Bran Mash

[vicksey]

Hi
Im new to the site...and to owing a horse. Just wondered what views were on Bran Mash and what else can it be fed with.
Thanks

 

[pocket]

Hi, welcome to being a new horsey mum and the prospect of being poor now

I usually give Ralph a bran mash if he is unwell or as a treat. Bran by itself has little feeding benefit and can deplete horses of calcium. Fed dry it can bung (constipate) the horse up and wet acts as a laxative.

I personally only use on rare occasions and usually add honey and some succulents to it

 

[TGM]

There was a very long, long thread about this the other day - you'll find it here:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2481404/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1

 

[Donkeymad]

You'll frighten Vicksey off HHO with that thread

Welcome Vicksey, I hope you will have a lot of fun with your horse.

 

[amandaco2]

i fed it to my laminitic mare-to add bulk without upsetting her feet or putting weight on.worked great.i added lmiestone flour and hifi lite to it and fed it wet.i dont think i would feed it regularly for any other reason though.
shes now on just her chaff and sugar beet as shje lost abit too much weight and its gettinh chilly!

 

[vicksey]

Thanks very much for that, Im going to feed it with sugar beet and a good all round supplement and see how it goes. It's difficult to know what to do with such contensious issues. Thanks again

 

[Vicki1986]

i wouldnt personally feed it all the time.

my mare loves it and has a hot mash mixed with a little Hifi after mock hunting / to get her to take medicine / if shes got wet or cold on a nasty winters day

 

[Touchwood]

Really bran has absolutely no benefit....you may as well feed your horse £ notes! And the bran produced now is of very questionable quality compared to the bran produced back 'in the day'.

We feed a warm bran mash to mares post foaling, as they can get quite constipated and it helps to move things along. I don't know anyone who has actually fed bran on a regular basis for about 20 years now...

 

[whippet]

I never feed bran, I just don't see the point in feeding something with a nutritional imbalance just because it's 'traditional'? And if it's for the sake of giving a nice warm comforting feed in winter, just add warm water to their regular feed

Have fun with your new horse Vicksey....better get used to beans on toast, you'll never have any money now