Comments on: Seven Feeding Myths Shattered

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:50:29 +0000

Alfalfa question: I use the compressed bales from TSC for my still growing 3yr old stud colt. He is ridden every 2-3 days for an hour and usually is ridden on long trail rides over most weekends. I give him a flake of his alfalfa once in the morning and once in the evening with his orchard grass hay. He never seems “too hot” but is this amount still ok for him?

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 09:46:58 +0000

Thank you for spelling this out. So many of my boarders insist on their horse having grain and are baffled why they just keep getting fatter. Horses definitely need hay, but not every horse needs grain. 2 of my own are on grass only diets and are healthy as a, well, horse! My performance horse is on a low starch grain and does great. Just depends on the individual needs of the horse!

By: Chandra

Chandra — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:06:20 +0000

Thank you all so much for the information. A vet once told me that horses don’t need grain. I’d been reading different things that says your horse must receive certain amounts of grain plus a certain amount of forage based on its body weight, but my horses kept gaining so much weight. During the summer time, grazing alone keeps them quite beefy. I just started feeding grain again along with hay because grass hasn’t been growing due to winter and I noticed how they’re beginning to have that round stomach again.

By: EUGENE

EUGENE — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:35:22 +0000

I understand that horses naturally graze on on fields but don’t most grasses also contain fairly large amounts of grain or seeds? To say they do not need grain is not completely accurate.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 05:44:57 +0000

It’s perfect. I’ve always been baffled by the fact that most horse people follow and preach these myths on a daily basis. The bran mash is the most common one. Why don’t people read more?!!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 05:43:52 +0000

It’s perfect. I’ve always been baffled by the fact that most horse people follow and preach these myths on a daily basis. The bran mash is the most common one. Why don’t people read more?!!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:36:35 +0000

I have draft horses can they just graze on a pasture of grasses and alalfa freely without triggering laminitis? They seem to take breaks and go to the barn for a couple hours a day limiting themselves it seems.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 20:15:51 +0000

Thank you for this article it is very informative..
I fed my horse of yrs ago Beet Pulp when he felt a little off. Like he didn’t have any energy. Well, after a few weeks of it. You could see and feel the difference in him. He looked and acted good.
I would soak it and mix it with the grain and he loved it. I knew someone who fed to their horse dried mixed with the grain and never had a problem and it is a good laxative.
Again thank you..

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:50:14 +0000

Molasses can be problematic for older horses whose digestive system is slower. It can contribute to gas colic. A good quality feed does not need molasses and it is often used to boost the calorie content and hide lesser quality grain. None Structural Carbohydrates can also be critical in feeding ponies and insulin resistant horses. ignoring this component of feed leads to metabolic syndrome and chronic laminitis- the #2 killer of horses (colic is #1)

By: claire

claire — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:43:48 +0000

Whilst beet pulp may not have to be soaked as it does not rupture stomachs it always should be. Horses can choke on it and aspirate it into their lungs. I know a horse that did both and ended up hospitalized for over a week- very distressing for the horse and expensive!