loopy
Groovy Groom
Posts: 38
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Post by loopy on Sept 30, 2007 14:08:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone. While visiting my parents this weekend, I went out to buy our horses the next batch of old-horse food. At the feed store, I was sort of disturbed to learn that their next shipment of beet pulp wouldn't be in until the end of October. Beet pulp is a huge staple of my horses' diet, and they have enough for a week or two right now. What, if anything, can replace beet pulp in their diet? Right now, they eat a combo of senior, high-fat rice bran, and the beet pulp. They have access to hay, but as old guys, they're not getting the most out of it with the teeth they have. Should I even try to find something for a couple of weeks to take the place of beet pulp? Or just feed them the senior and high-fat rice bran until beet pulp is back in the store. Thanks a bunch!
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Post by toeps on Sept 30, 2007 14:22:53 GMT -5
What about using soaked hay cubes or pellets?
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Post by earlybp on Sept 30, 2007 20:12:50 GMT -5
I wouldn't sweat it.
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Oct 1, 2007 0:01:02 GMT -5
What senior feed do you use? I am not a fan of too many of the senior feeds simply because of the sugar content that is why I ask  If your kids are used to getting the beet pulp you obviously want to continue that when you can - and I am thrilled to hear you are doing this In the mean time, while they still have some beet pulp, start adding in some soaked orchard grass or timothy hay pellets. I would double the amount based on dry weight that you were feeding of the beet pulp since calorically they are not as dense. Then, when they have the beet pulp back in, transition back to beet pulp the same way - or you can keep the hay pellets and beet pulp Many seniors do great on the mix of hay pellets soaked, with beet pulp. You might also want to consider adding in some ground flaxseed simply because of the health benefits from the Omega's in it Take care, Sara in WA |
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Post by angelinmydreams on Oct 1, 2007 23:23:57 GMT -5
Is there another feed store you can buy from? I wouldn't worry too much about it. Personally I have had better luck with the rice bran then beat pulp but you said that the beat pulp is a large part of their diet. I would do what cutie said but if you can't maybe ration out what you have left to stratch it and add a little more hay to the mixture. You could also maybe up the bran but I don't know how much you are feeding. I love that stuff my OTTb had a BAAAAAAAAAAAAD winter last year and beat pulp did not a thing. I swithed her feed to SAFE Choice and the rice bran and she started picking up faster then I could imagine. Where do you live at?
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Oct 2, 2007 1:33:34 GMT -5
Safe Choice is one of the few feeds I do recommend It has a lower glycemic index that most and has a bit higher fat content. Sara in WA |
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Post by MustangAppy on Oct 2, 2007 22:04:18 GMT -5
Sara, I am worried about getting Dazzler's weight up before winter hits, it really gets cold here and our shed is not all that warm. We do keep it filled with straw so they can lie down comfortably and reserve some heat, we also blanket everyone but my Mustang, who has a 3" long coat in the winter. Could I mix beet pulp with Safe Choice? If so, how much and do I have to soak it (sorry, not familiar at all with this stuff, my others are real easy keepers)? He is currently getting free choice grass/alfalfa hay (about 3/4 grass). To clarify, is that the Nutrena Safe Choice? I feed that a couple of times a week to my other horses, just a cup at at time, more like a treat, since they don't really need weight, but it makes their coats nice.
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loopy
Groovy Groom
Posts: 38
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Post by loopy on Oct 2, 2007 23:59:09 GMT -5
Hi everyone- this post was moved, so it took me a bit to find it! Thanks for the great advice. I'm going to school in Portland, and the horses live with my parents in Southern Oregon. I guess living five hours away makes me a bit more paranoid about this situation. There's only one feed store, and it's a chain that has a number of branches around the valley. I think, anyway? I haven't lived down there full-time for a number of years now.
The horses are getting a Senior mix that the feed store makes. I believe it's lower in sugar than the Purina brand. I wonder if they sell Safe Choice...? One of my old guys is doing just fine, but the other has been at a pretty consistant low weight for a while. He's not losing anything, but not gaining anything either. I'll look into that, as well as Flaxseed. I think I'll see about the hay pellets. That sounds like a good option, too. Thanks a bunch!
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