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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
 
| Is it absoluey necessary to soak them in water. I'm planning on supplementing what I'm already feeding. I feed a quality textured fed mixed half and half with oats. Big scoop of my feed, mixed with a half a scoop of pellets. Horse came thru winter in a little poorer shape than I like to see, but not terrible. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
 
Location: North Dakota | Yes, you need to soak your pellets. It's the shreds you don't have to soak if you don't want to. |
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Blessed 
 
Location: Here | I think so as they are really hard. Infact my horses don't like them soaked or plain but the shreds they like |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | yes.. when the saliva of horses mouth in espohogus gets to them they will swell and can cause choke.actually the pellets you should soak longer .. shreds you can just add warm water and feed.. if you want.. |
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Location: South Dakota | Yes you do...Choke is no fun to deal with. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Yes, to avoid choke plus the moisture is always a good thing |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | YES!!! they are very dangerous if you don't! If the horse doesn't choke on them, then they will continue to expand while in the stomach. Very painful and usually death. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Cowgirl Kat - 2015-03-20 10:49 AM
YES!!! they are very dangerous if you don't! If the horse doesn't choke on them, then they will continue to expand while in the stomach. Very painful and usually death.
Sorry, but I call BS on the "usually death" statement. That's a bit of an exaggeration IMO. When you soak them, they do swell up to about double their original mass, but choke prevention is why I wet them down. I soak them for 5-10 minutes and they're good to go. The shreds, I wet them and immediately feed.
For pellets, I fill a small bucket halfway with the pellets, then add water almost to the top. The pellets will absorb A LOT more water than the shreds and expand to fill the bucket.
For shreds, I put them in a bucket and fill water to the top of the shreds. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | ridejg - 2015-03-19 11:21 PM Yes you do...Choke is no fun to deal with.
Yes! My 3 yr old got into a bag of ground flax and was the worst case of choke I've ever seen! What a mess, water those pellets down, it doesn't take that much more time.... |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10295/feeding-beet-pulp
"Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to soak beet pulp in water to feed it safely to horses--studies in which horses were fed dehydrated beet pulp, up to a level of 45% of their total diet, noted no ill effects whatsoever. Not only did the horses not "explode" (thus laying that myth to rest!), but they also suffered no signs of colic or choke, nor did the water content in their manure change. But most people prefer to soak beet pulp; it's more palatable that way, and less likely to cause choke."
http://www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/beet-pulp.html
"Does it need to be soaked?
There is much debate about if beet pulp needs to be soaked before being fed to a horse. Some people say all of it (shreds or pellets) need to be soaked at least 4 hours before feeding. Others say none of it needs to be soaked. Yet others say the pellets should be soaked while it is personal preference if the shreds are soaked.
Studies have been done to show that soaked or not, it is no more likely than any other feed to cause choke in horses. So, basically, it is personal preference...or rather, your horse’s personal preference.
Some horses like it soaked for a few hours until it makes a soft mash, while others will eat it only completely dry. Then again, some will eat it only if it is soaked for a few minutes so that it is moist but still crunchy.
If you choose to soak it, it is currently recommended to soak it no longer than 1-2 hours, especially in hot weather, as it can begin to ferment. If soaked beet pulp smells sickly-sweet like wine, it has begun to ferment and should be disposed of.
Myths:
Myth #1: Unsoaked, it will expand inside my horse’s stomach and explode.
This is not true. Yes, it hugely expands when soaked in water. However, the inside of a horse’s stomach is filled with acid, not water. The instant beet pulp reaches the stomach, the process of breaking it down begins.
Myth #2: Unsoaked, it causes choke.
Also not true. Unsoaked beet pulp is no more likely to cause choke than any other feed. Choke is caused by a horse bolting his feed and it getting caught in the esophagus. If a horse has choked before, or is a bolter, ALL feeds should be soaked, not just beet pulp." |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Gunner11 - 2015-03-20 12:10 PM http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10295/feeding-beet-pulp "Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to soak beet pulp in water to feed it safely to horses--studies in which horses were fed dehydrated beet pulp, up to a level of 45% of their total diet, noted no ill effects whatsoever. Not only did the horses not "explode" (thus laying that myth to rest! ), but they also suffered no signs of colic or choke, nor did the water content in their manure change. But most people prefer to soak beet pulp; it's more palatable that way, and less likely to cause choke." http://www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/beet-pulp.html "Does it need to be soaked? There is much debate about if beet pulp needs to be soaked before being fed to a horse. Some people say all of it (shreds or pellets ) need to be soaked at least 4 hours before feeding. Others say none of it needs to be soaked. Yet others say the pellets should be soaked while it is personal preference if the shreds are soaked. Studies have been done to show that soaked or not, it is no more likely than any other feed to cause choke in horses. So, basically, it is personal preference...or rather, your horse’s personal preference. Some horses like it soaked for a few hours until it makes a soft mash, while others will eat it only completely dry. Then again, some will eat it only if it is soaked for a few minutes so that it is moist but still crunchy. If you choose to soak it, it is currently recommended to soak it no longer than 1-2 hours, especially in hot weather, as it can begin to ferment. If soaked beet pulp smells sickly-sweet like wine, it has begun to ferment and should be disposed of. Myths: Myth #1: Unsoaked, it will expand inside my horse’s stomach and explode. This is not true. Yes, it hugely expands when soaked in water. However, the inside of a horse’s stomach is filled with acid, not water. The instant beet pulp reaches the stomach, the process of breaking it down begins. Myth #2: Unsoaked, it causes choke. Also not true. Unsoaked beet pulp is no more likely to cause choke than any other feed. Choke is caused by a horse bolting his feed and it getting caught in the esophagus. If a horse has choked before, or is a bolter, ALL feeds should be soaked, not just beet pulp."
I also like to add water to anything to get fluid in gut.. but in my opinion the pellets do expand or fall apart and are to dry and can cause choke.. so its up to horse owner i guess to decide.. is it worth the risk.(.shove a bunch of dry saltines in your mouth and swallow..)
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-03-20 11:17 AM
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Bibliafarm - 2015-03-20 11:15 AM
Gunner11 - 2015-03-20 12:10 PM http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10295/feeding-beet-pulp "Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to soak beet pulp in water to feed it safely to horses--studies in which horses were fed dehydrated beet pulp, up to a level of 45% of their total diet, noted no ill effects whatsoever. Not only did the horses not "explode" (thus laying that myth to rest! ), but they also suffered no signs of colic or choke, nor did the water content in their manure change. But most people prefer to soak beet pulp; it's more palatable that way, and less likely to cause choke." http://www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/beet-pulp.html "Does it need to be soaked? There is much debate about if beet pulp needs to be soaked before being fed to a horse. Some people say all of it (shreds or pellets ) need to be soaked at least 4 hours before feeding. Others say none of it needs to be soaked. Yet others say the pellets should be soaked while it is personal preference if the shreds are soaked. Studies have been done to show that soaked or not, it is no more likely than any other feed to cause choke in horses. So, basically, it is personal preference...or rather, your horse’s personal preference. Some horses like it soaked for a few hours until it makes a soft mash, while others will eat it only completely dry. Then again, some will eat it only if it is soaked for a few minutes so that it is moist but still crunchy. If you choose to soak it, it is currently recommended to soak it no longer than 1-2 hours, especially in hot weather, as it can begin to ferment. If soaked beet pulp smells sickly-sweet like wine, it has begun to ferment and should be disposed of. Myths: Myth #1: Unsoaked, it will expand inside my horse’s stomach and explode. This is not true. Yes, it hugely expands when soaked in water. However, the inside of a horse’s stomach is filled with acid, not water. The instant beet pulp reaches the stomach, the process of breaking it down begins. Myth #2: Unsoaked, it causes choke. Also not true. Unsoaked beet pulp is no more likely to cause choke than any other feed. Choke is caused by a horse bolting his feed and it getting caught in the esophagus. If a horse has choked before, or is a bolter, ALL feeds should be soaked, not just beet pulp."
I also like to add water to anything to get fluid in gut.. but in my opinion the pellets do expand or fall apart and are to dry and can cause choke.. so its up to horse owner i guess to decide.. is it worth the risk.(.shove a bunch of dry saltines in your mouth and swallow..)
I fully agree that they should be soaked to at least HELP prevent choke. I don't want to find out the hard way that my horse will choke on them. I used to feed them dry with no problems, but started soaking them to be safe. I just don't agree with people who think they can kill a horse by expanding in the stomach. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I know LOL I agree.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Gunner11 - 2015-03-20 9:00 AM Cowgirl Kat - 2015-03-20 10:49 AM YES!!! they are very dangerous if you don't! If the horse doesn't choke on them, then they will continue to expand while in the stomach. Very painful and usually death. Sorry, but I call BS on the "usually death" statement. That's a bit of an exaggeration IMO. When you soak them, they do swell up to about double their original mass, but choke prevention is why I wet them down. I soak them for 5-10 minutes and they're good to go. The shreds, I wet them and immediately feed. For pellets, I fill a small bucket halfway with the pellets, then add water almost to the top. The pellets will absorb A LOT more water than the shreds and expand to fill the bucket. For shreds, I put them in a bucket and fill water to the top of the shreds.
If it swells inside the stomach so much that the stomach can't expand anymore what do you think happens? I don't know how much they have to eat for this to happen. But I did hear of a horse that got into a bag of beet pulp and had to be put down. And they can die from choke. So mabe not usually death if they aren't given alot and you catch the choke early. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 208
| Love beet pulp! Have fed it for years and pellets are much more economical than shredded. I put it in a cooler with 1 gallon of water for each plastic scoop of pellets. I would never feed straight pellets, one scoop of pellets makes WAY too much for a feeding plus when feeding it on the road it helps to make sure they get moisture in their gut. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Cowgirl Kat - 2015-03-20 11:46 AM Gunner11 - 2015-03-20 9:00 AM Cowgirl Kat - 2015-03-20 10:49 AM YES!!! they are very dangerous if you don't! If the horse doesn't choke on them, then they will continue to expand while in the stomach. Very painful and usually death. Sorry, but I call BS on the "usually death" statement. That's a bit of an exaggeration IMO. When you soak them, they do swell up to about double their original mass, but choke prevention is why I wet them down. I soak them for 5-10 minutes and they're good to go. The shreds, I wet them and immediately feed. For pellets, I fill a small bucket halfway with the pellets, then add water almost to the top. The pellets will absorb A LOT more water than the shreds and expand to fill the bucket. For shreds, I put them in a bucket and fill water to the top of the shreds.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-03-20 6:43 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| He wouldn't eat them dry or wet. Guess I'll just up his normal ration. |
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 MEOW!
Posts: 4477
Location: High heels in the air... | Lol...it's not that the horses stomach swells up...it is the gas and acids breaking down any kind of feed...think about it...if a horse eats too much or too quickly, poor teeth, whatever...the stomach starts breaking it down sometimes not quick enough..causing discomfort...then tying up or colic... |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | DON'T DO IT! I almost lost my best boy to a stinking handful of presoaked beet pellets. STUPID PELLETS. |
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Worlds Greatest Laugh
Location: North Dakota | CanCan - 2015-03-20 8:46 PM DON'T DO IT! I almost lost my best boy to a stinking handful of presoaked beet pellets. STUPID PELLETS.
What happened when you fed him a handful of presoaked pellets?
Just wondering because I have read many different stories. I have fed beet pulp shreds for 4 years to 8 horses, including my broodmare with a foal and have never had any problems. I do understand that everyone's testimony and experiences are different. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 473
| I feed beet pulp pellets and have never had a problem. I can't stand the shreds anymore. Much more bang for you buck with pellets. |
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Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | I didn't feed it to him. He stole it. I bought a bag for an old mare. The third time I fed the stuff, the mare walked away without finishing the pellets. Hubby turned out Texas who finished it up. Horse choked for 15 hrs. When vet finally got the pellets all out, THEY WERE STILL SWELLING IN SIZE. The bag of pellets went to the dumpster. I kid you not. They were soaked before he ate them. He had been tubed and tubed and tubed with a couple of gallons of fluids. When the chunks hit the floor, the vet tech hosed them off to the side and they were still swelling. |
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 "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"
Location: Montana | I try to have our pellets soak for at least 12 hours before feeding. If your pellets are still expanding, then they were not soaked long enough. They should resemble shreds when they've been soaked enough. |
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Worlds Greatest Laugh
Location: North Dakota | Just Smoke and Me - 2015-03-23 7:41 AM I try to have our pellets soak for at least 12 hours before feeding. If your pellets are still expanding, then they were not soaked long enough. They should resemble shreds when they've been soaked enough. I was thinking the same thing. If the person was actually seeing the pellets, they were not "soaked" as pellets expand and look like shreds. But that requires overnight soaking. I do the shreds because I add water, ride for the evening and they are ready to feed. I have NEVER fed whole looking pellets.
Edited by Runnincat 2015-03-24 5:22 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | AfleetEquine - 2015-03-21 1:21 PM
I feed beet pulp pellets and have never had a problem. I can't stand the shreds anymore. Much more bang for you buck with pellets.
I feed beet pulp pellets myself. Feed them dry and luckily have never had a problem, been doing it for many years. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i soak the ones i use in the am the night before and the ones i use in the pm in the morning...........so they soak for a good 10 to 12 hours........
m |
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The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | mruggles - 2015-03-25 9:03 AM i soak the ones i use in the am the night before and the ones i use in the pm in the morning...........so they soak for a good 10 to 12 hours........
m
This is what I do too. And I think its important to mention to add enough water; I typically add water until its about an inch above the pellets. On hot days I'll put even more water in and make it soupy. I'd rather pour water off the top, than not have enough for that pellet to soak up. |
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Beet pulp pellets