Feeding Oats

TuscanBunnyGirl

TuscanBunnyGirl

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Im thinking about starting my mare on soaked oats. She's a 6yr old mare who lacks energy and is worked twice a day (about 1-1.5hrs over all).
So you helpful HHO's why do/would/wouldn't you feed oats? and what to feed with?

Thanks :) x
 
my yard feeds straights. Most have chaff,sugarbeet, barley and oats. You need a fair quantity of oats but they are an instant release energy and don't actually hot up a horse as such. What is your horse currently fed and how much work are they doing? If you do feed oats they need to be rolled oats. Any other sort are not easily digestible to the horse and will be of very little if any feed value. Have you considered a competition mix as these do generally contain a higher level of energy?
 
spike123 said:
my yard feeds straights. Most have chaff,sugarbeet, barley and oats. You need a fair quantity of oats but they are an instant release energy and don't actually hot up a horse as such. What is your horse currently fed and how much work are they doing? If you do feed oats they need to be rolled oats. Any other sort are not easily digestible to the horse and will be of very little if any feed value. Have you considered a competition mix as these do generally contain a higher level of energy?
Click to expand...

Leviathan said:
I prefer Tiger Oats more palatable and better for them.

http://www.gwfnutrition.com/prod_equine_tigeroats/index.htm
Click to expand...

Thank you for the replies!
At the moment she has adlib hay and no 'hard feed' as I am looking down the oats route but dont want to go wrong.
She does flat work twice a day for a total max of 1.5hours.
It's hard where I live (the outbacks of a small tuscan village :rolleyes: ) to get my hands on any good mix feeds, hence why i was also considering going for straights :)
 
I have fed soaked oats and tend to swap on to straights every winter as I find it more economical. I feed them with unmollassed sugar beet and alfalfa and a general purpose vit/min. They have never had an adverse effect on any of my herd, who range from a huge warm blood, through native ponies to foals
 
IME oats do not overheat horses

(have had problems with barley affecting temperament, though)

much prefer feeding straights to mixes (esp nuts/cubes)
as you can see what they're actually getting,
and check the quality of it

yes they need to be bruised or rolled to improve 'take-up'

if you can't get them like this...
than hand bash with a brick or similar, prior to feeding

as with all feeds, introduce gradually over several days/weeks -
would suggest start with half a scoop per day
and increase this by quarter scoop every 3 or 4 days until you find 'right' level

REMEMBER to balance by adding calcium to diet

in the work she's in (depending on intensity - schooling v hacking)
I would expect her to 'cope' with up to 3 scoops per day
BUT assess the horse as an individual...

regards
 
the watcher said:
I have fed soaked oats and tend to swap on to straights every winter as I find it more economical. I feed them with unmollassed sugar beet and alfalfa and a general purpose vit/min. They have never had an adverse effect on any of my herd, who range from a huge warm blood, through native ponies to foals
Click to expand...


labruyere said:
IME oats do not overheat horses

(have had problems with barley affecting temperament, though)

much prefer feeding straights to mixes (esp nuts/cubes)
as you can see what they're actually getting,
and check the quality of it

yes they need to be bruised or rolled to improve 'take-up'

if you can't get them like this...
than hand bash with a brick or similar, prior to feeding

as with all feeds, introduce gradually over several days/weeks -
would suggest start with half a scoop per day
and increase this by quarter scoop every 3 or 4 days until you find 'right' level

REMEMBER to balance by adding calcium to diet

in the work she's in (depending on intensity - schooling v hacking)
I would expect her to 'cope' with up to 3 scoops per day
BUT assess the horse as an individual...

regards
Click to expand...

Thank you for your helpful and imformative replies
I was unsure about what to feed with oats as i know the calcium:phosphorous level isn't great.
 
Can anyone answer a question for me?

I need a feed that will add condition to my horse and give him energy/increase his stamina without making him silly. Throughout my reading one constant suggestion seems to be whole oats because they are low in starch and sugar whilst being highly digestible (although some say they need to be rolled, crushed or bruised before and others say they don't) and good for building muscle.

My question is, if they are low in starch, why are they not recommended for horses who suffer from EPSM/PPSM/Azoturia? I thought starch was the main trigger for this so why would feeding oats be detrimental?

Sorry, just realised that's two questions! :D
 
Feeding a good quality broad spectrum vit and min supplement with straights overcomes the problem of the balance of calcium and phosphorous and also ensures that the other vits mins and trace elements like copper, zinc etc are also supplied too.
Also, replace salts lost in sweat with table salt daily or an electrolyte supp.
 
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