Flaked Barley! Help please ^.^

[CosmicRider]

So, I'm getting my first horse today (*woop*) and I'm feeding flaked barley (steam cooked) Would be great if anyone could tell me if this needs soaking? I know whole barley needs soaking overnight but just not 100% sure about this!

Thank you all

 

[AdorableAlice]

With the greatest of respect, until you know your new horse well and it is doing plenty of work, the barley is best left in the bag. A bag of pony nuts will do the job in the early days.

Good luck and enjoy horse ownership.

 

[TGM]

Is the horse already being fed barley by the previous owner? If not, as AA says, it is probably not the best feed option for it - some horses do well on barley, but it can cause lots of problems in others - excitability, hives, laminitis etc, are some of the potential problems.

 

[CosmicRider]

Yes his previous owner fed barley! I am aware of the problems it can cause but it works very will with him, and to fill in nutrient gaps he is also fed beet pulp and a handful of chaff Appreciate your concern though!

Edit: He's been on barley since the previous owners first got him, which was 7 years ago.