Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

My 5 (Edible) Things

4/11/2013

 
Not things I eat, but the five things my horses eat every day ... Click images for captions and to enlarge.
1. Both boys get alfalfa hay as the bulk of their roughage diet. Our alfalfa is bright green with an even mixture of stems and leaves. Speedy gets alfalfa/oat cubes at night to help eliminate waste. I think he actually prefers the cubes to loose hay.
2. As a supplementary roughage, both boys also get approximately 1½ pounds of soaked beet pulp each day. I like beet pulp for several reasons: it adds calories without amping them up. I soak mine with a lot of water which is great in the summer time, and just as helpful in the winter when water consumption tends to go down. I can also "hide" electrolytes in the beet pulp during the summer when needed.
Picture
Shredded Beet Pulp
3. Once the beet pulp has soaked, I add another pound or so of rice bran to each boy's ration as an added fat source. Sydney seems to need the extra fat more than Speedy does, but since Speedy's weight is just right, the pound or so he gets must be helpful. At the very least, it's not causing any harm.
Picture
Stabilized and Pelleted Rice Bran
4. Both boys also have access to salt 24/7. I know Speedy eats his every single day, but Sydney doesn't seem to have much of a taste for it. Speedy starts his beet pulp/rice bran mash, and within 2 minutes, I know because I've timed it, he begins to alternate eating his mash with licking the salt rock. He only licks the salt when he's eating his mash. I think he really likes his food salty. Sydney just pushes the block around. He also had a Himalayan Salt Rock, but he showed no interest in it.
5. The last thing my boys eat are a few treats each day while I am grooming and saddling. Most of the time they get the Manna Pro Bite Size Nuggets, but lately they've been hooked on Purina's Horse Treats. I gave these a try myself. They were pretty tasty and have a distinct carrot flavor. They also have an airy crunch much like Cheetos do.
And that's it. That's the whole gamut of what my boys get. Sydney no longer gets a daily calmer; he's actually better now than when he was on it. Go figure. Neither of them require any kind of joint maintenance or other health-related supplement, thankfully. I hope we can keep it that way.
Stephanie link
4/11/2013 12:34:37 am

My horses LOVE the Purina apple flavored treats. Pyxar has upped him calorie intake lately (he's growing like a bad weed, I've literally taped him at growing a whole INCH this past month, eek!!!). We've added soaked beet pulp and alfalfa pellets to his ration of grain and free-access hay.

Karen
4/11/2013 10:35:21 am

An INCH???? Holy cow! :0)

My guys liked the apple, too, but they got tired of them after a while. They really dig these carrot ones!

Sarah link
4/11/2013 01:58:28 am

My Bohemian gets pretty much the same. AM feeding: 1 flake alfalfa + 1 flake 3-way oat hay (oat, wheat, barley). PM feeding: 1 flake 3-way oat hay + 1 flake grass. Most days a week: beet pulp + rice bran. And many a treat. My pony also likes the Manna Pro cookies (which I find baffling - he prefers them to all other treats!).

Karen
4/11/2013 10:36:59 am

Those Manna Pro cookies look funky, but my guys love them, too! I wish we had access to other hay types, but it's pretty much mostly alfalfa here in the valley. You can get other hay, but it's pricey and not as easy to get.

Lauren link
4/11/2013 04:47:01 am

Love beet pulp. It's one of my favorite foods for ponies :)

Karen
4/11/2013 10:38:17 am

Me, too! I call it miracle food. :0)

We started it feeding it to our endurance horses more than 15 years ago to our endurance horses. Most people hadn't seen it in those years and wondered what the heck it was!

Kelly link
4/11/2013 04:52:33 am

I love that you tried the treats yourself!

Karen
4/11/2013 10:38:42 am

Well, in my defense, they looked and smelled pretty good! :0)

lytha
4/11/2013 04:58:44 am

whoa, you feed alfalfa. i guess i would too for baasha if i could have - there is no alfalfa in germany outside of the plastic packages in feed stores. they do not even grow alfalfa here, i was told. it seems to be a "fancy" ingredient in some of the mixed grains (muslis) around here.

i love the salt thing - he sure loves his food salty!! so do i. i prefer popcorn to chocolate anyday, and chips to sweets. my husband eats chocolate every day of his life. i eat a bite of chocolate weekly and bring him the rest of the bar: ) but i can eat so much popcorn it's scary. (but i always feel great the next day, isn't that odd.)

thanks for sharing the images and text of your boys' daily rations. i find it interesting that you feed beet pulp and rice bran. it took me forever to find a company that sells rice bran in germany, and it was very expensive. i believe that when balanced with beet pulp it's a great supplement. i still worry a great deal about the sugar content in the beet pulp i buy. i probably need to rinse it, ugh.

i need a horse to feed.

Karen
4/11/2013 10:41:31 am

I've read your posts about the hay search. You need to write more about feed stuffs in Germany. I know it must be quite different. Rather than feed what you would normally feed here, have you searched out or tried just feeding what would be typical there? What do they feed their endurance horses? I would love to see a blog post about how the Germans feed their endurance horses.

I SO hope you find a horse soon, Lytha. The last few you looked at were really nice ...


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2023 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    2023 Show Schedule
    TBD

    ​2023 Completed …
    Pending

    2023 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    Qualifying Training Level
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
    Score 1:
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    Archives
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home