Just curious about beet pulp in feed programs...

[love_casper]

I used to have my minis on it, but found mine particularly just didn't need it. They are all little chubsters. My big horse, however, gets a big bucket of soaked shreds every night. She's goin on 20 and is not as easy to keep weight on.

 

[Ferrah]

I used to feed it with the belief that it would keep "hay bellies" off my show horses. After reading lots of equine nutrition books and talking to some equine nutritionists, I have now switched to just the highest quality hay I can get. My horses love to be able to chew on more than just a few handfuls of hay a day (they now eat up to three flakes a day) and I have no hay bellies at all, even the horses not in work have no hay bellies.

All I feed is high quality timothy/grass hay mix, kelp and whole oats and my horses look better than they have ever been. I believe in the KISS method!

 

[chandab]

I used to feed it with the belief that it would keep "hay bellies" off my show horses. After reading lots of equine nutrition books and talking to some equine nutritionists, I have now switched to just the highest quality hay I can get. My horses love to be able to chew on more than just a few handfuls of hay a day (they now eat up to three flakes a day) and I have no hay bellies at all, even the horses not in work have no hay bellies.
All I feed is high quality timothy/grass hay mix, kelp and whole oats and my horses look better than they have ever been. I believe in the KISS method!

Wish I could get good quality horse hay. There's a lot of hay to be had around here, mostly large bales; but the quality is rarely up to par for horse feed (I'm in the middle of cattle country, and horses are mostly treated like second-class citizens, if you ask me). If I could get good horse hay, I could cut back on half of what's in my feed room; its mostly there to make up for what the hay lacks in quality.

 

[nbark]

I couldn't vote because it would not let me past the second question. I don't feed beet pulp, never have and never will. Personally, it has no nutritional value for the horses and is just a filler (according to my vet). I would rather they eat a good quality timothy/alfalfa hay and a good feed. I do use Super 14 for their coats. If I feel they need a mash on a cold night I make it from Special K cereal, wheat germ, molasses, cut up apples and carrots. I also use warm water in the winter, my horses like it much better and drink most of it during the night.

 

[chandab]

I couldn't vote because it would not let me past the second question. I don't feed beet pulp, never have and never will. Personally, it has no nutritional value for the horses and is just a filler (according to my vet). I would rather they eat a good quality timothy/alfalfa hay and a good feed. I do use Super 14 for their coats. If I feel they need a mash on a cold night I make it from Special K cereal, wheat germ, molasses, cut up apples and carrots. I also use warm water in the winter, my horses like it much better and drink most of it during the night.

Edited the poll, so you should be able to vote now. Added, don't use it in the second part, so that should let you get through...

 

[Anne]

I haven't ever fed beet pulp, my vet had a "fit" when I asked about it.

They made it clear that it was NOT something they would ever recommend.

My sister had an 'aged full sized mare who seriously choked on soaked beet pulp so she won't use it any more either.

Her vet also threw a fit at her, (not the same vet she is a couple of hours away from me)

Sometimes it gets pretty confusing from one persons vet to another.

edited to Add that for hydration my vet wants heated water and a salt block in the winter and salt in the summer along with free choice minerals. year round of course.

 

[twilightranch]

I feed triple crown complete and the feed already has beet pulp in it.

 

[billiethekid40]

I feed it year round. In the winter I feed it warm and mostly for hydration as I like to feed ad lib hay during the winter to maintain weight and generate body heat. In the spring and summer I replace part of the hay ration with beet pulp and the result is less hay belly and more filling on the topline. If I'm showing I feed just enough hay to feel they get adequate long stem fiber in the diet. It also makes sure horses are hydrated in the hot summer months, and they really like it straight from the fridge, with a little juice, grated carrot, apple cubes, gatorade... No, they're not spoiled at all....

 

[chandab]

Thank you for all the responses and information it has been very interesting.

 

[Matt73]

I don't feed it separate, but it's an ingredient in Buckeye Gro 'n Win. That's all the "grain" my guys get/need.

 

[Suzie]

We use soaked beet pulp shredded here winter and summer. For the hard keepers it puts on a nice topline. It also allowed our little piglets to slim down. Knock wood, we have not had a case of colic here since starting using it.

 

[HGFarm]

Mine horses at first thought I was surely trying to poison them. They are now pretty spoiled and like their soaked shreds! While on the road for a couple of days, we have always worried about the horses not drinking enough water and this sure helped. I did not drain the water off then either, and the stallion didnt want much water but sucked down the fluid from the pulp after he ate it!

At home, I soak it and then rinse and drain it- they love it. I have not had colic problems with my horses over the years, and just started feeding BP a couple of years ago and I really like it.