Diet for a 7yo Hanovarian gelding

Question
I have just purchased a new horse, due to arrive here in NJ in one month from Canada. The horse is in very good shape, but the breeder likes 'raw' food.  Currently he receives hay with a bit of Buckeye/cadence, with sunflower seeds, flaxseed and supplements.  This isn't going to be a feasible diet at the boarding stable I will be taking him to.  I'd like to know, the best way to change over his diet once he arrives, without him getting colic, and what would be a good diet for him from available complete feeds.  He will be on grass pasture over the summer (though not the best of grasses), with hay.    I really appreciate any advice you could give!  thank you so very much in advance

Answer
Dear Elizabeth,

Congratulations on your new horse!  Very exciting. First off I would ask the seller to ship the horse with enough hay to last the trip and the first week to 10 days that he is with you if at all possible.  This will allow you to keep him on the same hay for the first couple of days he is with you and then give you enough to start adding your hay to replace his current hay.  This will greatly reduce the chance of colic.  I would also get yourself a good probiotic such as Forco or Ration plus to feed him once he is with you.  This will help support the gut bacteria so that if the stress of shipping and a new barn upset his digestive system a little you are supporting it as much as possible.  

Be sure to find out from the owner if he is a horse who will drink in strange places and if he is at all picky about that ask her to give him a bucket with sometime like apple juice or cool aid added to the water for a few days before he leaves.  You can then spike a bucket of water on your end to hide the taste of your water to insure that he drinks at the new barn.  If he has traveled a fair bit and this has never been an issue then I doubt it would be now and I wouldn't worry about it.

As for what to feed on your end I would keep him on all hay to start with until you know him a bit and then if you feel he needs a bit of something extra find something similar to the buckeye cadence. Can you get Buckeye feeds?  The flax is a great idea they need the omega-3 fatty acids and I would also feed a hay balancing supplement you do need something like this because a little bit of a compounded grain is not going to give him the minerals he needs.  I don't know what is available in your area but would be happy to discuss it with you over the phone and put a diet together for you if you are interested.  You can find information at my website.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck,
Clair Thunes, PhD
Independent Equine Nutritionist,
clair@equilibrateequine.com
www.equilibrateequine.com