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RE: [RC] Beet pulp fed dry - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.*While we're on the subject of beet pulp, and have some experts here: *Is it a myth that beet pulp can't be fed dry? *Or is this it a question of how much *can or can't be be fed dry... As with any other feed on earth, some horses will do fine no matter how you feed it, and others won't. There are some large university studies that fed beet pulp dry and never saw an increase in colic or 'choke'. Other people swear they show a dry beet pulp pellet to a horse, and it'll drop dead before their very eyes. I've treated a whole bunch of chokes in horses, and they were rarely caused by beet pulp, dry or wet. Pellets, regardless of their composition, are most likely to cause an obstruction, more so in horses in need of dentistry, and even more so again in situations where they otherwise bolt their food. The very worst chokes to try and undo are chunks of carrot, because you can't dissolve them and break them down with a ton of water like you can pellets, and a tough wad of hay can be a real bitch, too. So, can it be fed dry, sure, sometimes. Should it? Well, given a choice, I much prefer well soaked and sloppy even at home. It slows them down, gets more water into them (which I like even in non-endurance horses) and if it prevents a few oddball chokes as well, great. At a ride, always always always feed it sloppy. In a trailer, if you feed mash in the trailer at all, always feed it wet and sloppy. JMO. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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