So what do you think about beet pulp as a supplement for an

[here to stay]

Older horse?
I've never fed it in fifty years but Tessie is at the point where I would be bumping up her hay for the winter only the only decent hay has alfalfa in it and she's allergic to alfalfa. Also orchard grass. And barley (no sweet feed) and wheat.
I want to increase her calories but not increase the alfalfa she gets.

[mollymckee]

I'd give it a try. I've used it for older horses and i liked it. Just be sure to soak it well.i feed twice a day and started soaking the evening feed after I fed in the morning. If you are at home during the day, I'd consider feeding three times a day. It will help keep her weight up on less feed.

[manygoatsnmore]

We use it in a hot mash (yet, hot, Winnie likes it that way) for our mare. She's starting to get up there a bit in years, and the beet pulp helps keep the condition on her. Plus, she really, really likes it.

[1shotwade]

hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/sugarbeet.html

[here to stay]

www.thehorse.com/articles/33471/beet-pulp-faqs

I think I will try it. Tess is a low volume eater anyway-vet thought she was seeing ribs but it turned out to be fat rolls. As long as she is getting adequate phosphorus, she should be ok with adding a pound a feeding. I think giving some oats in with the beet pulp would work, the oats adding some phosphorus.

[TommyIce]

When my Tommy got older (and fewer teeth), he was given a combo of beet pulp, instant mash potato flakes and alfalfa cubes (all of which was soaked), but what really helped put extra weight back on him was Purina Senior feed. I also soaked that a little bit and he went through it like a freight train.

[here to stay]

Nov 1, 2015 15:40:10 GMT TommyIce said:

When my Tommy got older (and fewer teeth), he was given a combo of beet pulp, instant mash potato flakes and alfalfa cubes (all of which was soaked), but what really helped put extra weight back on him was Purina Senior feed. I also soaked that a little bit and he went through it like a freight train.

The vet said that senior feeds were not for Tess because she knew of none that did not have alfalfa as a base. Lucky for me she's a rolypoly and I have time to figure it out.

[manygoatsnmore]

TommyIce, You fed mashed potato flakes? I never thought of doing that. I wonder if Winnie would eat them?

[TommyIce]

I would sprinkle some (not too much though because they do swell up), about a 1/4 cup if I recall correctly on his food. I was feeding him using a large Folger's canister as a measure (I think back then those were about a 5 pound canister) He was a Thoroughbred and retired racehorse. When he was first given to me he weighed about 1,100# (17 hands) with really good legs (for a retired racer).

But after all these little tricks didn't put on a weight that made my mentor happy, we tried the Senior feed. He was sassy again.

I would check with your vet before doing it though. Just to be sure it's OK.

[aoconnor]

Unfortunately, I have never seen the good condition or weight desired when I used beet pulp. I stick with Triple Crown Senior, it has beet pulp in it, but also a lot of other good things. Sadly, it wouldn't work for you since it also has alfalfa down a ways in the ingredient list. I guess if I were you, I would probably try the beet pulp well soaked, maybe add some ground flax in the mix as well as some oats. That might work fairly well I think.

I do wish you the best of luck, I also have Thoroughbreds, several off the track, and they can sure be difficult to keep weight on at times. Not all of them, as my 2 rather hefty TB mares prove, but some of them can be a mess! I have a 19 year old TB gelding, off the track, that has terrible bouts of colitis in the very cold weather. Not sure what gets him going, but oy, what a chore to keep that poor guy going! Last year we almost lost him, it took 2 separate vet stays of several days, and a long winter of catering him daily, to keep him afloat. I almost put him down, but he is my young Grand daughter's favorite ride, so I brought him through the worst of it and keep after it daily for 3 long months. He is fine now, thanks goodness!

[comfortablynumb]

I fed my old horse triple crown senior for years in his old age. It kept him looking half his age even with most of his teeth gone. He developed a carb sensitivity so I switched him to just standlee timothy hay pellets, soaked into a warm mush. He loved that stuff.

Standlee makes pellets from timothy, orchard grass or alfalfa. If you hoss cant have alfalfa then the timothy pellets alone should keep him well fed.

But if they can handle the TCS then thats the best stuff IMO

[aoconnor]

comfortablynumb, I totally agree. I love TC Senior! It is great stuff.

[here to stay]

Today I'm off to town to see if they have timothy hay pellets (they did but it was $20 for 50 lbs last I checked), beet pulp and/or anything else that might be readily available. I want to settle on something that will be consistant if possible.
At least the allergy shots really are as easy to give as the vet said. Very small needle and very small amoint.

[aoconnor]

here to stay, Glad you are able to help that girl:-) I am praying she gets some relief.

I am trying ground Flax seed on a couple of my horses, I want to see if it helps with their hooves. It is good for lots of other things though, and may be a beneficial add to your feed regimen when you get started.

Timothy comes in mini cubes as well as pellets. I love the cubes for soaking, they expand hugely and I can measure it out very well. I like doing a nice hot mash on those really cold winter days:-)

I do wish you the best...what a thing for your mare to have...allergies to the things that she needs to be healthy. That is a tough one:-(

[here to stay]

Yikes- timothy hay pellets were $24 per 50 lb bags. I bought 4 bags, some shredded beet pulp and 2 salt blocks and spent $154. I'm going to try this as a supplement by soaking the beet pulp, adding some of the hay pellets and oats. She's going to have to make do with the alfalfa grass hay because the only alternative was orchard grass hay, which she's allergic to also.

[here to stay]

The good thing is that she loves the beet pulp. It must be horse candy. Anyway, I soaked 1 cup of the pulp, then mixed 1 cup whole oats and 2 cups timothy pellets.
She's had her 5th allergy shot, is still on antihistamines 2x day and still rubbing herself. I was told not to expect a change for at least another week or two.

[aoconnor]

here to stay, sounds like you are getting things together for her:-) I hope she stops itching soon! I have two geldings with severe grass/weed allergies, they are miserable all summer long and rub manes and tails off. I feel so horrible for them both, but nothing I can really do about it. Come fall, they are much better looking and through winter, spring, and early summer do fine.

Sorry you are going through allergies with Tessie...

[comfortablynumb]

Beet pulp is hard on their gums if they have no teeth so get the pelleted type, its ground up finer than the loose shreds

[here to stay]

Today's the last of the every other day shots. Now I get to spread them farther apart. 5 days now.
I have made most of the mistakes I make giving shots- why I hate doing it- but she's survived them so far. Last one was to draw back on the syringe to check for blood but I pulled the plunger out! I put it right back on and gave the shot but I didn't think about the air I also let in. I could hear the bubbles of air leaving the injection site. Dang. The syringe was so full that the plunger was at the very end of the barrel.
I give shots so infrequently these days that I'm just not good at it any more.
Well, whining off now. Pray for poor Tess.

[here to stay]

Nov 10, 2015 16:14:27 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Beet pulp is hard on their gums if they have no teeth so get the pelleted type, its ground up finer than the loose shreds

Thank you for the info- the next bag I buy will be pelleted.