Bran Mash? ... Or not to Bran Mash?....

[KT2020]

I own/ event a fabulous (but very sensitive) 17.2hh warmblood.

After a pre-season XC training session at the weekend we had a minor bout of colic. Nothing serious but enough to make me get my thinking cap on regarding how I can manage/ avoid any repeat occurences if at all possible.

The vet that came out advised it was primarily dehydration & has recommended bran mash before/ during/ after any prolonged excursions whilst eventing/ training to keep my boy hydrated.

I must say that it seems like a sensible idea (having come form a hunting background where we always used to bran mash after any excessive exercise).

I queried the high starch content of some of the ready made mashes and have been told that providing the horse has ad-lib hay to chew. The saliva produced will buffer any fluctuations in starch and prevent risk of ulcers or gastric distress.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a pre-prepared mash that can be easily/ quickly prepared (remembering I've ben advised to use during events!)?

I've tried the slobber-mash with reasonable success (... he's a very picky eater....) but would be interested in hearing what other products are out there and how people have got on with them!

 

[be positive]

I used to take a bucket of soaked alfalfa pellets to events with one horse that was a bit tricky to keep right, he was treated as if he had ulcers although he scoped clear, a few mouthfuls to munch between phases seemed to help him, alfalfa is considered a good acid buffer.

I cannot really see the benefit of a bran mash being fed on a regular basis as it will pass through the gut rather quickly and not really help with hydration, vets are rarely experts in nutrition and that advice sounds very old school, I used to feed a bran mash to a tired horse after hunting as it was light and usually easily eaten but most would take on plenty of warm water first and have hay to munch before the mash was given, I don't think it is commonly fed nowadays as there is little benefit except after a horse has colicked as a way of getting the guts eased back into work.

Sugarbeet/ speedibeet is often used by endurance riders to help with hydration as I believe it takes fluids into the hind gut fairly effectively, they will probably be the most up to date on what works as the sport is based on keeping the horse healthy inside and out.

 

[VikingSong]

I don't do XC, but a good friend of mine does and she always feeds her ned Speedibeet between phases. It's low in sugars and starch, and is a good way to hydrate, imo.

 

[PorkChop]

I use soaked grass nuts as necessary throughout the day - I make up enough beforehand, even if we are staying away. You can make them as dry/wet as you want.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I own/ event a fabulous (but very sensitive) 17.2hh warmblood.

After a pre-season XC training session at the weekend we had a minor bout of colic. Nothing serious but enough to make me get my thinking cap on regarding how I can manage/ avoid any repeat occurences if at all possible.

The vet that came out advised it was primarily dehydration & has recommended bran mash before/ during/ after any prolonged excursions whilst eventing/ training to keep my boy hydrated.

I must say that it seems like a sensible idea (having come form a hunting background where we always used to bran mash after any excessive exercise).

I queried the high starch content of some of the ready made mashes and have been told that providing the horse has ad-lib hay to chew. The saliva produced will buffer any fluctuations in starch and prevent risk of ulcers or gastric distress.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a pre-prepared mash that can be easily/ quickly prepared (remembering I've ben advised to use during events!)?

I've tried the slobber-mash with reasonable success (... he's a very picky eater....) but would be interested in hearing what other products are out there and how people have got on with them!

I too like the idea of a mash, we used to give all the riding school horses a mash on a Sunday night and Monday morning helps clear the gut out. We have a colic prone horse here which bran is added to the feed daily to help reduce his colic bouts.