A couple of weeks ago when I went to buy horse feed I had a shock when I found out the feed store was out of what I usually use. Mostly because this is a feed that’s made by the feed store, albeit in another town, so I thought they’d never run out. When MFA closed my local store, leaving me only with one that was an hour away, I was blessed (thank you, Epona!) to find a 14% pelleted feed that was the same price. It was more basic than what I’d been feeding, but had the same protein level and was as close as I could get on my budget.
The feed store being out was a big problem as far as I was concerned because my next options were easily $10 more a bag and at 4-5 bags a week, well that adds up quickly. However, the lady who usually typed up my order brought out their binder of feed offerings and we went through it together. Imagine my surprise when I realized that first off, the feed store carried Nutrena Triumph, which my local TSC had stopped carrying. (I fed Triumph senior to my senior heart horse and it’s $10/bag cheaper than Safechoice Senior which is what she’s been getting lately.) That feed store was out of it, but when I called the store in the larger town where I usually do the grocery shopping, they had some. Whew. I had enough feed to get me through until my usual weekly shop. And honestly, it’s easier on spouse and I to shop for a few bags at a time than it is to get all the bags at once.
The reason why they were out of it? The plant had been unable to source ingredients. Of course she didn’t say the reason, but when I made some mention of tariffs, there was a knowing nod. I could spend this entire blog talking about farm policy given my history and education in agriculture, but suffice to say, while the corn and soybeans used in most livestock feed are domestic when there’s a supply, this time of year (It was mid-September when this happened), it’s a lean season between this year’s harvest when last year’s is mostly used up and during that time most corn/soybeans are imported from Brazil. Suffice to say the situation we’ve all been dealing with on a variety of goods has hit livestock feed too.
The other surprise I had was that the store carried Triumph Professional, which I hadn’t heard of, but was a 14% pellet that was closer to the MFA product than what I’d been feeding. The only downside is that it is $5.25 more a bag. Again, an additional $20-$25 a week would be a lot to absorb, but I could do it.
The good news is that the feed store got their brand feed back in stock and so I’ve been feeding 1/2 and 1/2 of the feed store’s brand and the Triumph Professional. I know this seems like a pretty detailed post, but one of the things that I want to do is make sure I’m doing right by my horses. They’re as much a part of my mental health care team as the medical aspect, and I just don’t feel like I’m doing a good job if they’re only getting what I can afford rather than the good stuff that is better for them.
Which is why I am inviting you to subscribe to Muse Happens. For $5/month you’ll get early access to all the unlocked episodes of the serials plus a large library of short stories. If you like young adult, you’ll also receive access to the stories I’ll be posting on my newly revamped Patreon before the end of the year. There are also big discounts on my existing books from all genres (equestrian fiction, romance, and fantasy). It’s a lot and your subscription would be going directly to the horses and their care. I hope you click on the button and consider joining.
