Rice Bran

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Sue Chandler windyhill@wcnet.org
I was reading the questions and answers about rice bran.  My
husband's horse was also skinny when we bought him and a hard
keeper so I put him on rice bran - just a cup in the morning and
a cup at night along with his 10% sweet feed and oats.  He did
gain weight and look much better but since feeding the stableized
Moorman's Ricebran, he has pooped out at about 40 miles.  We
just tried the Chicken Chase 50 miler and even taking into
account the change in terrain this year, we went much slower than
last year and he tuckered out quicker.  My husband was convinced
it had to be our feed since my horse had been getting rice bran
also and gained weight.  Our pulses were still great-no problem
there and they ate and drank along trail and at stops with no
problem.  When my husband asked the ride vet about this, he 
agreed it was the rice bran and said you can run into metabolic
problems and said we should just feed corn oil for fat.

Has anyone else ever heard this before?  I always read that
rice bran was great for adding weight, but the vet says it will
decrease the energy output and you get better results with the
oil.  Thanks.