Currently feeding a purina blend to my horses but having nothing but gastric issue (which this blend is supposedly good for)  - considering switching my horses to an unprocessed diet. Good old oats. Is this wise? Are oats less or more irritating to the  gut? How much does everyone feed? What else do you add? 

On advice of vet, I tried this a few years ago. I poured oats to them and they looked like crap. 

Oats are 40% sugar/NSC. Would not be my

first choice with a horse who had GI issues.  I would for sure cut any molasses and maybe start renew gold and alfalfa pellets. 

I went grain free a few years ago. Renew Gold and high quality alfalfa. I add the RG to a handful of beet pulp shreds for a little volume (3/4 lb RG is a large handful). That's it. My horses have never looked better and my colic-er has stopped. Feet are fantastic and my farrier commented that my DTF daughter (colic-er) has started growing tougher soles and walls. Per horse expense has not gone up even tho RG is more expensive per pound than other bagged feeds and alfalfa is more expensive per pound than other hays. They also don't waste any of either. 

I am a huge fan of forage-based feeding.... allowing 24/7 pasture and/or free-choice quality hay access and using a Ration Balancer. The only supplement I feed is Ultra Cruz Equine Wellness. My horses look terrific. 

I personally think if you can get or have excellent high quality hay and or pasture you could probably get away with ditching commercial grains. I don't always know where my next load of hay is going to come from or what kind of quality it will be, we try to get the best we can but it's been hit or miss this year. In fact I went to pick up some more giant bermuda today and they are out ... he said he might have some by the 2nd week of December.  So who knows. My horses seem to look their best and have the energy I need from them coming from bagged feed with all the bells and whistles included.  I know my horse needs SOME starches to keep his energy up, if I go too low in the NSC on this horse he tends to get sluggish. I think if you know your horses well enough, you can determine what they need or don't need. It's never a 1 size fits all program around my place. They are all different,  have different needs and energy demands. 

Might think of having your horse scoped for ulcers & if thats the case, talk to your vet about a good feed for your horse. 

Renew Gold sure works good for my sensitive gelding. I add MVP Mega Cell, and  a small amount Alfalfa Pellets, along with free choice grass hay. I love feeding whole oats, but this seems to be the ticket for us, right now. 

Dr Honnas recommended oats and PURINA OUTLAST to a friend whose horse had persistent ulcers. 

Renew Gold and alfalfa pellets and free choice hay.

What forage are you feeding? That's a HUGE part of a horses diet... and should be the highest quality you can find.  

I feed Blue Bonnet Omega Force, and a few pounds of soaked CubeIt alfalfa/Timothy cubes a day and in the summer, turned out 24/7 (minus when they come in to eat and get ridden) and this time of year, round bales of bermuda. 

Currently feeding a alfalfa (~40%) grass blend forage - really happy with the quality and hay analysis. This last week I have taken the horses off the purina and have noticed a signifcant decrease in the sensitivy while saddling. Had a scope done about 5 weeks ago which showed no ulcers in the foregut for the most sensitive one of the group (so assuming hindgut then if ther are gastic issues.) 

Right now they are on soaked alfalfa cubes, fat supplement  and a mineral balancer. I am going to add a bit of oats next week and keep an eye on any changes that occurr. In the meantime -- It is sure looking like the purina made them sensitive so I doubt I'll be going back! 

I feed alfalfa, (wet crubes and dry, depending on the time of year) oats, rice bran and gro strong minerals.  Mine are fat, and slick.  I have done this for 7 years now.  Never had a problem.