It’s been years since I fed rice bran and can’t remember how much should feed. I have an older TB horse (1200 pounds) and we have an orphaned filly that I’d like to give a bit too…she is 5 months old and growing fast and she is plenty plump…wondering if I should give her a boost with a bit of rice bran. She was orphaned at 3.5 months, but was eating grain from the time she was 2 days old. Opinions/dosages please. Thanks.
What is the rest of the diet? Rice bran, or any fat supplement, shouldn’t be used as the first go-to for calories. Nutrition has to be part of the equation. It’s definitely not something I’d give any horse, much less a 5 month old, who is “plenty plump”. What are you expecting to “boost” in her case?
1 Like
Agree. Also curious about the specifics of rest of the diet.
1 Like
The TB is in his 20’s…both the old TB and the filly get soaked beet pulp at evening meal…good Bermuda hay and or pasture 24/7. Grain is 14% protein/8% fat. Filly looks fine and is growing well/fast…gelding looks good/shiney…could use a bit more fat on him IMO. 18 other assorted, BM’s, young stock and saddlehorses look fantastic. I have fed the TB rice bran in the past with good results…just can’t remember the amount per meal.
“14% protein/8% fat” doesn’t tell me anything though 
30% NSC? A high performance feed, or a growth or sr feed?
Still, what sort of “boost” are you wanting/expecting to see on the filly? If she’s plump, the last thing she needs is a fat supplement . If she’s eating 2lb of the above feed and the directions say feed 4, then use a ration balancer instead.
For the 20’s TB, start with working up to 1lb a day and see what happens. I would not feed more than 2lb a day.
2 Likes
I am all about making feed time as simple as possible if there’s a feed out there that covers all of my bases. So rather than add additional fat, why not feed the TB something like TC Senior? Or a something with at least 10% fat and a low NSC? Blue Seal Sentinel LS (12% fat) also comes to mind.
1 Like
Don’t give the weanling rice bran if she’s “plenty plump”. It’s a fat supplement, and a nutritionally imbalanced one. Fine for most adult horses.
3 Likes
