Molasses-free licks for distracting horses?

[AntiPuck]

Has anyone ever found a molasses-free/low-sugar horse lick that is still effective in keeping a horse distracted for a few minutes?

My mare is funny with her feet, I'm working on it, but as she had thrush I've had to use a Horslyx to keep her distracted whilst applying treatment as a "needs must", hopefully temporary measure - but I don't like giving her something so sugary everyday, so hoping to find a replacement that is a bit less unhealthy, until I can get her comfortable lifting her feet without any distraction being needed.

 

[SpeedyPony]

One of those forage bricks? They can be fed dry and seem to go down well with mine, particularly the ones with alfalfa in.

 

[AntiPuck]

One of those forage bricks? They can be fed dry and seem to go down well with mine, particularly the ones with alfalfa in.

Thank you - do they find them more appealing than a haynet, for example? And how long do you find that one block lasts?

 

[Horseysheepy]

Coligone do a lick that's alot less sugar than Horslyx, pricey at £29, but a possibility?

 

[MissTyc]

My horses inform the Coligone lick is Not Acceptable.
It's a catch 22. The reason the lick works is because it's pure sugar. How much sugar are they actually getting per lick? It's a super delicious so it serves its purpose ... so unless they're biting big chunks out (like my naughty cob!), I think a few minutes of licking the sugar crack is probably OK. Then phase it out so it becomes rewardnot bribe. My mare licks the air dreamily whenever she sees one of those horselyx and she'll stand there licking the air for ages and I only let her have one single lick as a reward at the end of whatever handling and she's cool with that.

 

[NinjaPony]

I use the horslyx for situations where I need my naughty Welsh to cooperate and it works because it’s a ‘high value’ treat which he only gets once in a blue moon. It’s full of sugar but given he only has it for short supervised periods, I don’t worry about it. He’s laminitic/Cushings and has never had a flare up, probably because I whip it off him as soon as possible! It’s been brilliant when he’s had to have some remedial shoeing as it kept him quiet and occupied instead of fidgeting and snatching his legs away. As he’s got used to the process, I haven’t had to use the lick. Sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of two evils!

 

[milliepops]

yup as above, when absolutely needed i let them just have the horslyx. the amount they consume is minimal especially compared to sugar naturally present in grass and hay that they are stuffing all day in higher volumes.

 

[AntiPuck]

My horses inform the Coligone lick is Not Acceptable.
It's a catch 22. The reason the lick works is because it's pure sugar. How much sugar are they actually getting per lick? It's a super delicious so it serves its purpose ... so unless they're biting big chunks out (like my naughty cob!), I think a few minutes of licking the sugar crack is probably OK. Then phase it out so it becomes rewardnot bribe. My mare licks the air dreamily whenever she sees one of those horselyx and she'll stand there licking the air for ages and I only let her have one single lick as a reward at the end of whatever handling and she's cool with that.

Sugar crack ?

Mine also licks the air/stable door/floor/my arm dreamily whenever there's a hint of a lick coming!

I suppose you're right, she's only having it for about 5-10 minutes each day, but I'd still rather she have no sugar at all. The problem is I need to leave her licking it whilst I do the feet at the moment, so it is a distraction rather than a reward.

Maybe I just need to get a lot faster with the feet!

 

[MissTyc]

Sugar crack ?

Mine also licks the air/stable door/floor/my arm dreamily whenever there's a hint of a lick coming!

I suppose you're right, she's only having it for about 5-10 minutes each day, but I'd still rather she have no sugar at all. The problem is I need to leave her licking it whilst I do the feet at the moment, so it is a distraction rather than a reward.

Maybe I just need to get a lot faster with the feet!

Or lift foot without, then give lick to actually do feet.
Then do one foot without, then give lick for the other.
Then two, etc ...

 

[SpeedyPony]

Thank you - do they find them more appealing than a haynet, for example? And how long do you find that one block lasts?

Much more appealing than a haynet, they probably only last about 30 mins? (depends on the horse though) but they're also only about £1 each and if you're worried about calories you could always drop the hay rationto account for the weight of the block. They can be soaked as well for those with poor teeth, but get eaten faster that way.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Has anyone ever found a molasses-free/low-sugar horse lick that is still effective in keeping a horse distracted for a few minutes?

My mare is funny with her feet, I'm working on it, but as she had thrush I've had to use a Horslyx to keep her distracted whilst applying treatment as a "needs must", hopefully temporary measure - but I don't like giving her something so sugary everyday, so hoping to find a replacement that is a bit less unhealthy, until I can get her comfortable lifting her feet without any distraction being needed.

Horselyx are relatively good for sugary licks, at 33% sugar. Other licks are >50% sugar. And licking it occasionally probably doesnt result in taking in that much sugar. I think is okay to use sparingly.

https://www.horslyx.com/feeding-zone/sugar-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just use what you have it's not going to do any harm for that short amount of time, some vets use horselyx as a distraction so they can't be that bad.

 

[AntiPuck]

Or lift foot without, then give lick to actually do feet.
Then do one foot without, then give lick for the other.
Then two, etc ...

Thank you, I know it sounds obvious, but I can't get a foot done in the second or two that she will hold it up for at the moment. I cheat right now, by putting the lick on the floor to one side of her and having her lean far enough over that she partially tips a foot up, then I tip it the rest of the way, leaving the toe on the ground, and crack on. It's not great, but it's where we are.

I am working on clicker training lifting the feet properly separately, but it will take time to build duration, as she has bad balance and is suspicious of me 'operating' on them.

 

[MissTyc]

Thank you, I know it sounds obvious, but I can't get a foot done in the second or two that she will hold it up for at the moment. I cheat right now, by putting the lick on the floor to one side of her and having her lean far enough over that she partially tips a foot up, then I tip it the rest of the way, leaving the toe on the ground, and crack on. It's not great, but it's where we are.

I am working on clicker training lifting the feet properly separately, but it will take time to build duration, as she has bad balance and is suspicious of me 'operating' on them.

It sounds like you're doing everything fine. I was about to suggest clicker training, then you mentioned it! It works very quickly but suspicious horses will remain suspicious until they feel confident. I would turn it into more of a game, including other exercises like ground tying etc. I find the most fidgety suspicious horses with ouchy feet are often more comfortable when groundtied in the middle of the yard. One touch at a time, one foot at a time. You're on track and things will get easier as the thrush clears up and she realises you're not going to make it hurt more.

 

[AntiPuck]

It sounds like you're doing everything fine. I was about to suggest clicker training, then you mentioned it! It works very quickly but suspicious horses will remain suspicious until they feel confident. I would turn it into more of a game, including other exercises like ground tying etc. I find the most fidgety suspicious horses with ouchy feet are often more comfortable when groundtied in the middle of the yard. One touch at a time, one foot at a time. You're on track and things will get easier as the thrush clears up and she realises you're not going to make it hurt more.

Thank you! It's been tricky with her, she picked up the idea of lifting the foot for a treat really quickly, but getting beyond quick lifts is taking a while. She also loses concentration quickly so I have to keep the sessions pretty short. I do probably need to mix it in with other, more fun things, so that she doesn't feel like she's being drilled on it.

I did consider that she probably likes the likit enough that she'd be quite happy to continue with our current, ridiculous routine, and knows that if she lifts her foot it might stop ?