Ask the Vet - The do's and don'ts of feeding oats

In this excerpt from the March 2018 episode of Ask the Vet ( • Ask the Vet - Pressure... ), Dr. Gray gives her lists of pros and cons of feeding oats to your horse (they're oddly similar!), as well as what types of horses could benefit from oats in their diet. Plus, if you've ever wondered about the differences and similarities of multi-vitamin supplements and ration balancers, make sure you stick around until the end!
To see more from our Ask the Vet video series, you can check them out on the SmartPak blog ( www.smartpakeq... ), SmartPak's Horse Health Library ( www.smartpakeq... and www.smartpakeq..., or on our Ask the Vet playlist ( • Ask the Vet individual... ).
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Happy learning and #haveagreatride.

[@sunrise7ranch85]

Read in between the lines folks and don't fall for all the fads and hype. Yes, Oats are not very nutritionally complete BY THEMSELVES. When fed with a high quality pasture/hay they all work together for the perfect nutritional blend and all the complete amino acid profiles. Unless you are feeding oats only (which hopefully no one would ever do) they are excellent, safe and all a healthy, sound adult horse would need in addition to hay/grass forage. The harder the horse works the more oats you can SUPPLEMENT his diet with. Hundreds of years of history with cavalry and work horses that fought wars and busted sod for civilizations to rise can't be wrong all of a sudden just because major feed corporations began to sponsor "studies" and veterinary programs at universities over the last several decades.

[@tennesseegirl5539]

I think what your saying makes a lot of sense. I'm researching this because I have a high strung /nervous/ hyper mare. I feed sweet feed. I've heard oats is perfect food for horses plus it doesn't add to her excitement. Lol. What ever you want to call it. Plus it doesn't draw flies like sweet feed. I'm thinking of switching. Any more comments would be appreciated from you

[@theascott1656]

I love your vet videos

[@artemisiagentileschi2400]

Me too. Love Vet Lydia, she's smart and great personality.

[@secretariat1973]

Secretariat did eat a lot of oats. Full stop.

[@katrisspriordeen1735]

1st!