Fodder beet?

[Fii]

I keep my ponies on ground that is mixed grazed , at the moment the cattle are still on there and the farmer is putting out fodder beet to supplement their grazing, i dont think the ponies are getting at it to much as he stays for a while to make sure the cows eat enough, but they may be eating some! I am a little worried as it is high in sugar, how harmful do you think it is/could be? if at all.

 

[Fii]

Any one??

 

[Oliver12]

I don't know but my horses love sugar beets - I wish I could buy them but usually end up picking them up off the roadside when I see them.

 

[TwoStroke]

I haven't heard any real life experiences of this type of feed, but a quick google puts their carb (mostly sucrose) content at between 55-70%, some even up to 80%. Obviously it depends how much they're eating, but if your ponies are laminitis prone then I'd have them away from there before you could say ay caramba. Even if they're not, they wouldn't be going near my horses .

 

[Fii]

Problem solved, cattle have been moved today!