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 Expert
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| I'm considering taking both my good horses off all processed feeds. They have orchard grass/alfalfa mix hay in front of them 24/7. I need to give them their joint supplements and was considering feeding a combination of just whole oats/alfalfa pellets mix instead of grain. Everything I read is 50/50 on if oats will make a horse hot or not. For my harder keeper I could add some rice bran. Thanks! |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Yes I do when I can't get clean rolled barley
I rotate back and forth with no problems |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| FLITASTIC - 2013-11-20 11:37 AM I'm considering taking both my good horses off all processed feeds. They have orchard grass/alfalfa mix hay in front of them 24/7. I need to give them their joint supplements and was considering feeding a combination of just whole oats/alfalfa pellets mix instead of grain. Everything I read is 50/50 on if oats will make a horse hot or not. For my harder keeper I could add some rice bran. Thanks!
We went off all processed feeds this spring. We now feed whole oats, milled flax, and Silver Lining Herbs as needed. My husband rodeod hard all summer, and added Beet Pulp to his rope horse's diet to help keep him hydrated, and keep weight on him when they were going to 4 or 5 rodeos a weekend.
My travelling partner has been a processed feed freak and had her mare on some super fancy (and expensive) processed feed. Her mare has always been super cranky, and despite going to the vet, chiro, massage etc. nobody could ever put their finger on what her problem was (treated for ulcers, gave time off, x-rays, and so on). This fall she had a live blood analysis done on her mare and it turns out all that processed feed has been really hard on her liver. She bought a couple hundred dollars worth of supplements to help heal her liver, and has switched to a natural diet and now- a month later- her mare is starting to act like a different horse.
The way the analysis guy put it- we (should) avoid processed food, so why do we think its ok for horses? He said that of all the performance horses he works on, the healthiest ones have a BALANCED diet- not hopped up on "this, that, and the other thing" to make them run faster, turn harder, stop harder etc. |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | Yes, I have fed nothing but whole oats, PP supplement and good alfalfa/grass hay for years. Love my program and it works very well for my horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| Thanks! I think I'm going to try it for a while. Oats, alfalfa pellets and maybe some rice bran. Plus I feed a gastro supplement and vitamin/mineral. Thanks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | Tys-ol-lady - 2013-11-20 11:52 AM FLITASTIC - 2013-11-20 11:37 AM I'm considering taking both my good horses off all processed feeds. They have orchard grass/alfalfa mix hay in front of them 24/7. I need to give them their joint supplements and was considering feeding a combination of just whole oats/alfalfa pellets mix instead of grain. Everything I read is 50/50 on if oats will make a horse hot or not. For my harder keeper I could add some rice bran. Thanks! We went off all processed feeds this spring. We now feed whole oats, milled flax, and Silver Lining Herbs as needed. My husband rodeod hard all summer, and added Beet Pulp to his rope horse's diet to help keep him hydrated, and keep weight on him when they were going to 4 or 5 rodeos a weekend.
My travelling partner has been a processed feed freak and had her mare on some super fancy (and expensive) processed feed. Her mare has always been super cranky, and despite going to the vet, chiro, massage etc. nobody could ever put their finger on what her problem was (treated for ulcers, gave time off, x-rays, and so on). This fall she had a live blood analysis done on her mare and it turns out all that processed feed has been really hard on her liver. She bought a couple hundred dollars worth of supplements to help heal her liver, and has switched to a natural diet and now- a month later- her mare is starting to act like a different horse.
The way the analysis guy put it- we (should) avoid processed food, so why do we think its ok for horses? He said that of all the performance horses he works on, the healthiest ones have a BALANCED diet- not hopped up on "this, that, and the other thing" to make them run faster, turn harder, stop harder etc.
I also only use whole oats with a good grass/alfalfa mix and Silver Lining. Horses are not designed to eat processed grains especially those with molasses. Their body has to be constantly working to break down the pellet and try to digest all the crap the comes in it.
You will have those that say they will make a horse hot, but they shouldn't if they are used in moderation like everything else. I have an aunt that raises halter horses and they spill the oats to them, I mean gallons a day and they are the biggest asses I have ever been around. You need to feed for the work load. They also do so much for the body. They help oxygenate the blood which promotes circulation and the hulls that pass through help keep the digestive tract cleaned up. |
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 Wishing on a star
Posts: 7935
Location: Where if you don't like the weather...wait 5 mins! | Steamed rolled oats and alfalfa here.
We tried several processed foods in the last 2 years and Fallon was always just out of the money. Went back to the basics of what I used to be able to afford and wahhhlaaaa won the open 1D 1 month later.
She is also healthy and happy. No crazy side effects because she can't process the crap I was putting in her. Not saying all horses are like ours, but that's my two cents.
Edited by BrlRcrMT 2013-11-20 4:34 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 557
Location: Kansas and loving it | I have owned my mare since May. I have been feeding Total Equine on and off, here lately she is acting hyper and shaking her head. Do you not feed grain a wwhile to detox? Or just give plain oats? I think I am going to switch from pelleted feed back to textured ss well. |
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Official Butt Slapper
Posts: 11055
Location: guthrie | We feed our race horses and barrel horses whole oats and 12% sweet feed,forco,adm minerals and THE's Daily Edge Muscle Mass with bleeder and ulcer preventative.....the race horses also get calf manna..works well for us |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| We feed whole oats and our horses look better than ever. Its good oats and beet pulp and they look great. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| I have fed whole oats in the past, as you described to get them their supplements. My problem with that feed was the powdered supplements had nothing to stick to and would fall to the bottom. There are ways to work around that of course.....adding water or oil. But I switched to Roasted to Perfection and my horses LOVE it. Not sure its availability in your area. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | I have a friend who breeds halter horses. They get fed whole oats and massive amounts. These horses are great looking suckers. She swears by the belief that if they grow up on oats, they do not get hot.
However . . . we have broken in a few for her and also bought two, I fully believe that they were calmer once I took the OFF the oats. These horses were just completly full of themselves and when I changed their diets it took the crazy edge off them.
I really believe it is up to each horse owner as to whether or not this diet suits them. |
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Tell It Like It Is
Posts: 22025
Location: Wyoming | I feed whole oats. My horses do well on them. I have become suspicious of processed feeds. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1163
Location: Sapulpa, OK | I switched about 3 years ago after having TOO many horses colic on expensive high starch high cost processed feeds. Now I feed a scoup of oats, part scoups of beet pulp, alfalfa pellets and some soybean meal to raise the protein some and put the shine on their coats and Gro Strong minerals. I haven't had a stomach issue since, horses are all fat and slick and NOT hot at all.
Edited by palgalz 2013-11-21 9:29 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | Beginner oat feeder here, what is the difference between all the types of oats? rolled, whole etc etc. What are the more cost efficient and better for the horse? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| MC1993 - 2013-11-21 10:53 AM
Beginner oat feeder here, what is the difference between all the types of oats? rolled, whole etc etc. What are the more cost efficient and better for the horse?
Found this. I was wondering the same thing and came across this article. I don't know how much is true but it does make one think........
http://www.ker.com/library/advances/140.pdf |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | palgalz - 2013-11-22 1:28 AM
I switched about 3 years ago after having TOO many horses colic on expensive high starch high cost processed feeds. Now I feed a scoup of oats, part scoups of beet pulp, alfalfa pellets and some soybean meal to raise the protein some and put the shine on their coats and Gro Strong minerals. I haven't had a stomach issue since, horses are all fat and slick and NOT hot at all.
I like your feeding ration, it sounds, simple and healthy. The horses I have seen hot were fed STRAIGHT oats and mountains of them. In smaller amounts I thinks oats are a great addition for feed. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 473
| JRC - 2013-11-21 12:03 PM
MC1993 - 2013-11-21 10:53 AM
Beginner oat feeder here, what is the difference between all the types of oats? rolled, whole etc etc. What are the more cost efficient and better for the horse?
Found this. I was wondering the same thing and came across this article. I don't know how much is true but it does make one think........
http://www.ker.com/library/advances/140.pdf
KER is VERY reputable. |
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 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | I have fed whole oats my whole life. Mine is mainly that but is considered a cob mix. Mainly whole oats, a little rolled barley, tiny bit if cracked corn, and Black Oil Sunflower seeds. I have never had hot horses, colic issues, ulcer issues, or any kidney or liver problems. Like one poster said we don't eat processed and its not good for us so why a horse? And the one poster that said the halter horses were hot?? Well you said a bunch of oats that is the key. I feed most of my hard working horses 3 to 5 lbs a day that is enough you don't over do it. I add rice bran, Forco, Flax seed, lysine, and Redmonds Sea Salt. Sometimes herbs for specific issues. All of these are natural additives. I do have a few on joint supplements like MSM and glucosamine and a few of the customers like Platinum CJ. So that is the other variation. But the main course is the oats. It is not rediculously expensive and it is easy to find anywhere if you are traveling. The biggest myth about oats is it causes hot horses and it causes ulcers. If it did what is wrong because I don't have those issues. You don't get the creaky joints like processed causes too. Kind of like humans that eat all processed and fast foods they usually do feel good in the joints. Sweet feed is not good either it can cause a lot of issues too. Glad to see all the positive responses most have changed to the processed due to the marketing and big companies saying grain isn't a good way to go! |
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