More on Beet Pulp

This is from a client concerned about beet pulp

Hi,

  I have a 17 year old Grand Prix dressage Mare and live in Charleston SC.  Last summer (2010) my mare was not breathing well, so I put her on 1AC. She did better and made it through the summer fine. This summer, I started her on beet pulp shreds, and she did not need the 1AC.   Her coat blossomed to a dark bay/black, which in our Southern sun is quite lovvely. but her normal rear end movements, and her way of going began to change as the summer progressed. She now starts out sluggish, with tiny steps, and her rounded top line has changed noticably, appearing like a weaker back.  She wants to move more on her forehand.    She is a Hannovereian/TB and your article caught my eye.  One of my very good friends is having similar issues with her percheron/Tb who is only 7 years old.  This mare is being trained for endurance competition  and also steps out gingerly, not wanting to use her back end also. this mare is on a beet pulp based feed.

 

   If this is a clacium/phosphorous issue, would feeding some alfalfa take care of this problem?  She loves her beet pulp, but if it is harming her, I will take it away.

 

    The rest of her diet is Triple Crown bagged Safe Forage (timothy and orchard grass hay,) Seminole Feed "Calm and Cool" (Wellness) and timothy -orchard grass square bales, lightly fed to keep them from getting bored. They are now eating bahaia pasture and winter rye but our growing season is ending.. 

 

This is from equineink discussion board where they tear me apart

I would like to add to this discussion that some points could be valid when considering beet pulp, however due to its proven fiber profile it is worth finding solutions to these. For example, it is a fact that most beet pulp today is GMO, however it is reasonably easy to find alternatives since there still are companies using solely non-GMO beet pulp. Furthermore, if worried about calcium imbalance or quality issues, choose a product that is under strict quality control and also has balanced calcium and phosphorus. They are out there. It is not that hard to work around these. Beet pulp might not be for everyone, however it is beneficial to many horses and far better for them to use than high amounts of starch cereals such as barley and corn for adding calories…

Humm maybe people are waking up?  Now read in the new Equine wellness magazine  article just on beet pulp/

http://www.equinewellnessmagazine.com/art/aV65_a.php