Sugar-free bait for "carrot stretches" for horse with ulcer?

[Maz55]

I have to do carrot stretches with my horse daily due to problems with her back. She now has a suspected ulcer so I need to significantly reduce the sugar in her diet. I've been using parsnips as I'm advised they have less sugar than carrots (and carrots make her fizzy ) but they still have a fair amount of sugar. Does anyone have any ideas for an even lower sugar alternative that won't break the bank please?

 

[khalswitz]

If you find out let me know!!! My pssm beast loves treats but I've been unable to find anything that isn't all sugar. I now just use a handful of his ERS pellets...

 

[claribella]

Whole rose hips. Black oil sunflower seeds not very practical but cheap nough that if you drop some on the floor then it's not too bad. I sometimes use cleavers from the hedgerows as they are so good and my girl loves them, not sure of sugar content though.

 

[HD15]

Funny you should ask...I had the very same problem and ended up developing my own super low sugar and low starch treats (no cereals and no added sugar). I tested them out with a bunch of HHO users and have just put them online. http://drdstastytreats.com

There are two types: one specifically for horses with ulcers/digestive problems (Happy Tummies) and the other is just a general low sugar/starch treat (Healthy Horse). All are 4-2.25% sugar and 1.4-.2% starch.

Hope that help!

 

[Pinkvboots]

Swede only one of mine will eat it though.

 

[be positive]

I can recommend the treats suggested by HD15, I had some to trial and my very fussy horse loved them, he preferred the fenugreek ones but the others loved both, they are big enough to break in half to use for stretches as you can hold them fairly easily in your fingers.

 

[weebarney]

Celery.

 

[Busybusybusy]

My boy doesn't like treats of any kind - even mints, sugar lumps, or proper horse treats etc, I don't generally feed him carrots or apples etc as he is on a low sugar diet, so I do my carrot stretches with broccoli stalks & he loves them!!

 

[Oberon]

Brazil nuts - high in vitamin E (good for Cushings/lami's/elderly horses)

 

[The Jakenator]

Hilton herbs, herballs

 

[AshTay]

If he's anything like my horse you need a "long" treat to protect your fingers!
An alternative would be to clicker train to touch a wooden spoon or something (so you use any size low-sugar treat to train to touch the spoon then use the spoon as the carrot and treat after the stretch).

 

[LittleBlackMule]

Another vote here for these http://drdstastytreats.com/

I have a fatty that I am trick training so use a fair amount of treats, but I don't want her getting any fatter and she loves them.

 

[JillA]

Someone I know who is of a very scientific background maintains there isn't a huge amount of sugar in carrots. She has some horses with metabolic issues and feeds carrots to them - proof of the pudding etc. I was told years ago that chemically they are the most similar to grass, so if he can have grass........................................

 

[TrasaM]

Have you tried pumpkin or squash? I gave the remains of one to the horses and they loved it. Think the seeds have some medicinal benefits too.. without looking it up I think they help reduce worm burden ?

 

[natmac84]

hey i use sugar free polos for a treat or stretches xx