Feeding barley for a rescue horse?

Question

Hi there, I just have bought my first horse from a horse rescue group. She is a little underweight and out of condition, understandably, and I have been told barley is excellent for inproving condition without getting them fizzed up.

So my question is, how much barley would i need to boil for a feed? I would be mixing it with the chaff and other feed as well... And how long do I boil it for? How much water? Does all this affect it, or does everyone else just dump it in a pot lol?

Thanks guys!

Answer 1

usually it all depends on the size and weight of your horse. I would contact the rescue centre you got her from and ask what they 've been feeding her. If she hasn't been on barley before remember to introduce it gradually in small amount then slowly increase it.You could go to your nearest feed supplyer and ask for advice on how to and how much to feed barley.I don't know if you've thought about feeding sugerbeet? It usually comes in black pellets and you MUST soak sugerbeet in water for at least 24hrs before you feed it as if they eat it as pellets it will swell up inside them and could kill them!But yeah sugerbeet is good for putting on weight. i would definitely try and find out about barley and how to use it before feeding it to your mare, i hope I've been of some help!

Answer 2

I give mine mollassified barley mixed in with regular grain feed to help gain weight   pollard is also good  about 1 litre per day.

Answer 3

One rule of thumb is that it should not make up more than 30% of the horse's intake.

I've never fed barley, but here is a website that has a lot of good, sound feeding info.

http://www.leadmare.com/info_center/care...

Last year my neighbor used ground sunflower seeds in his feed to up the fat/protein ratio.  I was amazed at the sheen it put on their coats and the weight gain was incredible.  He was working with some starved foals and the turnaround was amazing to watch.

Answer 4

You don't have to cook it you can just put it in a bucket of water until it is completely soak through. how big is the horse and how much weight do you need to add for that decides how much you need.

Answer 5

It depends upon the type of barley, wether you need to boil it or not.  If it's been rolled, then you really don't have to make up a mash, but if NOT, then I'd steam it (boil) to loosen the grain from it's husks before I fed it to my horses.

Here in the US I feed a mixture of rolled barley and corn.  I feed it dry and the only time it really gets made into a mash is when I mix it with flakey red wheat bran, twice a week.  I mix about a 3LB coffee can full of the barley corn mixture with 1/2 a 3LB coffee can of the bran, then a 1/2 Cup of Corn Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar.

I give the Barley Corn with the oil and ACV everyday, but the bran twice a week.

Answer 6

Barley is not a complete feed, even when fed with hay...it is good for energy, but needs a vitamin, mineral and protein balancer added to the ration. I would also add corn oil.  A good quality hay is very important as well.

Answer 7

micronized barley is good to feed horses to get the weight back on, but it can fizz them right up. I tend to feed micronized barley with a coarse mix, ie Dobson & Horrel pasture mix, and chaff. In the winter i also add sugar beet and warm water if its really cold. I then add oil, mollases, vitamin mix, electrolytes and whatever else the horse has in its feed.

You will need to boil the barley, (if its raw, mixronized barley can be fed straight away) for 40mins and then leave it over night in a lidded container or sauce pan with a lid on to keep it moist. Do not feed it without boiling it as it will make your horse ill and give them colic, as it will expand in there stomach/intestines etc and cause a problem!!!

Answer 8

Add a cup of corn oil to her feed, about 1000# per cup.  It's wonderful for putting weight on, she won't get "hot" from it, it'll help with muscle, skin/coat, hooves and even help prevent colic.  It's the best:)  Best of luck and enjoy your new horse

And they love it.

Mix over a 2 wk time slowly

Answer 9

Barley is great for adding weight, but it is not a complete feed. I would add a supplement.

What you want to do is get it crimped like oats and you don't boil it. Feed it straight. Crimped or rolled is easier for them to assimilate.

When I have a rehab, what I do is feed several small meals throughout the day. I find it is easier for them to assimilate feed that way. Be certain you have good quality hay.

If you are feeding a mixed/processed feed, you can start with mixing in the crimped barley a cup at a time to introduce it into the horses system to avoid digestive upset and allow them to build up beneficial stomach bacteria/enzymes.

If you can feed 4 to 6 little meals daily, this is been the best way I have found to put weight on a horse safely. You might also want to have the teeth checked to be sure your horse can utilize his feed to the best advantage.

Answer 10

I cook barley for my foal. It should never be fed whole as it is too hard and will damage their teeth aswell as giving them colic.

I am giving a total of 0.5 kg to my foal a day with his feed.

What you need to do is put the barley in a saucepan, cover with boiling water to about an inch above the level of the grain. Bring it to the boil and medium simmer it for around 30 to 45 mins. Then leave it overnight to use the next day. Use a big saucepan because it will expand.

In the morning it will be all fluffy and will have soaked up the water. Make sure you keep the lid on otherwise it will go dry.

Your horse will like it warm with his feed, but it can also be fed at room temperature.

Make fresh barley for your horse every day as it will ferment if left for too long and it will smell 'off'.

Introduce it slowly to your horse just like any other feed.

You can also add molasses to make it sweeter and more tempting.

Good Luck