How frequent do you use "molasses tea?"

[BlueDrifter]

My horse colicked for first time in my care during a dramatic weather temp shift. No impaction, vet suggested “molasses tea” to encourage water drinking. (1 tbs molasses, 1 tbs salt, 1 handful grain per gallon). I probably use those same amounts but in 3-5 gal of water and he drinks it all non-stop. He loves it.

Do folks only provide this when the weather or exertion demands “electrolytes?” Or do they provide it all the time? Is it a substitute for electrolytes? I have never used electrolytes, but I provide a salt block and add salt to their daily supplements.

Also, would dehydration – and it appears he did NOT drink as much as usual – cause gas? Seems to me it would cause impaction, but there was no impaction.

[Scribbler]

Getting more water into them is always good. When my mare had repeated colon impaction one winter I gave her molasses tea several days running, until she seemed to get tired of it and go back to plain water. I also did soupy mash twice a day until that became hard to organize.

I’ve also given molasses tea just in case if she doesn’t seem to hate been drinking in the past 24 hours.

Since she’s not metabolic I don’t see any problem giving it to her as much as she wants if I think there’s a risk of dehydration.

I think it does basically the same job as electrolytes.

[lorilu]

not molasses tea, but soaked alfalfa cubes are a regular part of my guys’ diets, and when we have a dramatic shift I add a “treat” of Purina Replenimash. You mix it with lots of water (I use more than they suggest, making a “soup”.) Horses love it and lick the bucket clean. https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/detail/purina-replenimash-product
ALso , there is a new product “Funky Unicorn Treats” developed by a local Vet and a friend. Its a small flavored “tablet”, with sweeteners and electrolytes. My guy loves the Banana flavored. He gets one after every ride. (Don’t be put off by the price. Click the “shop now” button and scroll down. There are $3 sample packs) https://www.funkyunicorntreats.com/

[BlueDrifter]

The Purina Replenimash sounds a little bit like Quencher. I think molasses adds extra nutrients – and I use beet pulp in their normal mash already – this “tea” is just extra to their supplements. But I am going to try a sample! Thanks!

[BlueDrifter]

Thanks @Scribbler, I thought it might take the place of electrolytes, too.

I am mixing it up in one of those large tubtrugs and when my horse sees that, he goes crazy awaiting it’s prep. I haven’t ever seen him this excited about a meal!

[wtxhunter]

The more water the better! IMO. YES ELECTROLYTES are important but I’ve had a few horses that just don’t like to drink water. Alfalfa pellet tea works well too. I deff do more tea during temp changes. Workload. Dehydration.

[carman_liz]

Not exactly the same but my mare hated drinking water out of a bucket she would only drink it in the field and not very much in her senior years. She was at the pellets and chopped hay stage due to no teeth. One cheap and easy way to get her to drink more was to soak the chopped hay in warm water, then pull the chopped hay out and we would leave her the bucket of soaking water, which basically was a warm molassesish tea. She would suck down the whole bucket!

I soak pony’s haynet now and the water I dump is what I have always called molasses water haha. So soaking hay and leaving the bucket of soaking water with some electrolyte powder tossed in could be an easy cheap option for you!

[DMK]

Mine get soaked alfalfa cubes as their breakfast. TSC has these amazingly useful tubtrugs that are basically a large colander. Since I found those I dump the soaked cubes in there to drain off all extra water. If I’m doing a fitness work with the cde pony I give him the tea plus electrolytes while I’m cooling him off, otherwise I let the two share the tea before it fixed them their cube mush. They are both good drinkers but this is a nice bit of extra insurance and they love it

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[luvmyhackney]

I soak all meals till soupy/wet in hot water. Then give a lunch time snack of beet pulp, couple of alfalfa cubes, plus a couple gallons of hot water. I give 2 tbsp salt daily as well. So far everyone does well on their water intake, but they drink a lot more if it’s warm vs cold.

[Scribbler]

My mare will grudgingly finish too soupy mash. The other mare I look after will deliberately dump too soupy mash on the floor mats so it drains. She only dumps when it’s too soupy. But she is very good at drinking water.

[moonlitoaksranch]

These recipes are very clever. Which ones do people use in winter for reluctant drinkers in below freezing temps?

[Angela_Freda]

I do alfalfa tea myself, same concept.

[demidq]

My mare’s tea is several handfuls of maintenance roughage pellets in a bucket of lukewarm water. I set it to soak before I ride, and give it a good stir before serving after she is untacked. She usually drinks the whole bucket. I do this for “away from home” rides as well as my picky princess doesn’t like different tasting water

[luvmyhackney]

I use a tea kettle and water is boiling hot when I add it. Right before going serving I usually had another kettle full to make sure piping hot. By the time I get it all served it’s still plenty warm not to freeze before they can slurp it up.

But your cold might be worse than my teens and low 20’s.

[BlueDrifter]

Haha, my cold is maybe two weeks of 32 degrees in February – otherwise low 40’s.

I don’t have electricity, and could bring a thermos, although that won’t go far with two horses…

[luvmyhackney]

I’ve used the 5 gallon igloo coolers to transport water to the barn. The ones sports teams use for Gatorade, works really well and doesn’t spill in the car.