Horses are like people they come in all type, shapes and sizes . Some have a higher metabolisms rate thenothers. Some can get by with just a good quality hay some need extra energy that where the beet pulp come in. It is a by-product from sugar Beets and has 2.33 Mcals/kg and is high in fiber. But it might be better by adding fat such as a vegetable oil. One thing most people don’t do including, myself some time ,is we never test our hay. We need to do this if we really want to know what we are feeding. If the hay producer tell you he has fertilize Bermuda grass it not necessary going to be good quality hay. It might have been cut to late in maturity

I am so thankful to have a feed mill that has 3 generations of nutritionists since 1905! No animal byproducts. No anti-biotics in chicken feed. Dave even worked on a senior feed for over a year until it was the "just right" recipe. This is when I fed beet pulp (in senior feed). I was referring when someone is feeding straight stuff in quantities and passing on info from vet. I never did anything and didn't have a concern. I truly believe WE ARE WHAT WE EAT, and this goes for my animals as well. Good luck all. Allison

I am right with you, Vicki. Natural is better for all of us, not just horses. As for the wives tale regarding the "need" to rehydrate beet pulp I quote the following: "Myth number one: it will swell up and rupture the stomach. The stomach of the horse has the ability to detect when the maximum content level is approaching. A hormone called motilin is released. This hormone causes the stomach to empty - passing the contents into the small intestine and in turn to the large intestine. There is plenty of room and the beet pulp will be utilized very efficiently. Myth number two: beet pulp needs to be soaked. Numerous horses have been fed beet pulp dry with no problems. Horses that tend to eat quickly or gulp their feed should have the beet pulp soaked or they may choke. Also, soaking helps get more fluids into a horse. Myth number three: beet pulp causes choke. Horses that choke on beet pulp may choke on other concentrated feeds. These horses usually bolt their feed. A few large rocks in the feeder will slow down their consumption rate. Soaking may help…no matter what the feed is." From: http://www.thewayofhorses.com/beet_pulp.html and this is only one of many posts that come up when you Google beet pulp for horses. Beet Pulp is 18% crude fiber. The horses digestive system is able to absorb all of it and utilize it. The only reason that it should not be used as a fully replaceable feed is that it is too low in long stemmed fiber. Horses are grazers and need that stemmed product to help their hindgut work properly. Pattie CoLady

I think the highly refined feed is as much a problem as is the sugar. I had to look high and low to find a feed that contains REAL feed: oats, wheat, barley, corn, alfalfa, etc., instead of "processed feed by-products, processed grain by-products, etc." I don't believe man has invented a better feed than God did. Natural grains are always better. I boost my 2 & 3yo fillies' grain with a high-fat, omega 3 product "Horseshine" that keeps the weight on w/o the hyper reactions, mostly made from flax seed. I have found good, natural feed in Oklahoma, and one type contains beet pulp mixed into the pellets. Most of you may disagree with me, but this is how I feel. Purina & Nutrena can boast all they want about how healthy their concentrated feed is, but I think they have found a way to put grain dust into a pellet, add a few vitamins, protein, biotin, etc, and turn it into mass production for a huge profit, while claiming it is healthy. -but is it?? I have been told the human body absorbs less than 40% of synthetic, laboratory-made vitamins, like Centrum, One-a-Day, etc. I wonder if the equine body absorbs ANY of the synthetic ingredients in their feed? It's interesting how humans have seen a hugh increase the past 30 yrs. in diabetes, and cushing disease was almost unheard of 10 yrs. ago. ....just my feelings on this subject. Vicky

Just make sure the beet pulp is small enough or rehydrated before they consume it.

Sorry, just one more thought... I feed Alfalfa in the winter and Timothy in the summers. I also have horses that get higher than a kite on grain, so I do not feed it. I had my mare start to colic and did some research. Beet Pulp is great for the gut and prevents the colic as it helps to keep the intestines clean. Clean intestines also means better absorption of the feed which means healthier horses. Pattie CoLady

Hearthman, I have been feeding certified cubed and pelleted feeds to my horses for the last 4 years. I always feed wet to make them eat slower and prevent choking. I supplement with beat pulp to help keep their gut working and prevent colic issues. My horses are very healthy and happy. I keep them barefoot and my farrier tells me that their feet are some of the best he works on. Plus in the winters my mare will nearly stop drinking water. Feeding wet keeps her hydrated. For me pelleted or cubed feed bagged in 50lb bags is far easier to store and keep. I am alone and moving a 50lb bag of feed is far easier than a heavier, bulkier bale. Storage is better also as I can fit a months supply in the corner of my 10x10 shed and still have plenty of room for my tack and other supplies. Pattie CoLady

have used alfalfa cubes scattered like cow cubes to give my dry lotters a sense of hunting and "grazing"----a pound on both ends of the day as part of their feeding program----good hooves, tails to the ground and thick manes, great hair coats. due to some hoof issues with one and other factors with the other---the two mares i have now have not been on them and their manes and tails are thin----coincidence??? could be. but, i am looking to try and gradually introduce them back into the program. just like people, i guess, they all react different to what they eat. interesting post with some good info.

Unrelated to Marcia's problem..but a reaction to feed. Over a period of years I know of two horses that reacted to alfalfa cubes by shedding most of their hair and developing skin rash. I am not aware of a lot of folks feeding the cubes. I have no reason to believe that few people feed alfalfa cubes to horses outside my own experience. When taken off the cubes and put on regular grass hay both horses showed improvement in weeks and soon recovered. I have assumed since that this is not a rare reaction in horses to alfalfa cubes so have never used them. What have other members found?

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