. I would call the vet to check in, give her a dose of banamine, and she'd be banging her door for dinner an hour later.

We ruled out ulcers, put her on strongid daily dewormer, changed her to pure Timothy hay (from Bermuda and Tim mixed), and she had one last mild colic. Then I added the smartdigest/fastrack daily and she 's been 100% okay for 6 months (knocking on wood). She gets smartdigest every night and we dump a scoop of fasttrack in the a.m. feed on storm days when the horses may only get out for an hour or two.

We are relocating this spring and I think this horse will be in a stall open to a paddock 24/7 at our new place to keep everything moving.

My TB had the same issues. I considered SmartDigest but he has done well since I put him on Pro-Balance.

He is like a live barometer. :lol:

During weather changes I also give him some electrolytes and make sure he has plenty of water.

[leakyb]

My TB had the same issues. I considered SmartDigest but he has done well since I put him on Pro-Balance.

He is like a live barometer. :lol:

During weather changes I also give him some electrolytes and make sure he has plenty of water.

My girl has 3 water buckets she drinks from. She drinks the most of any horse in the barn. I've owned this horse since she was 3 and she has never had a colic episode until the last 18 months.....so it is driving me crazy. I am hoping the digestive enzymes are keeping her bacteria churning away in a good way!

They just like to keep us guessing as horse owners...

[Angela Freda]

Why do you guys feed probiotics?

I have a horse that it going to be on steroids for the next 10 days and I'm thinking it might be a good idea to add the probiotics.....Any thoughts?
I started when I treated my 21 year old for Lyme, and since then it was just maintenance, esp when he's had courses of ABs

[ladipus]

Do you use them?
What is your favorite?
What's the most affordable yet efficient one?


I use Fastrack or Probios....Probios is more economical-both have worked great. Tractguard is a pellet that works great too-also has antacid,and electrolytes in it as well

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I also considered TractGuard for my TB.

But it seems to only be available in 28 days or 224 (or something like that) days worth.

Although I am happy with Pro-Balance so far. So I don't feel the need to change.

As mentioned I do like that fact that it is in a pelleted form.

[mypaintwattie]

I feed Probios daily to my horse with ulcers. It has made quite the difference- she has gained and maintained weight and has not been colicy. I give her the 10g dose daily, and 15g during stressful times- ie. shipping, drastic weather changes, harder than normal training sessions.

[SunnysideJate]

My 31 yr old AQHA gets 5g probios 2x a day for the last 5 or so yrs and it defitinitly makes a difference.

[Echo Swift]

I am having a hard time comparing labels/ingredients. Maybe someone can help...
For example, differences between these 2:
http://www.horsetech.com/dfm.htm#Quick%20Links%20to%20Product%20Pages

and


http://www.wonderhorseranch.com/equipride.html

Hi Bearcat,

I am not an expert here, but I do know a thing or two about horse nutrition. The big difference is that, as the cleverly named, Sublimequine pointed out, is that EquiPride is a Digestive Aide AND Feed Supplement -- the vitamin, mineral, d-biotin, amino acid, and Omega 3 fatty acid.
The digestive aide in EquiPride is a VERY good enzymatic blend and a VERY good prebiotic blend of the oligosaccharides (the short-chain sugars): fructose, manose, and xylose. Prebiotics feed the microorganisms in the cecum and large colon - which in turn, the probiotics (good microorganisms) break down the feed into fatty acids and nutrients. When they are healthy and well fed, they not only help breakdown foods, but they flourish -- leaving little food for the pathogenics (bad Microorganisms).
I don't know if your horse has bouts of cholic, but that will all but be eliminated using the product.
In conjunction with this, the feed supplement side provides an AMAZING blend of nutrients that provide the building blocks for the horse to flourish. From a shiny coat and healthy eyes to a better temperament and improved hooves, I am going out on a limb that that is why your farrier recommended the product. Not only will your horse have healthier hooves, but his or her temperament will be a lot more cool and calm -- making it both easier to do any shoeing or trimming as well as creating a safer working environment for the good doctor.

The product on the horsetech site seems to be a pretty good blend of probiotics and carriers. I am very unfamiliar with this product, however good it may be. Still, if you are still looking for probiotics suggestions... alright here's bombshell, SweetPro feeds, the company that makes EquiPride and EquiLix, is actually my Dad's company and we are a big fan of the SmartPak probiotics lines. It seems that a lot of the responders are too. They work Very well in conjunction with our stuff, plus we just in general like them. But it doesn't look like you'll go wrong with the other brand.

Ok, so you think our product is a little spendy, huh? 13 cents per ounce X 10 ounces a day (two scoops) = $1.30 per head per day. That adds up pretty quick, so I understand. 52 bucks for forty days? Ouch. Prices vary dealer to dealer, but that's what you'll get it for off our website. www.equiPride.biz

But we're pretty confident in this product. I don't what you are spending on other supplements, but say your taking a hoof care supplement -- won't need it. Electrolytes? We got it covered. Skin and Coat? Gorgeous with EquiPride and EquiLix. I have seen so many amazing stories, it's crazy. EquiPride is such a good blend of so many strong nutrients that it eliminates the need for a lot of isolated products.

Oh yeah, did I mention that we are seeing up to a 25% drop in forage requirements. You know what that costs now. Ridiculous. So for EZ figuring.

Let's say they have some Alfalfa/Grass 4X3 Square Bails in Chaffee, Colorado @ 200 bucks per ton. So that's 10 cents a pound. Your hungry guy or gal is eating 30 pounds a day. 3 bucks a day. Good news is that deliver. ;)

So here comes EquiPride, and not only in one month's time will you start to see the results -- the horse feels better, looks better, runs better, just solid, but now he or she is eating 7 to 8 pounds of hay less a day -- and maintaining or even gaining weight. You're saving 75 cents a day dropping your cost per day from $1.30 down to 55 cents. Nice. Even a forage drop of 15% equates to a savings from that $1.30 to 85 cents. That is what happens well the horse's GI track is pumping on all cylinders -- exceptional feed efficiency equates to extraordinary nutrient utilization.

Of course, every horse takes to the product differently. So can lap it up out of your hand and some you have to pull the old pill in the dog biscuit by mixing it with applesauce or a favorite food.

That's just what I think. Feel free to write if you have any questions. If they are super tough, I'll pass them on to smarter people.

[SunnysideJate]

I used Equipride with my older horse who at the time was 29 (he is now 31) and he did excellent on it. I was extremely happy with it but after about 6 months he decided to stop eating it. I am thinking of trying it again because I really liked the results but may try peppermint oil to make it more palatable.

[Echo Swift]

I used Equipride with my older horse who at the time was 29 (he is now 31) and he did excellent on it. I was extremely happy with it but after about 6 months he decided to stop eating it. I am thinking of trying it again because I really liked the results but may try peppermint oil to make it more palatable.
Pepermint Oil? Cool. Tell me if it works and I'll pass it along. I think I could use some this morning. It is negative 18 degrees not including Windchill. So cold, I had to lightly jog back into the house after starting my car in my basketball shorts. I saw that NJ was 24 degress. Wow. How do you handle the heat?

[SunnysideJate]

Heat! Ha HA funny! It's coooold. I will repost and see if he will go back on it. He is a funny old man- he has developed an attitude that since he is so old he can play by his own rules. His new thing is he will only eat in one particular spot in his paddock.

I was also considering the equilix for my 6 yr old Standardbred. His diet is a small amount of feed and his forage is alfalfa and orchard grass- free choice. He also has excellent pasture- he is on about 10 acres with 2 other horses.