Equiglow - unmollassed sugarbeet side effects?

[Hormonal Filly]

Has anyone had this affect their horse?

I’ve been writing down when I started to have issues with my mare. She was going super well in our flat work until the end of December, lovely outline in all paces (planning more dressage tests, grand-prix trainer really impressed) to road runner.

I’ve had all the relevant checks, vet, saddle, teeth. She’s moving really well.

I started feeding Equiglow on 23rd December and it’s after then all this started.

It doesn’t make sense being a lot of horses are fed unmollased sugarbeet with no issues? But just can’t put my finger on it.

I stopped feeding it yesterday, so will be interesting how things go.

 

[Elno]

My mare loves sugarbeet but can't have anything with it because it completely messes with her gut somehow. She bloats up and farts and is very sore and uncomfortable until it is removed We quite recently had a vet out for my stable mates horse who had colic. My mare, who then was on sugarbeet (Kwikbeet) and standing in a box neighboring the colicky one apparently entertained them with a one man, uh, horse, show of very loud and very musical concert of never ending wet farts for a conciderable time during the evening/night. The vet asked my friend to pass on that she recommended I put the mare on a probiotic. Funny though... the probiotic made her even worse

No effect temperament wise though, not like alfalfa which turns her seeing aliens in every bloody corner. Or carrots btw. That mare will never see a carrot in her life as long as I own her.

 

[FestiveG]

Each horse reacts differently, if the changes coincide with beginning a feed stuff, then it's a probability that the feed is the problem. Over the years we've had horses that couldn't eat any cereal, but could eat alfalfa, others that couldn't eat alfalfa, or carrots, or apples. We have up feeding anything that wasn't forage based, about 20 years ago, but got caught out when we fed linseed in a balancer and had terrible skin reactions in one of our mares.

 

[Elno]

Each horse reacts differently, if the changes coincide with beginning a feed stuff, then it's a probability that the feed is the problem. Over the years we've had horses that couldn't eat any cereal, but could eat alfalfa, others that couldn't eat alfalfa, or carrots, or apples. We have up feeding anything that wasn't forage based, about 20 years ago, but got caught out when we fed linseed in a balancer and had terrible skin reactions in one of our mares.

Can I ask how your horse reaction to carrots manifested itself? I have never before had a horse that reacted so violently to rather modest amount of carrots. I know for a fact it was carrots because at that time it was the only thing that she got apart from forage and it was a rather recent addition. It was during the Christmas holidays when the carrots were extra cheap so we all fed basically the whole stable with them in varying amounts. Mine got maybe 2-3 per day and she became completely unrecognisable and verging on dangerous reacting violently to things she wouldn't previously even bat an eye at in a couple of days. Took them away- normal, sane horse again.

 

[criso]

I had a horse get really hyper on unmolassed sugarbeet. I think it was because it's very high in calcium and grazing was already high in calcium. I later fed it at another yard balanced with magnesium and he was OK.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I had a horse get really hyper on unmolassed sugarbeet. I think it was because it's very high in calcium and grazing was already high in calcium. I later fed it at another yard balanced with magnesium and he was OK.

It’s like she’s really hyper, can’t focus she’s so full of it. She’s already on magnesium but maybe I should up it.

I’ll stop feeding it for a fortnight and see what happens.

 

[Rowreach]

In the days before balancers were a thing, we all used to feed unmollassed sugar beet alongside bran, which was in itself a balancer for the sb. Bran has fallen out of fashion but for horses with gut issues and those who react to certain feeds, it's still a great addition to the diet, and preferable imo to shoving a load of hyper expensive potions and powders into them (most of which are either cancelling each other out or causing other issues). But then I'm an old fashioned straights feeder.

 

[criso]

In the days before balancers were a thing, we all used to feed unmollassed sugar beet alongside bran, which was in itself a balancer for the sb. Bran has fallen out of fashion but for horses with gut issues and those who react to certain feeds, it's still a great addition to the diet, and preferable imo to shoving a load of hyper expensive potions and powders into them (most of which are either cancelling each other out or causing other issues). But then I'm an old fashioned straights feeder.

Isn't bran high in phosphorus and the calcium in sugarbeet balances this out so works for that but not magnesium. Not sure what food is a good source of magnesium.

Maybe people didn't worry in the past because grazing was better.

I feed copra (phosphorus), sugarbeet (calcium) and supplement magnesium.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sometimes feeding magnesium when not needed can make them hyper maybe drop that for a bit and see what happens.

I've fed unmolassed sugar beet for years without any issue but mine only get a few heaped wooden spoonfuls a day.

Another thing is its been mild the grass here is bright green and both of mine have been getting grass glands on and off fir the last few weeks.

 

[Rowreach]

Isn't bran high in phosphorus and the calcium in sugarbeet balances this out so works for that but not magnesium. Not sure what food is a good source of magnesium.

Maybe people didn't worry in the past because grazing was better.

I feed copra (phosphorus), sugarbeet (calcium) and supplement magnesium.

Bran is also a source of magnesium. And as Pinkvboots says, over supplementing with magnesium can cause issues which is why I avoid supplements and unnecessary balancers. I work on the KISS principle

 

[criso]

Sometimes feeding magnesium when not needed can make them hyper maybe drop that for a bit and see what happens

That's what can be tricky, it's not a question of a certain amount but calcium/magnesium need to balance and either going up or down, can throw it off. Plus everyone's forage is different.

However if the horse was fine and adding a feed high in calcium made it hyper, then that is more likely to be the issue than what was being fed before.

If the OP really wants to feed sugarbeet, then i would stop. See if horse returns to normal. Reintroduce sugarbeet to see if the same happens. If it doesn't, then it wasn't the sugarbeet. If it does then try balancing the calcium to see it it helps.

 

[criso]

Bran is also a source of magnesium. And as Pinkvboots says, over supplementing with magnesium can cause issues which is why I avoid supplements and unnecessary balancers. I work on the KISS principle

The problem i found with bran is it's so light if you feed by weight, it's very bulky and my horses didn't really like it. So then you end up adding stuff to make your horse eat something it doesn't want.

Plus with current horse, copra is useful for me to keep weight on and i wouldn't want to feed two straights that are very high in phosphorus. .

The horse I mentioned was so bad on sugarbeet my sharer nearly gave up riding after a hack on him. He'd been riding all his life and was very experienced and bold.

I also like to keep it simple which is why i analysed forage and only feed what is missing. The list of things i feed is very short compared to what would be in a broad spectrum balancer.

But as i said, OP needs to work out first if sugarbeet is the problem, then can decide how to balance if they really want to feed.

 

[FestiveG]

Can I ask how your horse reaction to carrots manifested itself? I have never before had a horse that reacted so violently to rather modest amount of carrots. I know for a fact it was carrots because at that time it was the only thing that she got apart from forage and it was a rather recent addition. It was during the Christmas holidays when the carrots were extra cheap so we all fed basically the whole stable with them in varying amounts. Mine got maybe 2-3 per day and she became completely unrecognisable and verging on dangerous reacting violently to things she wouldn't previously even bat an eye at in a couple of days. Took them away- normal, sane horse again.

My appy, who at that point was very fit became dangerous to ride. She was traffic proof, almost to a fault although she did always find odd things to spook at, eg white flowers en mass in a garden where they hasn't been before resulted in snorting and half passing, without carrots. With carrots I was meeting friends for a long ride and had to get off, in the middle of the road, as she planted, for no discernable reason, then started rocking, front end up, back end up, getting higher with each rock. The only trigger was carrots and not a lot of them, I got off and we walked to meet the others, then got on again and though on her toes for the entire ride she was manageable.

 

[Rowreach]

The problem i found with bran is it's so light if you feed by weight, it's very bulky and my horses didn't really like it. So then you end up adding stuff to make your horse eat something it doesn't want.

Plus with current horse, copra is useful for me to keep weight on and i wouldn't want to feed two straights that are very high in phosphorus. .

The horse I mentioned was so bad on sugarbeet my sharer nearly gave up riding after a hack on him. He'd been riding all his life and was very experienced and bold.

I also like to keep it simple which is why i analysed forage and only feed what is missing. The list of things i feed is very short compared to what would be in a broad spectrum balancer.

But as i said, OP needs to work out first if sugarbeet is the problem, then can decide how to balance if they really want to feed.

Well no, I wouldn't feed bran by weight. I use/used it as an additive more than a main feed component. Old fashioned feeding was not very scientific, rather more of an artform, but a good horseperson usually got it right when feeding straights by eye and experience. And that included working out what worked for one horse and not another. The advent of proprietary feeds and all that cr4p that the manufacturers add into them, plus the fashion for feeding every supplement under the sun, has not been a great thing for horses.

But back to the OP, I agree, if there's a behaviour change that coincides with a feed change, then ...

 

[paddy555]

Well no, I wouldn't feed bran by weight. I use/used it as an additive more than a main feed component. Old fashioned feeding was not very scientific, rather more of an artform, but a good horseperson usually got it right when feeding straights by eye and experience. And that included working out what worked for one horse and not another. The advent of proprietary feeds and all that cr4p that the manufacturers add into them, plus the fashion for feeding every supplement under the sun, has not been a great thing for horses.

But back to the OP, I agree, if there's a behaviour change that coincides with a feed change, then ...

how do you feed a horse vit E with just old fashioned straights unless you supplement it.

 

[Rowreach]

how do you feed a horse vit E with just old fashioned straights unless you supplement it.

I don't understand the question?

I didn't say I never use any supplements.

 

[paddy555]

I don't understand the question?

I didn't say I never use any supplements.

to rephrase the comment how does "one" feed a horse vit e etc etc without supplementation.

your posts give the impression,, to me at least, that supplements have not been a great thing for horses. I don't see feeding supplements as a fashion but as a very expensive necessity.

I do remember the old days of feeding straights without a supplement (which was pretty uncommon in those days)

 

[Rowreach]

to rephrase the comment how does "one" feed a horse vit e etc etc without supplementation.

your posts give the impression,, to me at least, that supplements have not been a great thing for horses. I don't see feeding supplements as a fashion but as a very expensive necessity.

I do remember the old days of feeding straights without a supplement (which was pretty uncommon in those days)

I know you enjoy taking issue with me on everything I post on this forum, but if you reread my comments on this thread I think it’s quite clear that I’m talking about the overuse of supplements that compete/conflict with each other and therefore are often detrimental to the horse. And to the purse of the owner.

This is now off topic and probably of no help to the OP anyway.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

5 days off Speedibeet, rode in the school today and she’s much, much calmer. No trotting on the spot, worked really nicely. Like being on a different horse..

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Nearly a week off speedibeet, had a brilliant flatwork session today!

Can’t get my head around why it would affect her so much, now have a sack with only 1/4 gone I’ll have to sell.

 

[criso]

Nearly a week off speedibeet, had a brilliant flatwork session today!

Can’t get my head around why it would affect her so much, now have a sack with only 1/4 gone I’ll have to sell.

I had the same with mine until I balanced the high calcium. I guess some horses are more sensitive to the magnesium/calcium ratio being off.

Would any of your fellow liveries want it, Sugarbeet is a fairly common feed.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I had the same with mine until I balanced the high calcium. I guess some horses are more sensitive to the magnesium/calcium ratio being off.

I’ve been supplementing magnesium, so would have thought that would be enough? She wasn’t getting a lot of the speedibeet, 2/3 handfuls unsoaked.

Will ask around!

 

[criso]

I’ve been supplementing magnesium, so would have thought that would be enough? She wasn’t getting a lot of the speedibeet, 2/3 handfuls unsoaked.

Will ask around!

Mine wasn't even getting a scoop once soaked but was terrifying.

If you were supplementing the correct amount of magnesium and then unbalanced it by adding extra calcium in the way of Sugarbeet, then you would need to up the magnesium to rebalance. It's a ratio they need not a set amount - 2 to 1 calcium to magnesium.

Think of it like a seesaw, if you add more on one end, you need to add more on the other end to bring it into balance.

But if you don't really need the Sugarbeet, then just don't feed it. Straights can be really useful but can unbalance the diet if you don't balance them or combine with the right things so if they're not working, then don't feed.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Some feeds just randomly dont work for certain horses. A horse at my yard was having equiglow he had terrible diarrhoea on it, not had it since stopping the feed
I recently got some healthy tummy by dengie which made my horse girthy and nappy, stopped it and the behaviour stopped within a few days, gave the bag to a friend and her horse is fine on it