How to Make a Wheat Bran Mix

A wheat bran mix can serve several purposes. It's comfort food, as fulfilling to prepare as it is for your horse to eat. But it's also an affective way to get your horse to eat and drink what might otherwise elicit an upturned nose - vegetable oil, mineral oil, medicines, and a good dose of water. Here's how to make a lip - smacking mash for your horse.

CAUTION: Because of its high phosphorus content, don't give your adult horse horse a bran mash more often than twice aweek, and wait until your youngsters are over 3 years  of age before giving them one. Excessive phosphorus in the daily diet can cause bone development problems and has been linked with the formation of enteroliths.

Bran Mash:
3-lb coffee can of wheat bran
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 grated carrot
3-4 cups hot tap water
Mix first 3 ingredients in a clean bucket. Add water slowly, stirring constantly, until mash is uniformly damp and "weeps"  some of its moisture out in a gravy when you allow it to sit for a moment. Be sure to allow it to cool before feeding.
Variations: Substitute apple auce for the molasses; substitute a diced or grated apple for the carrot; or add 1 cup of your horse's regular grain (subtract that amount of grain from his regular daily ration, so you're not increasing his total grain intake).
Note: Contrary to popular belief, wheat bran does not have laxative or stool-softening effects in your horse, because horses can digest it. Therefore, feeding bran is not an effective means of removing sand or dry manure impactions.
Be careful in the summer, make sure you wash the bucket, it attracts fly's.
May the horse be with you,
                                   Kaylee