Feeding bran...

[metalmare]

My yard owner feeds wheat bran to all her horses and ponies, daily, and has done for years. She says the benefits of it keeping the digestive system moving and thus reducing the chances (she thinks) of lami and colic outweigh the disadvantages.

Of course, bran can be supplemented with limestone flour to balance the calcium intake.

I should add that this yard owner has three out of four horses over the age of 30, so she must be doing something right.

What are people's opinions on this?

I have a pony who is at risk of lami, therefore on restricted grazing through the summer, which then makes me worry about his digestive health.

 

[Mongoose11]

My yard owner feeds wheat bran to all her horses and ponies, daily, and has done for years. She says the benefits of it keeping the digestive system moving and thus reducing the chances (she thinks) of lami and colic outweigh the disadvantages.

Of course, bran can be supplemented with limestone flour to balance the calcium intake.

I should add that this yard owner has three out of four horses over the age of 30, so she must be doing something right.

What are people's opinions on this?

I have a pony who is at risk of lami, therefore on restricted grazing through the summer, which then makes me worry about his digestive health.

I also know an old school lady in her 70's that is an avid bran fan, a couple of handfuls with grated carrot to wet each day.... Her ponies are very well cared for and she has had many who have lived to a ripe old age. I did feed bran for a while after colic as I was determined it was helping, now I just have it on hand....

 

[doriangrey]

I'd say you should try the online nutrition course run by Coursera (it's very interesting) and then you could make your own conclusions Not that I don't believe that you'll get some very informative replies, but it seems horses can be very individual in their requirements and what works for some may not for others.

 

[SuperH]

We've fed a variety of horses and ponies on bran, the pony I have at the moment is the first I've never given it to and that is only because I have nowhere to store it in my current set up.

Small scoop of bran, splash of water/oil and some fruit or veg as a reward for coming in, going in trailer etc has always worked a treat for us.

Ponies we have had that have had lami before we have had them we have fed a net of hay and a net of straw mixed with nettles when they have been on restricted grazing.

 

[criso]

I feed it but a forage analysis revealed that our phosphorous is very low and calcium is off the scale so it suit that profile.

 

[metalmare]

Yes, I've just fed it as a laxative as his droppings were getting a bit dry.

I'm trying to work out an effective summer diet for a pony who lives on fresh air and I'm considering:

Restricted grazing.
App. 2 kilos soaked hay (to increase forage intake and keep stomach ticking over)
App. 1/4 kilo bran (to aid digestion)
Equal amount of hi-fi lite to bran (to aid digestion and increase forage intake)
2 scoops GP supplement (which contains calcium, plus broad spectrum vits/mins)
2 scoops biotin

Plus limestone flour if needed
Plus salt lick

Grrr... diet is so complex.... I'm trying to think logically but want guidance from more experienced owners.

 

[metalmare]

I'd say you should try the online nutrition course run by Coursera (it's very interesting) and then you could make your own conclusions Not that I don't believe that you'll get some very informative replies, but it seems horses can be very individual in their requirements and what works for some may not for others.

That sounds interesting!