Conference noted::equitation

    Sounds like you're right on the money -- the yellow pellets are
    grain pellets; the complete pellets are green (complete == hay and
    grain mixture)  I used nutrena at one time, but my horses did not do as
    well on it as on other grains and pellets.  And one time, I got a
    delivery of what was supposed to be complete pellets, but the bags were
    full of grain pellets.  This may have happened to the place you board
    at.
    
    That must be infuriating, though, to have someone change your horse's
    diet without even consulting you!  When I had boarders, I fed the
    horses whatever their owners requested.  I mean, why not?  It's their 
    money and their horse, after all....
    
    -ellie

    Hi Mary,
    
    	I just switched to Nutrena feeds about 2 months ago.  I'm feeding
    10% sweet feed and Horse Quik pellets (which appear to be mostly
    Alfalfa).  I've noticed a definite increase in energy in both horses -
    but they are also getting fit and muscled up.  I turn them out all day
    and with these cooler mornings I've had two yahoo broncs (normally out
    of character with so much grass to stop and eat).  But, so far, no
    major attitude problems.  If that happens, I'll probably go back to 
    feeding Strider pellets (Blue Seal).  I always had good luck with them.
    I switched to Nutrena out of curiosity and convenience - the dealer
    is down the street.  So far, I'm happy with the results, and they
    *LOVE* the stuff.  Good luck!  BTW - switching one horse from straight
    oats to Strider pellets improved his disposition and added (badly
    needed) weight.
    
    Good Luck!

Mary,

I've seen increased energy in a horse that went from strider pellets
to nutrena brands.   The horse went from being generally quiet, to 
nervous and spooky.  I can't convince the owners to switch brands
even though they've mentioned the behavior has been intimidating at times.

Its unfortunate that many people like to feed identical brands and/or rations
of grain to their entire barnyard.  

Melinda

    I'm going to talk to the owner tonight to see if I can get him to
    switch Algiers back, but I'm not too hopeful because so far he has not
    been at all responsive to other horse owner (read customer) requests. 
    It took me 1 1/2 years to get his diet where it belonged, and I'm not 
    interested in experimenting with a new diet. What also makes me crazy 
    is that this is the 5th time in 2 1/2 years this has been done to me 
    (diet changes without consulting me) -- and 3 of those times caused 
    one case of tying up and two colics!!!!!!!  Algiers does fine on either 
    Strider or Horse Chow 100 and that's what I want to keep him on.  
    
    Apparently he made the change because Erickson's won't deliver and 
    their prices are "too high."  Hopefully, since Algiers gets 1/2 or 
    less grain than the rest of the barn, he won't mind paying 10-40% 
    more for the grain Algiers gets.  Also, he's still getting the Horse 
    Chow 100, since his wife's horse started bucking her off the day after
    the switch, so they changed that horse back to Horse Chow.
    
    Mary

    re .-1
    
    Yeah, Horse Chow is what I swear by.  Just as an aside, where is the
    owner buying that *does* deliver?  I've not been able to find anyone to
    that delivers since I left the south shore.  Course, if they only carry
    Nutrena......   8^(
    
    -ellie

    The Farmer's Exchange in Leominster sells and delivers Blue Seal feeds.
    
    Townsend Depot sells Nutrena, but I don't know if they deliver.
    
    I don't know anyone that deliver's Purina feeds.
    
    Whether or not various stores deliver may depend on the quantity of biz
    you do -- not worth it for 100 pounds/month, but with a dozen or more
    horses?
    
    Mary

    Mary,
    
    Trot yourself back and say "excuse me, Erikson's DO deliver."  I don't
    think that Brown Road is out of their delivery range...they come to
    Bolton Road faithfully!  Erikson's are too expensive ... I have to 
    agree with that.  And Purina from Erikson's is outrageously expensive.
    But they do carry a variety of Purina horse chows that are less money
    that Omelene and Horse Chow pellets.  We switched and I don't see any
    difference.  My Gracie was an old bat before and she's still an old
    bat.  (I can say that because she's MY old bat)  (the new stuff is the
    same protein as the other, also)
    
    You've mentioned that the new owners aren't really experienced horse
    people...maybe they made the decision to switch without being fully
    informed (no s*%t).  Maybe, once they have all the facts, they'll see
    the error of their ways.  Looks like a challenge in deplomacy to me.
    
    Good luck!
    gwen
    

    re .7
    
    Where do you get Purina cheaper than at Eriksons?  The only places I
    know that carry it are Eriksons and UCF in Littleton.  And the UCF
    prices are always higher than Eriksons.  
    
    -ellie

    I assume you continue to board there because the place has other
    advantages you dont want to give up, but is there a possibility that
    you could provide the feed you want Algiers to have yourself, and not
    use the owner's feed at all? Perhaps for reduced board, or some such
    thing? Just a thought, you certainly don't sound happy about them
    changing your horses' feed and I don't blame you, I'd be livid if it
    were me, Im SO glad I have my own place and no longer have to deal with
    boarding. :-) Good luck!
    

    Ellie,
    
    Lancaster UCF is cheaper.  Or always was.  It's not a UCF anymore...
    Lancaster Grain and Supply or something.
    
    gwen
    

    I'm trying the diplomacy route tonight, but having failed to get cigarette
    smoking moved to a safer distance away from the barn, I'm not counting
    on it.  My guess is that they'll feel that if they change Algiers' diet
    back, they'll set a precedent.  I hadn't thought of asking about
    supplying his grain myself, but will try that if the other option
    fails.
    
    I've stayed since the new owners came to see what would happen.  So
    far, for every good change/decision they make, they match it with a bad 
    one.
    
    So far, they've:
    
    + Built a luxurious new barn.
    + Built 4 new turnouts, so they get half day turnout instead of 2 hours
    + Sort of demoted resident trainer & promoted chief stall mucker (who
      is much more relaxed with the horses as a result)
    
    - Increased our board 12% with only 2 weeks notice (although they knew
      *well* in advance they were going to increase it -- timing was geared
      to trap us there an extra month so barn would be full through summer)
    - Allowed smoking at barn entrances to continue and butts to be thrown
      out in tack room trash can
    - Switched grain without notifying us
    
    This one, for me, will be strike 3, and if I don't get what he needs, 
    I will move him.  What worries me is the fact that they did it without
    notifying us.  Who knows what other changes they'll make without
    considering all the effects...
    
    Mary
      

              <<< Note 1641.10 by ALFA1::COOK "Save the Skeets" >>>
                             -< UCF in Lascaster >-

>    Lancaster UCF is cheaper.  Or always was.  It's not a UCF anymore...
>    Lancaster Grain and Supply or something.
    
      It's an AGWAY now.    

    So Mary...how did it go last night?  Any progress?
    
    gwen
    

    Mr. Owner wasn't there, but I did have a chance to talk to Mrs. Owner. 
    I explained to her that while they have the right to offer any brand 
    feed they choose, it is extremely important that they let horse owners 
    know in advance.  I explained the difference between complete feed
    pellets and grain-only pellets and the possible health effects of
    uncontrolled increases in grain/protein (tying up, colic, didn't think 
    of founder!) as well as effects on behavior.  Also that I was concerned 
    because I couldn't determine for sure -- since they don't list the 
    ingredients on the label -- which kind of pellet nutrena is, but due to 
    color it looked like all grain. (Admittedly they do list "grain products, 
    plant products" but, face it, that could mean chaff and sawdust!!!)
    
    She *immediately* offered to change him back to Horse Chow and then
    explained that the reason they changed was because they felt like they
    were getting screwed by Erickson's on price.  Somewhere in there I told 
    her that I could live with the Nutrena, but would feel much better with
    Horse Chow.  When she brought up the subject of price, I told her I
    would also be comfortable with Blue Seal Strider pellets and that
    she could get them from the Farmer's Exchange in Leominster and they do
    deliver and I suspected they were much cheaper than Erickson's.
    
    So she may talk to Mr. Owner about switching to Blue Seal (I'm not the
    only owner who was concerned about the change).  And it looks like
    Algiers will go back on the Horse Chow unless they change to Blue Seal.
    
    Mary

    They started switching him back to horse chow last night!!!!  I'm 
    very happy about this since this was kind of a litmus test -- it  
    tells me what kind of people these owners are :-)  :-)  :-) 
    
    Mary