All in one showing mix- interesting?

[misterben]

My boyfriend pointed out to me this week why don't I create my own showing mix?

My dad used to have a prize dairy herd with outstanding milk production in his day. He knew the importance of the quality of food used versus the milk production.

This has passed on to the food that we use on our M+Ms and we make up our food pretty much from scratch with approx 7 raw ingredients.

I get asked over and over what do I feed my horses and my boyfriend has been asked the same question by his dressage contacts when they have seen pics of my boys.

I am quite tempted to give this a go with my dad's 'secret' mix where it would literally be an all in one food- just add one thing and mix.

I don't think it would cost a fortune and is non-heating and most importantly the horses will climb over you to get to it! Even the most fussiest eaters have loved it......and we've been using the same mix for nearly 30 years!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you reckon guys??? Is there a gap in the market for a product like this?

[conniegirl]

I'm not sure whether it would be all that popular.
I cartainly do not feed showing mixes to my ponies I make hier feeds up depending on thier individual needs, one of mine cant have any form of cereal, anouther cant cope with mixes only cubes (soaked into a mush). It entirely depends on the pony.

[victoria (highhill)]

I think it could be popular, its ok making feeds up from scratch for the people who know what they're doing but there are plenty of people who don't know!

[ceri]

well i,d definatly be interested

[kayjayem]

I would think it may be really good but it is a highly competitive market and you would be up against all the big feed companies who have a massive advertising budget so you would probably be struggling to get it out in the market place and known. Otherwise if you started locally and worked on word of mouth and results it may take off but would be a slower process. Good luck if you do go ahead with it but be very carefull about investing too much money in it.

[hs]

I think quite a few big companies also have showing mixes and top spec seems very popular. The thing is with the big companies they can invest in the economies of scale and produce the mixes at cheaper rate than you might be able to do it.

I would think however what might be more popular might be something marketed as a "native pony/cob mix" as there are a lot of leisure riders who have these types of horses who might be interested in something not too fattening but tasty.

[misterben]

I agree that there are lots of 'mixes' and perhaps I have used the wrong terminology.

My point is that I don't actually like processed mixes and this is all the raw ingredients mixed up for you so it's far more natural and you don't have to add anything at all.

I won't use a processed mix as I don't like them and they are expensive....

It's more like an organic feed then perhaps.......and you get better results I can promise!

[stephjw1]

It depends on circumstances I have always mixed my own but as I now only have a shettie it would suit me to buy a mix rather than several bags of feed that would probably go mouldy before I used it all but I would not feed a mix if I didnt know what was in it

[kayjayem]

Well "Organic" is a buzz word today so that def would be a marketing point!

[lexy]

misterben - knowing how FAB your boys always look, I would buy it !!! :-)

[rl]

Might be interested, but would need to look at list of ingredients, shetties have special (ie non fattening, non-molassed) needs; always open to ideas though

[rhosyn]

Hiya
Yes there is a gap in the market - that's exactly what Frickers Formula do, and it's extremely popular, they ship all over the UK.
The crunch you will fin is beating the big boys on price - the margins are very very small indeed, and haulage very expensive, for example I've had quotes for shipping ONE bag of anywhere between £9.99 and £45!!!!