Winter additives – SugarBeet or Conditioning Feed?

[Kezza]

I feed my oldies on Alfa A Oil and TopSpec Balancer all year round along with ad lib haylege (the one for laminitics) and in the Winter I usually add in Speedibeet and TopSpec Conditioning Flakes. I wonder if I could change the Speedibeet for normal Sugarbeet and leave the Conditioning Flakes out and still get the same feed value?

It’s difficult for me to call a feed company as they all specialise in their products and I’m not sure there is one for ordinary sugarbeet is there??

Any advice/experience appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JM07]

i prefer fibre beet instead of the speedi beet.

i find its great for youngsters and oldies alike.

 

[DollyDolls]

Old fashioned sugar beet for me, well Dolly actually!

 

[scotsmare]

Sugar beet

 

[caemar1]

I add a small amount of sugar beet in winter, as much for its use as a succulant as for weight gain though.

My good doer PBA gets just a mug of lo-cal in each feed in summer but in winter, when she is in, I add a big scoop of hi-fi good doer just to bulk it up and make it last a bit longer for her, she wont be getting sugar beet.

On the other hand, my mare and foal (who will be seperated) will both get sugar beet this winter along with their stud feed to build them up and help with the lack of grass.

If your horse needs a lot of condition adding I don't think you would get away with replacing a conditioning feed with sugar beet, but sugar beet should do enough if you just need a top up.

Be aware though, I know a lot of people say sugar beet heats up their horses, although it doesn't seem to have this effect on mine.