Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Shannon,
I think you will notice a significant difference in her behavior if you eliminate grain from her diet. So, I would suggest removing the oats and barley from her diet, feed her more flaxseed meal (not the seeds -- they should be ground), beet pulp, and as much grass hay as she wants. You may also want to add some alfalfa hay to the mix to improve the overall protein quality.
The reason grain is a problem is due to the extreme highs and lows in blood sugar levels that result from digestion of starch, followed by a surge of insulin secretion. For many horses, this can result in behavioral changes.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 