Soaked Oats diet

[MagicMelon]

Read most of the posts on this feeding concept. Am wondering about trying it on my Welsh who is still coming out in the odd lump (like an insect bite but not at this time of year!), he does get sweet itch in the summer but seems to itch all year round - right now he actually has a few very small sores at the very top of his neck (bit he can reach over his neck cover!) where he's rubbed it. He's loves being groomed because he's itchy but the other day went nuts being clipped as if it was all just too tickly! He is also pretty grumpy but then he always has been!

Do you think this could be a barley intolerence? Ive read a few things about it like the odd lump coming up / behaviour / itchy skin etc. which can be indicators.

I do like to feed him something pretty high energy (he's lazy as hell otherwise and this gives him some spark) so he's been on a few feeds over the years usually based on competition type mixes which do have barley.

Should I take him off these mixes with barley and put him on the soaked oats diet for a while to see if he improves? (if not then Ill have to assume, that its just him!). How long would you expect to start seeing an improvement on the diet? And what should I feed during the "trial", just soaked oats? Or with the other things recommended like Alfalfa etc.? I plan to keep him on his high oil supplement.

 

[PapaFrita]

I had mare who was intolerant to barley and used to break out in fetching lumps all over! This is the blurb from Ellen Collinson for the soaked oats diet. I don't drain for the full hour (just until they stop dripping) neither do I soak for the full 24 hours as it's just too hot. Oh, and I don't do the bran mashes or sugar beet as I can't get them.
This is definitely the best diet PF has ever been on

"This is a diet I reccomend for all horses but especially for horses that are not 'doing well' or showing dietary problems like spots or sweet itch or just simply being 'hyper'. It suits all horses and is much more cost effective as well as healthier.

OATS are classed as both as a herb and a food, they are a strength-giving, low in starch but high in minerals. Also rich in Vitamin B, they contain alkaloids, glycosides and fixed oils which are an important source of vitamine E. They are a nerve tonic and bone building and contrary to modern day thinking, are the best possible feed for horses that are in work. The best way to feed them is soaked as explained here.

Soaked whole oats, soaked for 12-24 hours in cold water, this makes the oat a living enzyme again, which enables the horse to digest them more easily. Because they are now a living enzyme and easier to digested, the energy is released into the system quicker and without any build up of lactic acid, so no tying up, and also the horses hold their weight better, also as the starches are broken down easier it does not affect the temperment, also the benefits of soaking inclunde the fact that any chemical residue from sprays etc...are washed away, but not the goodness of the oat, also as vit E is in the outer husk of the oat, after soaking it becomes absorbable. The oats should be drained if possible overnight or for at least 1 and a half hours before starting to feed, and enough can be put up to last a whole day. If they are put up for example at 5 pm and drained at 5 pm the next evening, once a routine is established it is very simple, all you need is a hessain sack and a spare dustbin.

In light work I would suggest approx 2 to 3 lb of oats twice a day with alfalfa (weigh soaked oats not dry) and of course good hay. The amount can be increased gradually if and when work increases.

Carrots are excellent for the liver and the digestive system and full of calcium. Always make sure they are sliced sideways to avoid choke, another good vegetable that horses like is turnips or swedes, cut half a turnip into the feed trough twice a week to let them play with it, it is very nutritous.

The best supplement to feed in seaweed, one 15ml measure once a day, it is high in minerals and trace elements. It is rich in copper iron magnesium and phosphorus silicon and sulphur. The iodine content, which is a supreme gland builder and conditioner, reduces excess fatty tissue and removes toxic elements, along with iron which of course is premier importance to the blood, promoting oxygen absorbtion and building red corpuscules.

Alfalfa is classed as a herb cos it is very deep rooting, it is a rich source of calcium and also contains chlorine, magnesium, phosph.. potass.. sodium and sulphur..it is also rich in vits. It is high in protein, it is also a diuretic and more importantly it has 8 digestive enzymes in it which stimulate the digestive system, enabling the proper assimilation of the nutrients provided. It is a very good 'balancer' to be fed with oats, although it is a complete feed in its own right. To add to the oat diet add a double handfull mixed in with each feed.

Sugar beet, prefably unmolassed helps to keep condition on, it is also good for keeping bowels working, and is high in calcium.

A bran mash twice a week with a small handfull of epsom salts to keep their system clean, this has become unfashionable due to modern day nutritionists, however it is as good for horses nowadays as it was in the past. Cider vinegar internally, is good for them, an egg cupfull daily, this is also excellent used externally for any sore and inflamed joints.

Salt should be available, the best source is rock salt, not the man made licks but the rock salt that is dug out of the ground and many feed merchants sell it.

For those horses that need to put on weight or hold condition boiled barley linseed and flaked maize are all good fattening foods.

And finally but equally important is good quality hay. If you have to feed haylage for some reason than feed good quality oat straw to bulk them up.

I realise that this diet is 'old fashioned' and that the modern day nutritionists say that it is bad for horses, however, as it was all that horses were fed in the past, and the horses were far fitter, healthier, les colics, ulcers, hardly any sweet itch, fewer cases of tying up, fewer cases of fractures and bursting, far less cases of laminitis, it think the evidence speaks for itself, and I am confident that you will be delighted with the results, apart from the fact that it will save you a lot of money!!"

 

[cazza]

Is this to be used on rolled or crushed oats? looks good and want to give it a go.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

[ QUOTE ]
Is this to be used on rolled or crushed oats? looks good and want to give it a go.

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I think whole oats are preferable if you can get them

 

[cazza]

Thanks, I will be going to my feed merchants and the weekend to pick up some rolled oats then. HMMMM me and a cauldron . . . . . . Be afraid be very afraid

 

[the watcher]

I use bruised oats and this has been a raging success for me. I soak for 24 hours and drain for about 8 hours, they are fat and golden and the horses love them, I feed alfa-A oil, speedibeet and pink powder with them. I have fed straights for a long time, as you can be certain of what you are giving them, and if a problem arises it is easy to remove or reduce one element..the soaked oats are a new venture for me. Hasn't changed their behaviour at all - in fact they are more chilled if that is possible - but have plenty of energy and look well. I use this diet on a TBxID, a dalesxTB and a Highland in varying quantities and it seems to be good for all of them.

 

[Scarlett]

quick question about this whole soaked oats thing as I am thinking of trying it with my 2 TB's.

Both horses are in in good condition weight wise but are pretty lazy... one in perticular, the gelding, is backwards he is so lazy, he is also sugar intollerant and possibly barley intollerant... has anyone who is feeding soaked outs found that it has helped their horses gain a bit of 'oomph', a little more energy from him would be great, am just wary of changing his feed as he went a bit loopy on molassed feed previously....

cheers.,...

 

[Ginn]

Out of interest, what do you bed him on? My girl reacts to certain types of straw, as does a friends horse. They get all itchy and break out in what looks like terrible insect bits but it was infact the result of their bedding!

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
Is this to be used on rolled or crushed oats? looks good and want to give it a go.

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Should be whole oats.

 

[Chex]

I want to try soaked oats, but keeping weight on is the least of my worries! But then I don't know if a small amount would actually make much difference to his weight.

 

[MagicMelon]

Ginn - Its not the bedding as he lives out 24/7. The stables they have permanent access to are rubber matted.

Ok, Ill try this diet on my boy - but how much would I feed? The horse is very well muscled (not fat but he would be a good doer so I have to be careful!). He's out 24/7 (clipped and rugged) but obviously not much grass this time of year, gets ab lib hay and a turnip a day. Work-wise its very much weather dependent! Can ride daily one week then not at all the next week! He competes once / twice a month at low level BSJA. How much (I assume weighed dry) oats should he get per day (split into 2 meals)? and does it matter how much alfalfa, or just 2 handfuls as she said the the blurb above?

And how long before Id begin noticing any changes? (ie. lumps no longer appearing / behaviour possibly changing / less itching etc.)?

 

[barkinghorse]

PF,
If you don't do bran mashes or sugarbeet, (of which my horse can have none)
Do you just give them oats and alfalfa? plus could i feed just alfa a and oats with a vit supplement and some oil?
Jo

 

[PapaFrita]

I do oats, alfalfa, salt and sunflower seeds (personal choice) and when I remember

the seaweed... which reminds me; I must get some. I think you'll be fine with your suggestion, but you could always email ellen collinson (google her name for website) to make sure