alternative to grain besides beetpulp or rice bran?

I am looking for something low NSC to add so that my horse will eat his vit/min supp.

I’d rather not add beetpulp because of the iron content and the prep i would want to do Rinse/soak/rinse.

Rice bran I guess would be okay but would rather have something else if that is an option.

Coolstance is not in my area.

any ideas?

What about Renew Gold? It’s distributed by Manna Pro.

I just add Standlee timothy of Alfalfa pellets, and soak for 10 min.

Ontario Dehy Timothy Balance Cubes or Chaffhaye work well for me. My metabolic pony gets the timothy cubes, and so does my easy keeper mini. My hard keeper mini gets timothy cubes and Chaffhaye.

Not sure what the NSC is of the timothy cubes, but it should be <10%. Chaffhaye has an NSC of 3.5-4.2%.

Turmeric, fenugreek and peppermint can also help disguise flavors.

alfalfa pellets

My OTTB mare with chronic laminitis gets the Timothy Balance cubes - they don’t take long at all to soak and are recommended for horses with metabolic issues:

https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/forages/timothy-balance-cubes-equine-nutrition-equinenutrition/

She also gets their Safe Starch forage:

https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/forages/safe-starch-forage-equine-supplements-equinesupplements/

i also feed the Standlee hay pellets (from Tractor Supply) - the timothy/alfalfa mix is only 10% NSC and the timothy pellets are 12% NSC.

My mare are has done great with all of these. :slight_smile:

[QUOTE=Marla 100;8165959]
I just add Standlee timothy of Alfalfa pellets, and soak for 10 min.[/QUOTE]

Ditto. I just wet and dump. One will not eat them wet but loves them dry. He is my old man so I don’t push the issue. Choke is the least of my worries with him.

I also use Standlee timothy pellets (and a ration balancer.) My 3 mares eat the pellets dry and love them.

If you browse through Equi-Analytical’s library, you’ll find that the most calorie- dense forage is alfalfa. It’s also lower in carbs than timothy and orchard. Bermuda (common, not coastal) is usually very low. Cubes or pellets made from those forages are even lower in carbs than the forage. Rice bran that I’ve checked is pretty high in carbs–something like 30%, iirc.

If your horse can take high fat feed, Triple crown Senior is only 11% nsc.

My horse came to me on this, and I’m going to be transitioning him back onto it as a part of a grain free diet to calm his hind gut. No grain in it.

http://vetcavalloticino.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/3/1/6931630/presentation_sales_eng1.pdf

[QUOTE=One Two Three;8166580]
My horse came to me on this, and I’m going to be transitioning him back onto it as a part of a grain free diet to calm his hind gut. No grain in it.

http://vetcavalloticino.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/3/1/6931630/presentation_sales_eng1.pdf[/QUOTE]

I was interested and looked it up … this is the “composition” per the Cavalor site:

Linseed husks / alfalfa stems / alfalfa / wheat bran / sunflower seed feed / soy bean oil / cane molasses / oat hulls / dried beet pulp / linseed / spelt bran / maize gluten meal / sodium chloride / monocalcium phosphate /wheat, calcium carbonate / fructo-oligosaccharides / soy feed (produced from genetically modified soya).

I was under the impression that wheat and corn (maize gluten meal?) are grains?

[QUOTE=Scaramouch;8166619]
I was interested and looked it up … this is the “composition” per the Cavalor site:

Linseed husks / alfalfa stems / alfalfa / wheat bran / sunflower seed feed / soy bean oil / cane molasses / oat hulls / dried beet pulp / linseed / spelt bran / maize gluten meal / sodium chloride / monocalcium phosphate /wheat, calcium carbonate / fructo-oligosaccharides / soy feed (produced from genetically modified soya).

I was under the impression that wheat and corn (maize gluten meal?) are grains?[/QUOTE]

Good question. I don’t work for the company I just know that it came to me recommended from the vet and the person who rehabs OTTBS and has many with stomach issues. It could be something with the way in which it is processed based on the regulations on what is considered a ‘grain’.
Don’t have an answer for you, but would be curious to find out from the company.

ETA:
“Corn can be considered either a grain or a vegetable, based on when it is harvested. The maturity level of corn at harvest affects both its use at meals and its nutritional value. Corn that is harvested when fully mature and dry is considered a grain”
Food for thought, this came from a generic definition. No answer on the wheat.

My IR horse who eats only tested low sugar hay gets about two cups of alfalfa pellets for his mineral carrier. If he were in an iffy situation or crashing, or getting “regular” hay, I may not risk it. So far I’ve had no problems.
I tried grass hay pellets instead, but he hated them, and the pellet hay isn’t tested anyway, so I went with alfalfa.

I would also guess that the FiberForce is marketed as grain free as there are technically no whole grains … and to be fair, if the 8% NSC value is accurate, the amounts involved must be infinitesimal. But still, no grain should mean just that.

As far as the original question, I would echo the recommendation for hay cubes. I feed them soaked, but no rinsing or draining. Of course, unless the horse is truly obese, it might be easier just to feed 2 pounds a day of TC Lite (about 6 cups) and be done with it.

He is on T.C Lite currently (2lbs/day) and am adding my copper and zinc individually to balance his current diet with the hay/grass in my area.

I have found If I make a custom supplement I can just add the supplement and also reduce his Iron intake since the T.C lite has Iron added (albeit not a lot ).

which is the reason I wanted a “carrier” for the vit/min supp without added iron or high NSC. (Beet pulp is very high Iron) Thanks for the suggestions.

My only concern with the Alfalfa Pellets is choke like a couple people mentioned and am not sure of the BO will soak them for long before feeding.

Yep, I’d look into Renew Gold too. Big fan here and seen a big difference in the barn full of horses switching from TC Complete. I went from having to feel 2lbs twice to 3/4lbs twice, and that has him gaining weight!

Oats…