Re-Reading The Pony Club Manual as a MSc Equine Nutritionist: Should I feed my horse a bran mash?

I adored my time in Pony Club, and got so much out of it: opportunities to learn from upper level riders, compete regionally and nationally, forging lifelong friendships and skills, and feeding the passion for learning about all things equine-related.

Pony Club has been a big part of a lot of dedicated and knowledgeable horse people’s development to this day, with many top professionals and international riders crediting their beginnings to Pony Club.

First established in 1929 in Britain, Pony Club traditions still hold fast - so, as a MSc Equine Nutritionist with 2 formal equine-science related University degrees, who is ALSO Canadian Pony Club alumni, I wanted to know, how up to date is Pony Club’s curriculum?

Join in on this nostalgic read down memory lane as we explore where tradition and emerging science may clash - or overlap - over good horsemanship! 

Episode 2: Bran Mashes for Digestive Health

From: The USPC C1-C2 Manual of Horsemanship (2011): Intermediate Horsemanship (2nd Edition).

“A sick horse needs food that is nutritious but easy to digest. Since he is inactive, he may need a more laxative diet. Bran mashes are good for this.”

At first glance, this statement is correct in intention: providing an easily digestible feed with good nutrient content is key to helping a sick horse recover. However, this brings up the common misconception that bran mashes have laxative effects AND can be good for digestive health.

While bran mashes were traditionally used for these purposes, they actually offer very little nutritional benefit, and instead, pose nutritional risks.

The biggest risk of feeding your horse a bran mash is often the sudden diet change. Abrupt feed changes are a major risk factor for colic and digestive upset. Gut microbes need time to adjust, especially as wheat bran is 30% NSC (sugars & starch). When NSCs are fed in high amounts, they can escape foregut digestion and reach the hindgut, causing acidosis. This can also negatively impact beneficial microbes in your horse’s gut. 

Fun fact: while bran is thought to have a laxative effect, research has shown this is not the case, even when bran is fed as 50% of the diet. Instead, the manure changes observed after feeding a bran mash may be reflective of mild digestive upset from a sudden diet change.

In addition, if fed regularly in large amounts, the high phosphorus content in bran can also contribute to mineral imbalances if the diet is not balanced accordingly (NRC, 2007).

So, what are some alternative ways to promote gut health?

• Add warm water to their regular feed instead! This is a great way to increase water consumption - you could also add electrolytes to further promote hydration status, and if suitable, palatable snacks such as apples or carrots.

• Offer soaked alternative fibers such as beet pulp, hay cubes, hay replacers, complete feeds designed for senior horses who cannot consume hay, etc.

If you want to add another feedstuff into their ration to promote gut health, beet pulp or hay cubes are a great option. Beet pulp is a soluble fiber with low NSC content (8-10%), while hay cubes offer the benefit of additional structural fibers. Both beet pulp and hay products are 2-3 times higher in fiber than wheat bran, and lower NSC, offering a greater benefit and safety for gut health than wheat bran. As always, make sure to add new feedstuffs slowly!

KEY POINTS:

• Wheat bran & bran mashes increase risk of imbalances and digestive upset due to high mineral and NSC-content.

• Mineral imbalances may cause long-term Calcium issues, resulting in stiffness or soundness issues, depression/dull behaviour, weight loss for no apparent reason, and abnormal facial bones.

• Manure changes observed after feeding a bran mash may be reflective of mild digestive upset from a sudden diet change.

• Adding water to fiber that is already part of your horse's daily ration is a safer mash to feed your horse and promote both hydration and gut health.

So, the Pony Club manual's recommendation of feeding bran mashes to promote digestive health is NOT aligned with modern equine nutrition, and feeding practices must be adjusted to reflect this, now that we know better! 

Instead, feed low-NSC fiber-based feedstuffs that the horse is accustomed to, such as beet pulp, hay cubes, hay replacers or high-fiber (17%+) complete feeds.

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