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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
 
Location: North Dakota | I was having this conversation with a friend about feeding alfalfa or Timothy pellets. She said she has never soaked pellets and she feeds them everyday. I had read somewhere to always soak them. Looking to see what others who feed alfalfa/Timothy pellets do, thanks! |
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Regular
Posts: 50
| i have never soaked them unless a horse ( like with cushing) requires it. I wonder if it helps?
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
  
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I have never soaked pellets, now alfalfa cubes yes. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I never soaked pellets until I had one choke not once but twice on pellets ( my fault for not learning the first time). Second time the vet told me to soak the pellets for him, so I did for all of the horses. I don't feed pellets now, though. I feed the Mustang Sally cubes and Omni cubes and don't soak those. |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| Depends on the pellets. The ones I get from Tractor Supply I soak, the ones I get from Bluebonnet I don't soak. The ones from Bluebonnet are a softer pellet and smaller. Alfalfa cubes I soak, depending on what kind they are. I feed the Omnis cubes and I don't soak them. The ones I get from Tractor Supply I soak as they are a harder cube and don't have the flax in them. I LOVE those Omnis cubes and so do my horses!!@  |
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 Yard Ornament Collector
Location: BFE, Texas | I dont soak unless they're wet down when i need to feed soaked beet pulp. I feed a 12/8 pellet that is small and breaks down easily as soon as it gets wet. Soak a handful in water if you want to see how fast a pellet softens and breaks down. I find the ones that take a long time to break down are the ones most likely to cause choke. Jmo
Eta: My duh..I read wrong..didnt see it was alfalfa or timothy pellets..but still no, dont soak alfalfa either unless mixed with BP.
Edited by Tx3turns 2016-09-16 8:27 PM
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Never soaked. Feed every day. We soak the beet pulp pellets, most defiantly. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| I soak them in the winter just because my horses like eating a warm mush when its cold. In the summer I only soak them for one that I've heard cough while eating. He never actually choked, just coughs. And hes the only one of 3 that do, so I know its not the pellets themselves, but him. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1481
Location: TEXAS | I've never soaked pellets. In winter we give a warm bran mash almost weekly... I'm in Texas now it's just something we did in the northeast regularly to fight against sand colic. Bran is hard to find here. |
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Location: South Dakota | I have had 2 horses choke with alfalfa pellets, so I now stick with soaking. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I can't soak alfalfa pellets or cubes. They just mash it into a solid clump in the bottom of the bucket and theN give up on it. If it's wet enough to not do that my gelding won't touch them. I was using Bluebonnet's alfalfa pets because they are a small pellet and softer, but I just switched to Bryant's alfalfa pellets and I think I may like them better. |
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Veteran
Posts: 162
Location: HOME OF THE DILLON BEAVERS!!!!!!! | ?i feed the standlee 3/16 size pellets and never soak them but my vet said to put a 1/4 cup of veg or canola oil on them, never had a choking problem and my horse is looking better than ever |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | it depends on the pellet and how much you feed. it is usually caused by a horse being piggy. some of the bigger ones that have that waxy sheen need to be soaked. I don't soak ususally, but mine only get about a pound at a time and they are small with no sheen to them. they soak up quick when i have added water though. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | There is always a chance they *could* choke on them, especially if they have tooth issues, are a fast eater, eat out of a bucket that is off the ground, etc. I have fed them both ways to multiple horses and never had an issue. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| Depends on how big the pellet is. I feed pellets that are about a 1/4" by and 1/8" without soaking but I would never feed the ones by standlee that are 1/2" by 1/4". Have had two different horses choke on those. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | WiscoRacer - 2016-09-18 7:09 PM
Depends on how big the pellet is. I feed pellets that are about a 1/4" by and 1/8" without soaking but I would never feed the ones by standlee that are 1/2" by 1/4". Have had two different horses choke on those.
What brand do you feed that you don't soak? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| MidWest1452 - 2016-09-18 8:22 PM
WiscoRacer - 2016-09-18 7:09 PM
Depends on how big the pellet is. I feed pellets that are about a 1/4" by and 1/8" without soaking but I would never feed the ones by standlee that are 1/2" by 1/4". Have had two different horses choke on those.
What brand do you feed that you don't soak?
Not sure the brand but it's technically rabbit food, which is just plain alfalfa with some vitamins and minerals added. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Three*C*Champs - 2016-09-16 3:41 PM
Never soaked. Feed every day. We soak the beet pulp pellets, most defiantly.
Ditto on the beet pulp pellets--ALWAYS soak first.
The younger horses who have good teeth get dry alfalfa pellets.
The 29 year hold who has a hard time chewing gets them soaked.
If I had a horse that choked or bolted feed, they'd get them soaked too, but fortunately the ones I have are good so far.
So it definitely depends on the horse. |
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