RE: [RC] new topic: psylium vs. beet pulp - Carrie Kitley
I board horses in sand as well and I remember when I bought my mare (from the same area) her previous owner said she gave psyllium pellets for 5 days in a row, once a month. Well, I don't have the luxury of seeing my horses every day, I work fulltime, have kids, etc. So, I started just giving each horse one scoop once a week, on weekends and I have never had any issues with sand colic or anything else. In fact, I was also wondering if the psyllium was really necessary anyway.
My horses get two healthy scoops of beet pulp 2 or 3 times a week, so that may be helping overall anyways.
~Carrie <\_~ // \\
"The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."
~ Old Arabian Proverb
--- On Wed, 10/8/08, Rae Callaway <tallcarabians@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Rae Callaway <tallcarabians@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: RE: [RC] new topic: psylium vs. beet pulp To: "'Karen Sullivan'" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxx>, "'Kathie Ford'" <mspooh17@xxxxxxx> Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 8:22 AM
Interesting. I feel a little vindicated now. My horses have lived on a sand lot for 20+ years and I’ve only had one incident of an impaction colic and that was a 35 year old gelding. I feed lots of good grass hay and they do get exercised. New boarders are always wanting to start feeding psyllium supplements as soon as their horse arrives. It’s good to know that my gut feeling on the supplements was true.
Rae
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karen Sullivan Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 9:46 AM To: Kathie Ford Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] new topic: psylium vs. beet pulp
Hi Kathie,
Some years ago, Susan Garlinghouse gave a lecture on this...and while I sure don't want to attempt to quote her, I seem to remember that the amounts of psyllium people feed for sand colic are basically a waste of money...and the one of the best preventitives for colic, and even sand colic was consistent exercise to keep the guts moving.
Obviously, feeding fiber also keeps the gut moving; good hays and beet pulp and good surces of fiber.
I think she also said there really isn't anything that can discrimanately pick up sand and move it out of th egut.
Maybe somebody witha faster computer can look on her site for her opinions on this....
Okay, just for poops and giggles how about a new thread. I don't think this one hasn't been broached in prior times...so here goes...(although I could be wrong)
Question: Can beet pulp be effective as a preventitive against sand colic as much as psylium is said to be?
Seems logical that it could based that beet pulp is high fiber and seems to work thru the digestive track rather well.
I'm curious because my horses have not been happy campers when I've had to add it to their ration. I do give them all some beet pulp according to their individual needs. I've had one horse x-rayed and ultrasounded and her intestinal tract was very clear despite her environment. I've always tried to be careful that way.
I also once read an article (several years ago) that one of the better preventitives for sand colic was to feed a good grass hay as it
too worked thru the digestive system quite productively too.
Hope that doesn't sound stupid. I am not a very good articulator these days...
I thought this might make a good topic for the time being none the less.. :)
cheers everybody, kathie
Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. See Now