Rice Bran vs. Cool Calories 100???

[mypaintwattie]

I've been feeding rice bran to my hard keeper w/ ulcers, it has really helped her to gain and keep weight on. She still needs to gain a few more pounds. I simply don't have the space that I need to store all of the feeds that I am using (hay, beet pulp, TC Complete, and rice bran), so I am looking to downsize. I read that Cool Calories 100 is basically the same as feeding rice bran, but in a more concentrated form.

Anyone use Cool Calories instead of rice bran? Same results?

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I've used and am using Cool Calories 100 for basically the same reason.

My TB seems to be doing well with it.

I can't comment much on how it compares to Rice Bran.

[Tee]

Just with my experience, my guy put on weight a lot better with the CC rather than the rice bran. Love the stuff!

[Woodland]

I have also had far better luck with CC100 than Rice Bran. I rehabilitate neglected horses here and CC100 hands down is my greatest ally after a great vet!

I wanted to add that I have had tremendous results adding Aloe Vera Juice to my ulcer horse's diets.

[pricestory]

I use cool cals with my old guy. Haven't tried rice bran with him but the CC is lots cheaper and much less messy than oil.

[mypaintwattie]

Thanks guys! I went out and got a bucket, so I will slowly wean her off of rice bran and onto the Cool Calories- she gobbled it right up- that stuff smells good! I will be glad to get rid of the oil too if I can- I'm tired of the mess!

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I replaced oil with Cool Calories for the summer to see how it goes and avoid the mess. I think it's worked well. My guy eats it too.

It smells like candy to me and if it tastes like it smells that's probably why he likes it, he has quite the sweet tooth.

[piaffequeen]

Cool Calories did crap for my 25 year TB-he had lost alot of weight. New barn owner put him on Blue Seal Senior with alfalfa pellets soaked in oil and rice bran. I also believe that since I put him on Smartpak Senior that also helped.

[thatmoody]

I have questions about the aloe vera juice (not to sidetrack but it seems the OP has problems with that too :)). Have you tried papaya as well as aloe vera? My seminole dealer has some papaya formula in for ulcer treatment (we have a rather thin foal and the vet wanted to try her on this because she's not picking up as fast as we'd like and I'm suspecting ulcers). I'm glad to hear someone has had good luck with the aloe, but this stuff seems to be more papaya based, and I'm hoping it will work as well...

[jn4jenny]

I read that Cool Calories 100 is basically the same as feeding rice bran, but in a more concentrated form.

I don't know where you read that, but it's not true. Rice bran is rice bran. Cool Calories is vegetable fat in a solid rather than liquid form--basically akin to using veggie oil with some artificial flavor added in.

Liquid veggie oil is something like 4 MCal per pound compared to rice bran's 1.72 MCal per pound. Simple math suggests that the oil would work better. Obviously YMMV with individual horses.

OTOH, I don't understand why folks think oil is so "messy". If you've got the oil on a pump rather than trying to pour it directly from a jug, IMO that's less messy than almost any powder/pellet/food supplement.

[mypaintwattie]

I have questions about the aloe vera juice (not to sidetrack but it seems the OP has problems with that too :)). Have you tried papaya as well as aloe vera? My seminole dealer has some papaya formula in for ulcer treatment (we have a rather thin foal and the vet wanted to try her on this because she's not picking up as fast as we'd like and I'm suspecting ulcers). I'm glad to hear someone has had good luck with the aloe, but this stuff seems to be more papaya based, and I'm hoping it will work as well...

I haven't tried papaya because I don't have any way to keep it refrigerated, and the one specifically for horses (stomach soother) is very expensive in the individual packets. Aloe Vera seems to help to some degree.

My vet is having me put her back on ranitidine at a higher dosage, so my fingers are crossed that it will help. Im going to begin with a stint of Ulcergard.