Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Top of the Rock-Grain Brained!

> What kind of sweet feed?  I'm sorry, but I don't consider beet pulp or
sweet
> feed to be "grain."  I don't think beet pulp will do this to a horse, but
> depending on the sweet feed (alfa mo, COB?) maybe it was too much in a
short
> period of time, especially if he's not used to it?   Someone correct me if
> I'm wrong here, maybe Susan can explain?

Sweet feed usually refers to some sort of grain mix with additional molasses
added, so yup, that counts as grain.  Beet pulp is essentially a forage
fermented in the hindgut, so nope, it won't cause grain-brain reactions that
Susan Milam described.

I do agree that five pounds of grain in the 24 hours before a ride *when he
hasn't been given grain as a regular part of his daily ration* is too much.
How much it affected the rocket ride, I honestly don't know.  IMO, it's just
too rapid a feed change, *especially* prior to a ride when the horse is
already stressed out by other stuff.

Susan G



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