Supabeet sugarbeet....personality transplant??

[LauraWinter]

I would be very interested to hear of anybody who put a change in their horses behaviour down to feeding molassed sugar beet, I know that it can affect some and I am wondering whther my horses recent 'attitude' and slight unpredictability might be down to this?

I wouldnt say he was 'fizzy' exactly, except that he was normally quite laid back, seemed willing to please and very genuine, but the trouble is I have not been riding him long enough to have really got the measure of him or know what is really 'normal' for him.

Quality streets all round

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Molasses is the work of the devil!! I don't feed anything with molasses as it is a pointless addition of sugar - try an unmolassed sugar beet like speedibeet - that way you get tthe benefit of the beet ie bulk from the fibre without the 'fizz' from the molasses.

 

[glamourpuss]

We always laugh about my Lad being a failed racehorse. If only the racing yard had given him a scoop of sugarbeet he would have gone like a rocket

Sugarbeet makes him manic as does Alfa-A

 

[0ldmare]

Yes, I had an ex racer and he would go completely unhinged on it. Mind you he was quite phsychotic when he wasn't on it.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We had a TBx mare who we think was literally psychotic when fed mollasses or cereals. Her behaviour was bizarre to say the least and she seemed to be able to see things that weren't there. We fed her on unmollassed sugarbeet and alfalfa successfully.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Yep agree, Cappy goes a bit mad, so we stick with Speedi beet. 17-2 of insanely energetic w/b is not advisable!

 

[TGM]

It is 20% sugar, so bound to have an exciting effect on some!

 

[sjmcc]

funny how we find out haha i gave my cob sugar beet n it took around 4 days to kick in of him being a nice lad to a iv seen a monster in that tree skitty looney n hyped up in n out the stable it went straight in the bin

 

[traceyann]

yes my lazy cob becomes unhinged on this even the smell of it

 

[MICHAELA8228]

Unmollased all the way...............

 

[Spyda]

I've always fed substantial amounts of mollassed SB to my horses in winter without the slightest problem; and as I've always only kept hot headed TB's and Arabs I used to thoroughly pooh-pooh the idea of it possibly causing a negaive personality change in anyone's horse.

Well..... that was until I started giving my newest baby a small amount in her feeds last winter. She's a WBxTB (my only half bred). Not much, as was just introducing it to her gradually. Eugh.... the change in her was unbelievable. Within 3 or 4 days even other liveries were remarking to me about her attitude change (and they weren't aware of the new addition to her feed). She became restless, aggressive and totally unmanageable. Pinning her ears and snapping at passers by, barging about and rearing and kicking when being led. I stopped the beet and within 48 hours she reverted back to her normal affectionate and easy natured self.

So... my conclusion = some horses are fine on it and some aren't!

 

[LauraWinter]

Wow, well I am going to possibly put it down to that then I think, I stopped it yesterday anyway but I was just curious as to what type of effects others have had, and really I suppose I was HOPING that there might be such a simple explanation for his change in behaviour. He is a IDX TBX Connemara and although I have never had a horse that has reacted to any feed before, I am particularly struck by Spyda's reply as I would say that it is more a change of attitude and unpredictability that I have experience rather than just being 'fizzy'. Did anybody else find that it took just 48 hours of being off it to see a change? I have already been bucked off, had the physio and vet out and have only recently had a new saddle fitted, and then yesterday he started napping, rearing and threatening to buck again. He has been bargy to handle, kicking out and generally feeling a little 'on edge'. I really hope this sorts the problem as he was sucha lovely boy before!!

 

[Spyda]

Aah, hopefully it will

As my baby was only rising 2 and not ridden at the time, I can definitely confirm that she was more than just a bit 'hot' or 'fizzy' on the mollassed beet. She actually became aggressive and attacking. As well as fiesty and highly strung. She was unsettled, anxious and very jumpy. Most unpleasant, and goes to show how something as simple as an extra ingredient in the horse's diet can affect such a change in them sometimes. I'm just glad I knew the cause in mine and was able to cure the problem so easily.

If the beet is a new addition to your boy's feed and his temperament has changed since the introduction - I am sure things will improve quickly once the source of the mollasses is removed from his diet. Just be sure to avoid inadvertently giving him mollasses via other feeds you give him. I now thoroughly inspect the ingredients list on everything I give my filly these day. Once bitten - twice shy!