As many of you already know, I am the owner of a senior mare that I have had for the entire duration of her life.
This year she is pushing twenty-two years old and with age, comes an ever-evolving health plan.
Although her teeth are still in decent condition she has acquired a clicking in her TMJ and so I have found soaking her alfalfa pellets is an easier, more comfortable way to consume her daily calories.
Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way for feeding a soaked pellet:
- I have found alfalfa pellets need to be soaked in between five and six hours to fully break down. In the winter months, I soak them overnight so they are ready to be fed the next day. However, this is not possible during the warmer months in Arizona due to pellets getting hot and molding while being soaked. So I would recommend trying to soak them a few hours before feeding.
- My mare also receives a Chaste Tree Berry supplement so when I prep her pellets, I add her supplement and then soak the bucket. Soaking the supplement with the pellets allows for it to properly mix and combine with her pellets. That gives me peace of mind knowing that it’s not blowing away in the wind!
- Feeding a soaked pellet allows for my senior mare to actually enjoy eating even though she has the discomfort associated with her clicking in her TMJ.
If you have also found that soaking your hay pellet has helped your horse, I would love to hear from you!
**
Emily Griffin is a mama to two stunning daughters, a wife to her hunky husband, an experienced equestrian, and an Arizona native. She resides in a very small town in Southeastern, Arizona. Her days consist of raising children, everything equine, reading/ writing, and balancing the fine line between motherhood and insanity. She appreciates nature, the smell of a satisfying rain, and the lovely sunsets the Arizona deserts have to offer. Her life is unbridled in every sense of the word and she wouldn’t have it any other way! Follow her on Instagram at @unbridledmama.
