Comments on: Feeding Bran to Horses

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 13:36:15 +0000

I have fed bran mash to my horses for forever. I grew up overseas and didn’t have access to processed feeds and I don’t like a lot of the additive stuff in processed feed.
Our horses lived well into their 30’s. I have a rescued OTTB (I’ve had him for 14 years) who just turned 27.
I boil barley, add omega oil and some molasses (maybe 2 tbs to 5 qts of cooked barley). I make sure the mixture is a dry crumbly as to not interfere with stomach. I add supplements as well.
Their coats are shiny and they aren’t “hot”, very level headed.
I used to use wheat bran and have now switched to rice bran for the added fat.

By: Sarona

Sarona — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 01:40:44 +0000

Where can I find the study of Cornell University?

By: Clyde

Clyde — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 07:47:18 +0000

We live in The Sonoran Desert and our horses intake alot of sand. Does not “Bran” assist in the digestive process ?

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 23:55:31 +0000

Great article.

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:48:34 +0000

I started feeding bran mash in the 70’s. Not sure how everyone does it, but I add cooked barley (I use oil and Molasses to barley as it is cooking). It is VERY important that calcium and potassium is added and that bran is dry crumbly not wet a gushy and mixed at every feeding not left mixed as it will get too wet. There are no recalls on this and keeps horse very level headed.

By: Dr Teresa Hollands

Dr Teresa Hollands — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:39:20 +0000

If you feel strongly about adding hot water to your horse’s feed then restrict yourself to warm only. Hot water destroys the viability of vitamins, which is why you should steam your own veg and not keep them in hot water for long or all the goodness is removed

By: random

random — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:14:38 +0000

Elizabeth, Hot water does cause food to lose nutrients, HOWEVER, if the water is left in it, and they eat the water with it, they will get the nutrients anyway, so I don’t think you should worry about that.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:31:12 +0000

I have been feeding my gelding a bran mash daily for the past 7 years. Now I have heard it can harm him rather than help… I would like to say he gets 1 1/2 sm scoups everynight with water and he has never colic Is it best to take him off it? this article has confused me? do you or don’t you feed bran????

By: Gail Brant

Gail Brant — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:18:43 +0000

I would like to know, if feeding a bran mash is not good for the horse, then why does the vet tell me to feed a bran mash after a horse has colic?

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:37:23 +0000

So, I thought about giving my horses bran mash because its a nice little treat and I thought it would warm them up a bit. After reading this though, it doesn’t sound like such a good idea anymore. I have been putting hot water in the grain so it can soften and they seem to like it just fine so I guess I will stick with that. Also, does putting hot water in the grain cause it to loose any of the nutrients? And how much extra calories does a bran mash have because I have a very easy keeper that I can’t afford to let her gain any weight.