Re: carbos vs. sweet feed

[Susan Evans Garlinghouse <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

dave & abby bloxsom wrote:
> 
> For curiosity's sake, how does supplementing with carbos compare to
> feeding sweet feed?  What are the "carbo" supplements made from?
> 
> Abby Bloxsom


Tom can give you specifics on the ingredients of the carbo supplements
when he gets back, but they're essentially just sugars of various
lengths, so that they absorb at varying rates, some quicker than others.

Many, many people get along just dandy "supplementing" with plain ol'
grain/sweet feed during a ride---essentially you're getting exactly the
same effect, just some extra readily-available calories from carbos to
maintain blood glucose.  Like the carbos, you'll run into potential
problems if you feed too much, but small meals at frequent intervals of
either grain *or* carbo supplements will give you good results.  Just
like with the carbo supplements, experiment with your own horse to nail
down what works best for him.  I know alot of people that carry a little
grain in a baggie in their fanny pack and feed a handful to their horse
everytime they stop for water, a potty stop, whatever.  That has some
fluid balance advantages as well that the carbo supplements can't
provide.

Susan G