Hey everybody,

I have a question but first I suppose I should give you guys the backround. Ok, well, the vet came out on Thursday to pull coggins and wehad her do a fecal exam on our 16 yo Saddlebred geldin. Anyway, she said that their weren't any parasites (a very good thing) but there was a tiny bit of sand (we live in a very sandy place...). So, she had me put him on a Psillium product called Sand Clear. For those of you unaquainted with the product, you are to give your horse 5 oz. a day for 7 days out of each month. I started him on it last night and guess what?? He wouldn't eat it! I tried putting molasses and apples over it but that didn't work so I was thinking of mixing it in with a mash. But I have also read/heard that bran should not be fed every day! So I was wondering if you guys had any recipes that don't have any bran in it.

Thanks in advanced,

Myka

mykaNbeau123:

tried putting molasses and apples over it but that didn't work so I was thinking of mixing it in with a mash. But I have also read/heard that bran should not be fed every day! So I was wondering if you guys had any recipes that don't have any bran in it.

Actually, from what I have read, bran mashes can actually upset your horse's digestive system (by irritating the bowel and upsetting the natural balance of healthy bacteria in the gut), so I would avoid them altogether. What kind of grain does your horse eat? If it's Senior or some kind of other pelleted feed, you can just put some hot water in the grain and let it sit for a little bit and it should become a mash. I'm a bit surprised that your horse wouldn't eat the psyllium, though -- I thought it was unflavored.

Frizzle:

What kind of grain does your horse eat? If it's Senior or some kind of other pelleted feed, you can just put some hot water in the grain and let it sit for a little bit and it should become a mash.

 My horses are on a product called Gro 'N' Win put out by Buckeye Feeds which is pelleted so I will try that.

Frizzle:

I'm a bit surprised that your horse wouldn't eat the psyllium, though -- I thought it was unflavored.

 The Sand Clear is supposed to be apple/molasses flavored so...

I also have a saddlebred that wont touch  the sand clear, we started feeding him in a stall and putting mats under the feed to minimize his sand intake.

I'd love to hear ideas on how to hide this substance from our horses, he also wont touch the powdered salt, but will lick a salt block. of which he does have in his stall.

Miss_Versatility :

I'd love to hear ideas on how to hide this substance from our horses,

Most horses are nuts about Cocosoya oil. It masks bad tatstes and is also very good for horses (it's high in Vitamin E, etc.). You can get it online from Uckele or some feed stores.

i feed bran for a week at a time, when they get moved, switch hay types, when it is raining-never bothered them. i also use physilla which my horses love! i mix it with there grain. my horses hate mineral oil so to help keep them regular i do the bran physilla route.

 The only problem with trying to feed Sand Clear in a mash, is that it should be fed dry.  The purpose of the product is to absorb a bit of water from the intestines to form a gel-like substance to move through the intestines to remove the sand.  So, if you put it in a wet feed, that will completely negate it's effects.  

I know they want you to start off with 5 ounces, but maybe introduce it little by little with his grain?

I, too, feed wheat bran on a regular basis and all my ponies seem to be fine.  I don't use pounds and pounds, but 1 cup a day for a mash.  Especially handy and nice on those cold winter mornings!