Feeding Advice Please

[GingerTrotter]

Hi,

I read somewhere today that dampening feeds is possibly not as critical as I originally thought as a dry chaff encourages more saliva formation which helps to reduce the risk of ulcers.

And feeding 2L of dry alpha chaff before riding creates a matt in the stomach which stops the stomach acid from sloshing around being uncomfortable.

I have a cob who has always been "girthy" and grumpy and wondered if i'm not managing her feeding correctly. As she is a good doer she only gets a small amount of fast fibre twice a day.
My other horses get a mixture of fast fibre, linseed and alpha a oil but i feed that very wet.

Am i doing it wrong? should i be finding a less fatty alpha for the cob and cutting the fast fibre out of the others feed and just feeding the alpha a oil and the linseed dry?

None have ever had choke so i dont think there is a risk of that.... or is it they've never had it as i feed wet feeds.... oh its a mind field!



Thanks in advance

 

[Birker2020]

Hi,

I read somewhere today that dampening feeds is possibly not as critical as I originally thought as a dry chaff encourages more saliva formation which helps to reduce the risk of ulcers.

And feeding 2L of dry alpha chaff before riding creates a matt in the stomach which stops the stomach acid from sloshing around being uncomfortable.

I have a cob who has always been "girthy" and grumpy and wondered if i'm not managing her feeding correctly. As she is a good doer she only gets a small amount of fast fibre twice a day.
My other horses get a mixture of fast fibre, linseed and alpha a oil but i feed that very wet.

Am i doing it wrong? should i be finding a less fatty alpha for the cob and cutting the fast fibre out of the others feed and just feeding the alpha a oil and the linseed dry?

None have ever had choke so i dont think there is a risk of that.... or is it they've never had it as i feed wet feeds.... oh its a mind field!



Thanks in advance

Feeding is a mine field, an art in fact.

You could try giving her slippery elm. This coats the stomach lining preventing splash back of acid which has formed in the stomach. This is why it is always important for a horse to have ad lib forage so there is a continual supply of food going through the digestive tract to help prevent acid forming.

Slippery elm comes in powder form. Slippery elm for horses UK can be used to support a healthy stomach in horses prone to ulcers. Ulcers are a common problem with a lot of horses and slippery elm is a very useful herb in these cases. Tradition treatments for stomach ulcers may have a negative effect on your horse’s digestive system in the long run because they interfere with the normal workings of a horse’s stomach acid - even if they do give faster relief in the short-term. They can also be an expensive option, in the hundreds in some instances!

Slippery elm supports the horse’s intestinal tract in its own mucus secretion - which is what protects the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.

It has a high fibre content too which is also highly beneficial to the complex and sensitive digestive tracts of the horse.

Slippery elm for horses supports healthy gut function and is able to regulate intestinal bacteria - which promotes good general digestive health.

It can be used, along with a tea made from chamomile flower, to support horses affected by sloppy droppings by soothing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.

You can also mix slippery elm with water to make a poultice to soothe skin or promote natural healing of a wound.

So far, slippery elm powder for horses has no known side effects or toxicity even if it is taken or used long-term. No adverse reactions have been reported if slippery elm is taken alongside other treatments .

Geordie 256 sells it on ebay. The Alchemists Apothecary. I can recommend as I have bought it lots of times.

Just bear in mind about giving your horses drugs like bute whilst feeding it as any drug absorbed through the stomach lining will not be as effective due to using this powder as it coats the stomach lining!