The "mold" in corn that you are concerned about is very toxic and is called an
alphafloxin. I could be off in my spelling. It is detectable through the use of
black light where it floresces. In our country we have not had a problem with
it.
We feed rolled barley and supplement with whole corn. The horses for the most
part utilize the whole corn very well with just a few kernels comming through.
In my stallion, now the only one getting the whole corn, there are absolutely
none that are visable. WE figure up to five % is OK then we go to steam rolled
corn but that breaks down the germ of the kernel and some value is lost.
Oats are the choice of many horse owners but the TDN (total digestable
nutrients) is lower than barley and corn. I do not feel that you can keep an
endurance hores in weight on oats. (Reference Tom Ivers articles on the same)
Also check the manure of an oat fed horse and you will find grains un chewed and
undigested also.
Good hay, good water and some good grain is what an endurance horse needs along
with plenty of excercise.
Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID