What I Feed My GRAIN-FREE, Barefoot Horses

[@briellespiano16]

I love how you don't feed grain and also that you go barefoot, great video! Love your channel

[@DixiesChance-REER]

Amazing life for horses. Wish more people would do this.

[@hallyandhidalgo]

Please make more videos! I appreciate your knowledge.

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

hallyandhidalgo Thank you! I do have some more videos planned for the future.

[@xbblhd]

Good job Stephanie. You are so knowledgeable and well spoken! It is amazing how much better Autumn is doing since you two left Alaska! Do you think the problem was more the lousy hay than the weather?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

The problem was basically a combination of never having access to fresh grass except for hand grazing in the summer and how malnourished she was in her younger years. Horses on good pasture for 12 hours a day will get adequate amounts of vitamin E.

[@rebeccabusby3412]

your horses look amazing!!!!!!

[@cristinabagley6906]

Wow I am amazed at how much you know! I do a lot of work with my horse and was wondering if you think this diet is sufficient for a horse to be working a lot while eating a balanced diet like this? Most performance horses I know don’t ever eat like this, is it because they can’t or people just don’t know?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

Possibly people don’t know. But I’m seeing more and more professionals switching or making similar changes.

[@rachelgolla2543]

Where do you go to learn/where did you learn about creating a feed program? Do you have a degree or did you consult with an equine nutritionist? A facebook group maybe?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

I first started learning from a friend who had been a vet tech and specialized in nutrition. There are some good Facebook groups out there too, with very knowledgeable members. Especially groups about barefoot trimming or managing metabolic horses, as nutrition goes hand-in-hand with those things.

[@rachelgolla2543]

@@stephaniewinniford6196 thanks!

[@karlaflagg2137]

I noticed you are not soaking the hay pellets. I've just started using them and wonder why is it recommended to soak? Neither of my horses have dental issues.

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

I actually do soak them just because of all the powdered supplements. But I have no issue with feeding them dry if it’s convenient to do so. I’ve had 3 different horses over the years that have choked on different things, and interestingly, it’s always been on wet food or straight hay.

[@Tmerc334]

What do you think of pure wheat germ oil?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

I can’t think of any reason I would want to feed wheat germ oil. I would feed wheat bran if I needed to add phosphorus.

[@alexortizz]

Where do u buy the flaxseeds?? Haven’t found any in bulk

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

Most of the local feed stores here sell 50 lb bags! If you can’t find it in bulk, maybe you could try a flax oil like Flaxen Flow by Horse Guard.

[@TammySaj-zm6kr]

Forage feeding 😊

[@gaitedcwgrl]

Chia seeds can be fed as is, no need to grind or soak….

[@lifeinthesaddle7002]

Just asking, what is wrong with grain? I see a lot of people saying you shouldn't feed grain, but why?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

Inflammatory, hard to digest, not nutritionally balanced.

[@reneehollenbeck5824]

Unfortunately California trace has rice bran in it.

[@MistressOP]

Why don't you let them eat longer grasses less sugar?

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

I would love that! But there’s not a lot of grass where they live, currently.

[@MistressOP]

@@stephaniewinniford6196 that's to bad sorry to here that. Have you thought about mulching your grass and getting sheep? And chickens/ducks

[@OliveDeuce]

Is the title supposed to be a flex or something? Some horses need grain, and some need shoes. Hence, my horse lol. And it’s not a horrible thing If they do need it.

[@stephaniewinniford6196]

No?? 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ Lots of people title their videos like this. To emphasize words that might catch peoples’ eyes who are looking for certain content.

[@nadineskye7050]

Have you even tried this diet? My gelding went grain/iron-free last year and is now comfortable barefoot for the first time in the 20 years I've owned him. His coat gleams and he just looks/acts/feels better off grain and iron. I used to be of the mindset that barefoot horses were born that way. Now I know that there are many factors contributing to the quality of the hoof. Please open your mind and educate yourself.