treats for foundered horse/pony?

[Nezzy]

the large pony that foundered is owned by an 11 girl. She loves to give the pony treats but she knows her pony cannot have sugars and starches, and Carrots are also pretty sweet, so what do you think she will be able to give her mare once the founder is under control? The vet told her no grass for the pony again. Hilton Herballs have alfalfa in them, so that is probably not a good idea. Has anyone found an acceptable treat for their foundered horse?

[Melelio]

Ya know, the last time I ordered my McCauley's M30 pellets, I did not specify the SMALL ones. Got the large ones by default. I think they'd make GREAT horse treats! Very nutritious...but not sure of the NSC value, just the the EquineCushings group likes it. And my guys are IR and Cushings. They get this as their ration balancer.

Anyone have a clue if they'd make good founder treats?

[Liberty]

Here's one suggestion:
http://www.skodeshorsetreats.com/

She could also offer her pony a small handful of dried peas. My horses love them! Not as convenient as having something in a pocket, but they keep just fine in a jar in the barn. Inexpensive and readily available at any grocery store. :)

[TheJenners]

Celery!!

[BornToRide]

Yes, celery and all sorts of leavy green veggies. Plums are OK too. Once a horse is stable, they can tolerate a nibble of carrots or apple here and there, but not one whole apple or BIG carrot every day ;)

[Guin]

Fresh green beans? Cucumbers?

[ChocoMare]

Herballs (http://www.hiltonherbsusa.com/equine/equine_generalhealth.cfm?cfid=8364&cftoken=47570438)! :yes:

[Katy Watts]

Rolaids, or any generic peppermint flavored antacid. Good for them, too.

[Nezzy]

Herballs (http://www.hiltonherbsusa.com/equine/equine_generalhealth.cfm?cfid=8364&cftoken=47570438)! :yes:

as i stated in the first post, They have alfalfa in them. i don't think this would be acceptable as a treat for a horse who can't have rich grass or alfalfa hay.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Keep them coming.

[ChocoMare]

Nezzy, you would have to feed the entire bag to affect an IR horse with what little alfalfa is in them. Trust me, my Percheron is totally IR and 2 - 3 of those wee balls does nothing but give her sweet breath, make her eyes roll back in her head with delight and flap her lips. Believe me, her treat intake is VERY restricted/controlled.

[Chardavej]

Nezzy, you would have to feed the entire bag to affect an IR horse with what little alfalfa is in them. Trust me, my Percheron is totally IR and 2 - 3 of those wee balls does nothing but give her sweet breath, make her eyes roll back in her head with delight and flap her lips. Believe me, her treat intake is VERY restricted/controlled.

That's what I was thinking, it's not like a flake or two of alfalfa. It's very minimal.

[StefffiC]

as i stated in the first post, They have alfalfa in them. i don't think this would be acceptable as a treat for a horse who can't have rich grass or alfalfa hay.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Keep them coming.

I wouldn't feed them to my mare. There's a little alfalfa in her pellets, but I understand where you're coming from. I've been called paranoid before, though.

Apricots are low glycemic and my mare loves them. My geldings finally decided to eat them, too.

[joiedevie99]

Ditto the generic Tums tablets- peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen are all good- although I bet some horses would go for the fruit mix- which includes banana.

[Foxhound]

Beet Treats!
You can get them at www.emeraldvalleyequine.com

[LexusBoBexus]

Giddyap Girls Biscuits

Can get them at tsc or smartpak, info below:

No Wheat - No Sugar - Naturally Healthy

"Snaps" into Three Pieces ™


Only The Finest Ingredients
Apples, Raisins, Carrots, Beet Pulp, Oat Bran Vitamins, Trace Minerals & Other Natural Ingredients.

Nothing Artificial

[Mali]

Ya know, the last time I ordered my McCauley's M30 pellets, I did not specify the SMALL ones. Got the large ones by default. I think they'd make GREAT horse treats! Very nutritious...but not sure of the NSC value, just the the EquineCushings group likes it. And my guys are IR and Cushings. They get this as their ration balancer.

Anyone have a clue if they'd make good founder treats?

While the M30 would be a good treat, the McCauley's Alam would probably be even better! I've heard that lots of people use the Alam as rewards when clicker training. The M30 is a harder pellet, so if you're going to be carrying them around in your pocket, then go with the M30.

[Leather]

I recently started using Dynasty Pride horse feed as treats. It's a complete feed that comes in small cubes which are the perfect size for treats. My horse loves them, and at around $12 for a 50 lb bag the price is right!

It's got less than 20% starch, not sure if that's low enough or not.

http://www.kentequine.com/getdoc/c96cb67a-cd7c-4fc5-9c5b-9620962707a0/7658-pdf.aspx

[BornToRide]

It's got less than 20% starch, not sure if that's low enough or not.

http://www.kentequine.com/getdoc/c96cb67a-cd7c-4fc5-9c5b-9620962707a0/7658-pdf.aspx
Not quite - should be approx under 12% for IR horses

[LarkspurCO]

I feed Mountain Sunrise alfalfa cubes for horse treats. It's a safe and low-starch option for my IR horse, and only $11/50 pounds.

To the extent that alfalfa may contribute to obesity and/or excess dietary protein, it may not be a good choice for a foundered/metabolic horse. But as an occasional treat, no problem.

[Roan]

Giddyap Girls Biscuits

Can get them at tsc or smartpak, info below:

No Wheat - No Sugar - Naturally Healthy

"Snaps" into Three Pieces ™


Only The Finest Ingredients
Apples, Raisins, Carrots, Beet Pulp, Oat Bran Vitamins, Trace Minerals & Other Natural Ingredients.

Nothing Artificial

Might want to keep in mind that a lot of dogs will get into horse treats and raisins are toxic to them.

That said -- apples, raisins, carrots all have sugars. why not find out exactly what horse can eat and just make your own? That way you're sure what's in them.

Eileen

[dab]

Ya know, the last time I ordered my McCauley's M30 pellets, I did not specify the SMALL ones. Got the large ones by default. I think they'd make GREAT horse treats! Very nutritious...but not sure of the NSC value, just the the EquineCushings group likes it. And my guys are IR and Cushings. They get this as their ration balancer.

Anyone have a clue if they'd make good founder treats?I give the 1/2" cubes of McCauley's Alam to my Cushing's mare for treats -- It works well in a low NSC diet -- http://www.mccauleybros.com/feed/products/Pelleted-22/alam.aspx -- My 'healthy' horse loves them too --

[Nezzy]

thanks so much everyone.

[Daydream Believer]

as i stated in the first post, They have alfalfa in them. i don't think this would be acceptable as a treat for a horse who can't have rich grass or alfalfa hay.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Keep them coming.

Alfalfa hay has low NSC. I feed alfalfa pellets to all of my IR susceptible horses and they do fine.

[smay]

...our IR pony is allowed alfalfa hay as well as alfalfa pellets and has never had any reaction to those - he is chronically laminitic and very sensitive to sugars. Alfalfa is low NSC. People around us are always commenting on the "richness" of alfalfa and how it must be bad for him.

[Nezzy]

i would never have known that. thanks for telling me.

[EAHS]

Watermelon rinds are a great treat for laminitic horses/ponies. I give it to my laminitic pony and he loves them.

[MSP]

I fed and still feed my foundered pony alfalfa; it is what she gets instead of grain. She gets the occasional treat as well. But then again she is doing really well back on pasture with a muzzle for 12 hours a day.

I don't think they need to be on the emergency diet forever. And I wouldn't think the occasional treat, in a small quantity, would hurt.