Yay! It's bran mash time!

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MizElz

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Ellie has just had her first mash of the winter, and very grateful she was too! Also wrapped her up tonight, she's not clipped yet but she's still got a nice big quilt on! Winter is here people!!!!!

Just out of interest, how many people feed bran?
 
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Just out of interest, how many people feed bran?

[/ QUOTE ] Not me, mainly because of the poor calcium/phosphorus ratio.
 
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I did, but have swapped over to Allen & Pages new Fast Fibre instead so pony can still have a warm mash, but I don't have to faff about with limestone flour etc.

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what is limestone flour?
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what is limestone flour?
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[/ QUOTE ] A source of calcium to balance the lack of it in bran.

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thanks for that! never heard of it before! We just feed bran, nuts, mix and a bit of chaff! never heard of balancing anything, and we've been feeding it for years now! Also when I was at Talland, we fed bran to most of the horses without any kind of powder!
 
Ive never fed it before but remember seeing it occasionaly at old yard, if i remember correctly it was used on poorly horses? but cant remember what for? or what was wrong with them?

Whats it for ?
 
we have always used it as a bulk type feed in the winter - you mix up one scoop with the rest of the normal food, then pour a kettle of hot water into it, mix it again and let it stand for 15 mins or so! Smells gorgeous! Its a proper winter warmer!

We have always fed it; my family's horsey grounding lies in the racing world, and its common practice in most racing yards!
 
Bran is not good for horses as it creates an imbalance of calcium and phosporus, nutritionists have also found it also does NOT have a laxative effect, also randomly feeding it i.e after hunting etc is bad for the horse as you are not introducing it gradually in the diet...sorry i could go on, but if you want ot find out more about the Ca Ph imbalance let me know or just search on internet, this is why it is not feed anymore...sorry
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Deffo not one for my horse's menu. I'd feed it if trying to persuade them to eat as it's v palatable but to be honest has very little nutrient value. And as others have said - a calcium imbalance
 
rlm - fair enough, I'm not going to argue with the experts, but if it has been so strongly proven, why is it still sold specifically for horses? the bag i bought to day specifically says 'For Horses and Ponies' on the front, along with a very large horse head!!

also ours have always done extremely well on it in the winter!
 

MizElz I think it is used to encourage ill/old horses to eat as is soft and palatable - Is also sometimes given to broodmares as a laxative before foaling, hence why it is still sold.
But in both the cases it isn't the norm as feeding it long term without calcium can be harmful.
 
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because they need a warm bran porridge in their tummies.....





...apparently
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oh....missed that then during the last 42 years.....
 
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rlm - fair enough, I'm not going to argue with the experts, but if it has been so strongly proven, why is it still sold specifically for horses? the bag i bought to day specifically says 'For Horses and Ponies' on the front, along with a very large horse head!!

[/ QUOTE ] Most nutritional experts would agree that trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils) are terribly bad for you, but they are still allowed in human foods! Just because something is sold for horses, doesn't mean it is necessarily the best thing for them!

Personally, if I wanted to feed a mash I would feed something like High Fibre Cubes or Alfa Beet soaked in warm water.
 
Well, sorry guys, I'm sure you all mean well, but I'm not going to be chucking away my bag of bran! My mare isnt old/ill/in foal, but she's had a mash through the winter since we have had her, as have all the horses/ponies we've had before her. As I said before, during my time at Talland it was fed as a norm - I was in charge of feeding an eventer belonging to Heidi Antikazades, and he had bran mash (tho cold) twice a day! He wasnt old or ill either....

IMO, if you listened to all the scientific studies and findings these days, you'd be scared to feed anything! The fact is that many horses have been fed bran for years and years, and they didnt suddenly fall ill because of it! I've been brought up the old fashioned way, and it works for me!
 
LOL, you asked who fed bran mashes - we just answered that we didn't and why we didn't. No-one is telling you to change what you feed, we were just answering the question that you asked
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Miz you aren't talking about bran mash though are you - really you are talking about a normal feed mixed with hot water
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I am talking about:
Conditioning Cubes, Pasture Mix, Apple Chaff....mixed with a scoop of bran and a kettle of hot water....


why the confusion?
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Miz you aren't talking about bran mash though are you - really you are talking about a normal feed mixed with hot water
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I am talking about:
Conditioning Cubes, Pasture Mix, Apple Chaff....mixed with a scoop of bran and a kettle of hot water....


why the confusion?
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because that ^^^ is NOT a bran mash!
 
They wouldn't suddenly fall ill, their bones might be adversely affected over time and I am not sure what effect the other inbalances would have - but that is what I love about this forum

People only post to have their actions and opinions validated, and when presented with any kind of evidence to suggest that what they are doing may in fact be harmful or at the very least not helpful, claim superior knowledge and experience and disregard anything said.

BTW you will find the bran information on the HHO main website - not that that can be trusted either, i suppose
 
Is it not? Well could you tell me what is, please, because every aspect of my equine educational background has taught me that it is!
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Miz you aren't talking about bran mash though are you - really you are talking about a normal feed mixed with hot water
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I am talking about:
Conditioning Cubes, Pasture Mix, Apple Chaff....mixed with a scoop of bran and a kettle of hot water....


why the confusion?
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did you actually LEARN anything at Talland???
 
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