Do people feed bran mashes these days?

[Peanut]

I always think of a bran mash as the ultimate comfort food/soother/healer .... a bit like horlicks for humans. :D

In years gone by bran mashes were frequently given, but seem rarely used these days.

I'd like to have the recipe for a good bran mash up my sleeve, but can't for the life of me remember how to make one?

[eventerbabe]

i think people are less keen to feed bran mash because research has shown that (frequent) use irritates the digestive system and also upsets the calcium to phosphorous balance in the body (essential for bone building!). I'd maybe give one very occasionally but wouldn't make it a regular thing. As for the recipie, i'll have to ask my mum! think i've only ever fed one once to my loan pony who broke into the feed room and wollfed down half a sack of mix :eek:

[Mehitabel]

it can be a useful way to get a lot of water down them in a hurry, when that is of more concern than the issues of sudden changes to diet. bran holds a lot of water, and they will generally eat when they won't drink. so if dehydrated, chilled or unwell and not wanting to drink, it can be useful.

i make them with bran mixed with warm water to porridge consistency, quite a lot of brown sugar, and a big handful of whatever te pony normally eat - so nuts, mix, chaff. sugarbeet etc. if you're feeding for liquid intake you want it sloppy.

[MrDCBags]

My old horse had mild colic which was caused by her not drinking enough water when it was very cold, the vet recommended that I gave her a few bran mashes made with lashings of warm water!!!

[Peanut]

i make them with bran mixed with warm water to porridge consistency, quite a lot of brown sugar, and a big handful of whatever te pony normally eat - so nuts, mix, chaff. sugarbeet etc. if you're feeding for liquid intake you want it sloppy.

Thank you. I'm going to print this out. :)

[Big Ears]

yes have used them if they are poorly, coliced or recouperating from surgery as it was a paletable way of getting water into them, plus laced it with molasses and put some grated carrots in it.

it was the one thing my donkey mouse would eat post operative when she had her cancer surgery, it tempted her to eat as it smelt nice and i could mix some senior food in it and make it sloppy so she could suck it down as she was sore.

[Stella2]

I feed Flora Badminton fibre nuggets routinely and have discovered that if hot water is added, it makes a lovely warm mash that horses just love :) I like the idea of putting grated carrot in it. I think that might be a Christmas treat :) Sounds like this has all of the benefits of the bran mash without the disadvantages.

[doris]

I'm old enough to remember making up a bran mash before going hunting and leaving it in a box full of hay so it kept warm for our return. I just used to do it with hot water and a spoonful of salt. This was way back in 1973/1974.

[winterhorses]

hi i would still feed my horse a warm bran mash mix after a days hunting, in fact i still believe in feeding more of the old fashioned straights than any of these mixes available today.
for me it is easier to see what your horse is getting and to change accordingly:)

[magicalmac]

hi i would still feed my horse a warm bran mash mix after a days hunting, in fact i still believe in feeding more of the old fashioned straights than any of these mixes available today.
for me it is easier to see what your horse is getting and to change accordingly:)

Me too.

My horse used to like nothing better after a hard days hunting. Call me strange but I love the smell of it.

[connieD]

i only use it when the horses have had colic. i love the smell of it too reminds me of ready brek i had as a child!!

[showjumper-zoe]

i think people are less keen to feed bran mash because research has shown that (frequent) use irritates the digestive system and also upsets the calcium to phosphorous balance in the body (essential for bone building!). I'd maybe give one very occasionally but wouldn't make it a regular thing.

Thats what I was going to say:D

This might be a usefull link for you
http://horsecare.stablemade.com/articles2/bran_mash_controversy.htm

[chickflick1066]

Peanut, they feed it to a geriatric pony at my old yard, and any who well ill or collicked, so we still use it.

Stumpster never had it though :)

[Pink Princess]

I don't feed a bran 'mash' but do feed bran every day with his chaff and mix.

[mogadoga]

I dont know about 'old fashioned' feeding...can it be fed dry? I was told to try this for alex's diorreah...sorry for thread hyjacking!

[puzzles]

I'd only use it for medical purposes, though it's a nice idea but pretty useless feedstuff.

See the post "bran bran bran" for, ahem, my views on it ;-)

xx

xx

[Jessey]

We feed bran daily on our yard, always damped down, this is cause our paddocks are sand and sand colic is a real risk and they have found over the years that feeding a little bran everyday has pretty much stopped any cases at all. We feed alalfa alongside it to balance the cal/phos ratios.
If my guys ever look they might be a little colicy, or even just a bit 'off' I will make a bran mash up for them, normally just bran and warm water, maybe a splash of something sweet if they really need tempting :p

[carthorse]

Jessey I was going to mention feeding with alfalfa for just the same reason. The high calcium content of the alfalfa would also sooth the stomach if tehre was any risk of the bran being an irritant. The other thing we used to do was add limestone flour for calcium but alfalfa is tastier :)

[dcp]

In the vets horses with colic would get a bran mash. I also think some of the hunt horses get fed it too.

[Trewsers]

Yep, we gave Joe a bran mash when he'd had severe colic - the vet suggested it the morning after. He lapped it up bless him!

[doris]

I think there's a lot to be said for still using the older methods like bran mashes.

[kt_luvs_smartie]

is bran mash suitable for a horse in light work and is stabled all year round? if so what seasons? is it ok to feed it during summer and spring too?

[horses4eva888]

I know my RS does have a fair bit of it somewhere, not seen it used yet though

[puzzles]

It's fine to feed to most horses- mainly because it has such a low nutritional value. :-/

xx

[holz]

I feed it to one of my horses after shows and hunting As he gets himself in a state and dosnt go to the toilet when he is out and about. He is prone to colic and it clears him out. x

[Afellpony]

A lot of folk (such as riding schools etc) used to feed it Sunday evening as it was a rest day on Monday.:cool: