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While all the theory helps - but it's not worth much since a) the horse 
didn't read it and b) if he did he probably thinks he knows a lot more 
about what he wants to eat than some human. All the theory in the world 
doesn't mean much if the horse won't eat what you think he should.

I have one basic rule. It is his choice - he gets what he will eat. If 
he won't eat hay but will eat carrots - he gets carrots. If he won't eat 
beet pulp but will eat hay - he gets hay. Hell if all he will eat is 
shredded cardboard - he'll get shredded cardboard. I remember a 100 on 
the old black mare where she would not touch anything at 16 miles. Then 
she finds the bag of treats in the back of the truck. Those hard apple 
wafers. That was the only thing she would eat. So she got between a half 
a pound and a pound of them. Not something I would though of doing nor 
is it something I would recommend - but it kept her gut moving and by 
the 30 mile check she was eating everything in sight - including trying 
to eat the vet's straw hat. She went on to finish in flying colors. The 
important thing is they eat to keep the gut moving.

Normally I have a buffet laid out in front of my horse. There is hay, 
alfalfa and grain normally with some carrots. It's interesting to watch 
since when he comes in he will eat something - normally the grain is the 
first thing and he goes to. Then it sort of alternates between the hay 
and alfalfa and then comes back to finish the grain. If it's the time of 
the year when the grass is good - he ignores it all and drags me off to 
the grass.

If all else fails take him to a neighbor's buffet. They seem to like 
what the other horses are getting much better than what they are getting.

So I wouldn't worry much over what he is eating - just that he is eating.

Truman

sherman wrote:
> Yes, it is okay to feed grain at a ride. In fact, feed some about 10 
> minutes before you get to the vet check. It can give an energy boost 
> to a horse that is getting tired, and also might stimulate the horse’s 
> appetite so maybe he will want more of that hay and beet pulp. Carry a 
> baggy with a cup of the horse’s favorite grain and give handfuls of it 
> on the way in, or use carrots and apples, they will do the same, but I 
> think there is more quick energy in the grain. Go ahead and pour some 
> grain and/or apples and carrots right on top of the beet pulp.
>
> Kathy
>
> It's not that I feel feeding grain is bad, but in attempting to 
> educate my feeble brain (and forgive my limited understanding of 
> equine nutrition if I've got this wrong...), and reading about 
> nutrition - especially Susan G's nutrition articles, it seems like 
> ideally, to maintain a happy gut during the ride, the majority of what 
> the horse should eat should be mainly forage based with a little bit 
> of grain.... ? Like what it says in one of Susan's articles:
>
> "Focus on green grass, long-stem hay and well-soaked beet pulp to 
> provide bulk throughout the day, with additional grain sources to 
> provide energy only if motility is being maintained."
>
> So that's why i'm wondering, if the horse isn't chowing on the hay or 
> the beet pulp, and there isn't anything to graze on, and you've got 
> B's or C's on the gut scores, is it OK to give him oats/sweet 
> feed/pellets...? or is it just OK in limited amounts?
>
> I think i'll see if my friend wants to try ultium as a lot of people 
> have been recommending that, and since it is has beet pulp as one of 
> the main ingredients (?i think?), then that might be OK.
>
> Cindy


--

“It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how 
smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong” Richard 
Feynman, Nobel Laureate in Physics


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