Interesting reading about barefoot diet.. thoughts?

[LMR]

http://www.gravelproofhoof.org/#!feeds-quick-look/c12zr

Having just read this page, I am slightly confused, would anyone be able to clarify for me? I realise this website is one horse owners experience but would really like people's thoughts.

My horse is insulin resistant and is currently fed the recommended diet of micronised linseed, speedibeet, salt and forageplus balancer with soaked oats on days he is worked.

Now he does have a shiny coat but is still slighlty underweight and struggles putting weight on in winter and is on restricted grazing all year round.

Still needs boots to hack out but is fine in the school.

He sounds very similar to Rory mentioned on the website.

The bulk of my gelding's diet is speedibeet, after reading this I was thinking of trialling him without the speedibeet. I was also thinking of tested the PH of the soil and his water. Has anyone does this before and could give me some more information?

The other thing is she uses Copra rather than linseed I was always lead to believe that linseed is better than copra but in this website she mentions that linseed contains phtyoestrogens (sp?)

Could someone clarify this?

I know this website is just one person's experiences but I did find it interesting reading so any general thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[criso]

The thing is you can't look at hard feed in isolation but have to look in the context of the forage you feed.

I feed copra, my grazing and hay is incredibly high in calcium so sugarbeet ( and alfalfa) don't work for me. I feed both linseed for omega oils and copra for protein and its higher phosphorus levels work for me.

I also feed minerals balanced to the feed and forage and this has resulted in better hoof.

 

[amandap]

Some people have found removing beet from the diet is a big help so it's worth a try. Re linseed, it has a good ratio of omega 3 ad 6, oils and mucilagenous properties, sorry I can't say about the phtyoestrogens but I know of a few people who have replaced beet with copra as a carrier but still feed linseed. Spillers high fibre nuts soaked to crumbly is another carrier some find good.

Not much help but as always it's worth trying different things as all horses are individual. Change one thing at a time and monitor response.

The thing is you can't look at hard feed in isolation but have to look in the context of the forage you feed.

Agree with this.

 

[LMR]

Thanks for your help, so would you ditch the beet and replace with copra or high fibre nuts? I know I wish horses could just tell us how they are feeling!

Criso, I am planning on getting my grass analysed and possibly hay but trying to find hay from just one source is proving quite difficult. Do you get yours tested every year?

Some people have found removing beet from the diet is a big help so it's worth a try. Re linseed, it has a good ratio of omega 3 ad 6, oils and mucilagenous properties, sorry I can't say about the phtyoestrogens but I know of a few people who have replaced beet with copra as a carrier but still feed linseed. Spillers high fibre nuts soaked to crumbly is another carrier some find good.

Not much help but as always it's worth trying different things as all horses are individual. Change one thing at a time and monitor response.


Agree with this.

 

[criso]

I have just done grass and had good results with that but mine go out daily so it forms a big part of their diet. Plus on alot of the yards I have been on they have grown their own hay so we have had that for at least part of the year.

It can't hurt to try without speedibeet.

 

[maccachic]

Have def found my horses don't do well on beet, when added to their diet weight gain seems to diminish - very unscientific by I trust my eyeometer.

Mine do get Lucerne and do well on it. I add oats when I need weight gain.