Farrier Feed ~ Double Dose

Started feeding Eli Farrier Feed for his hooves, to strengthen his thin walls and thin soles. I want them to grow strong and hard and if need be we will shoe his front feet this summer to avoid bruising.

We have a new Farrier who does hot shoeing and uses corrective pads coming out next week to trim both Ella and Eli. He can give an assessment on their feet at that point.

The company that produces the feed advises against using pine tar or turpentine. I agree in winter, but if it's a wet spring or summer I don't think either would dry out the hooves.

I am going to take a picture of Eli's feet now and periodically along the way to record any progress or change.

Beet Pulp

I picked up a bag of Beet Pulp from UFA. Did some reading on it and will switch Eli over from his Proform Step 6 - Senior feed to Beet Pulp as it is apparently highly used by OTTB owners for its low sugar content, low protein, low starch, but still high in Fibre.

I'm hoping this will still provide the calories needed but maybe change him to a more calmer horse eliminating the sugar content.

I did however read that it is better served soaked as it expands. One cup of pellet soaked generates 5 cups of feed after adding 3 1/2 cups of hot water and letting it sit for approximately 30 minutes!

Last scoop is one cup of dried pellets soaked in three cups of hot water for 30 - 45 mins. Produced about 5 cups, you can see one scoop ( 1 cup ) in the purple bucket.