Is Beet Pulp Toxic to
Horses
As a holistic
practitioner for more than 12 years, I have assisted more than 100 horse owners
with equine diets and nutrition. I have studied and gained quite a bit of
experience with equine veterinarian, Dr. Lee Miller, for fifteen years. It is
my intention to share my personal experiences, both educational and in the
field, regarding what I have learned about feeding beet pulp.
Nutrition and
digestive processes affect performance and overall condition. Different feeds
break down differently based on the horse. Some of these effects include
lameness, arthritis, colic, and other health-related illnesses.
Many times feed
companies and veterinarians will recommend beet pulp for COPD horses for added
fiber, or as an alternate hay and grass source. Although beet pulp may present
no problems in the short-term, there are no significant studies on the
long-term effects. Please note that alot of horse owners feed beet pulp with no
apparent problems, while other horse owners will have exhausted all treatment
protocols and still not know why their horse has loose stools, stifles issues,
hip problems.
Not looking at what
they are feeding: so let's see what the expert vet in his field says and clear
up the beet pulp issue once and for all:
Lon Leiws DVM-Feeding
and Nutrition care of the Horse 1982 states quoted :
Excess amounts of
oxalates ( form of salt) may be present in these plants-halogeteon, greasewood,
BEETS, dock , rhubarb-(Beets =product beet pulp) - If the horse consistently
eats theses plants over a LONG extendend period of time, calcium deficency will
result. Insoulble oxalate crystals will deposit in the kidneys resulting in
kidney damage - Could be the reason for the water molecules trying to flush the
kidneys?
Beet pulp originates
from sugar industry. It is an insoluble fiber, meaning that it does not
interact with the body. It rushes through the intestines taking with it
whatever supplements have been given. Simply put, it cannot be digested. It
takes four molecules of water for the body to process beet pulp-adding water
weight, and making the horse appear heavier. Once beet pulp is removed from the
diet, the horse loses weight quickly, leading the owner to believe that the
horse needs the beet pulp.
Dr. Joyce Harman of
the Harmany Equine Clinic www.harmanyequine.com states that not all sugar can
be eliminated from soaking the beets, therefore some remains in the pulp. Sugar
contributes to insulin-resistance, and a condition known as Cushing's syndrome.
Like many other
crops, sugar beets are treated with an extensive array of herbicides to limit
weeds and grasses in the fields. The herbicides are absorbed by the beets.
Nothing removes the chemicals from the pulp. In addition, growers top the beet
plants with a chemical defoliant to kill back the tops before harvest. These
chemicals also end up by-product beet pulp.
Dr. Eleanor Kellon,
DMV, says that beet pulp is safe; it is washed with water to remove the
solvents. However, the water only removes what is on the outside. The soaking
process removes the sugar from the outside, but not the chemicals. Toxins are
stored in the pulp not the juice.
Often, if the horse
is unable to digest the beet pulp. Their hind-ends "shut down" and
become weak. The common complaint being, "my horse has a weak
hind-end."
Case in Kentucky - A
lady emailed me about her paint that had been seen by vets, chiropractors, etc.
to no avail her paint was weak from behind, bad stifles? He was 4yrs old they
said arthritis, I said what are you feeding? Turns out she was feeding a product
that was mostly beet pulp and rice bran. She took the paint off the feed, then
sent a email stating her horse was moving much better and was able to ride him
again.
A reputable event
trainer, Katie Worley from Rock Solid Training Center, asked me to check her
horses. I found was they were all weak in the hind-end, and Katie agreed. After
looking at a tag from her feed, we found beet pulp listed as the third
ingredient. After Katie took her horses off the beet pulp feed, she called to
say they were using their hind-ends, and were much stronger.
Another owner, M.D.
Kerns, wrote in to tell me about his horse which had been on beet pulp for nine
months. "Although I was very skeptical at the onset, I am now prepared to
admit that Bodhi is looking much different and much fit than he did when he was
on the other feed. His coat looks good as ever and his waist (loss of all the
water trapped in the hind-gut by the beet pulp fiber) is nearly back to its
former Thoroughbred elegance and slimness, he is without a doubt the most
handsome horse at the farm."
What does this all
mean? Ask yourself these questions:
o Does my horse feel
weak in the hind end?
o Are his hooves
brittle?
o Does it seem like
his stifles are weak?
o Does my horse
appear to be lacking energy?
o What about the
coat? Is it dull?
o Does my horse have
loose stools? Are his stools loose or hard?
If you horse has any
of these symptoms then:
Try the following for
three months. Take your horse off beet pulp, and use good quality hay pellets,
or grass hay, remembering to soak in water., for COPD horses- Make sure that
your horse has access to free-choice minerals. In addition, read your feed
labels. Most of them list "roughage by-products" which can actually
contain beet pulp. Take a before and after picture, and really look at the
hind-end. Notice how your horse moves after three months. I don't intend to
offend anyone with this article if your horse is fine on beet pulp great, but
if you are having any of theses symptoms you may take a look at what you are
feeding.
Wouldn't you agree
that prevention is far cheaper than the cost of treating health problems? We
are our horse's caregivers. We owe it to them to be as knowledgeable and
informed about what we put into them.
Lorrie Bracaloni is a
certified holistic practitioner helping horse owners. Lorrie has received
certifications in the following areas of equine health and preventative care:
equine lameness and nutrition, acupressure massage and herbology, homeopathics,
essential oils, and nutritional reflexology, energy body balancing, equine
chiropractic techniques, and muscle injuries and trigger point stress relief
therapy. She is currently the holistic consultant for Horsenet Rescue in Mt.
Airy, Maryland, helping neglected and abused horses recover to optimal health.
For more information,
contact her at lbraca1956@aol.com Her web site is
http://www.happynaturalhorse.com
