No Sugar!

While I was busy tidying up my feed shed, trying to make some order to all the stuff I have in it, I had some visitors.

Vitamoobag brought her friend, Fivla, to see if there were any freebies.

I said no, sorry, please go away.

And then instantly felt guilty for being so mean and gave them a small bucket of hay replacer so I could drive the car in and unload it, without them both trying to escape.  It has happened before.

I wanted my shed to be easier to work in because I am changing everything.  Less is more is my new motto.  I am a feeder. I like to feed animals but this has to stop.  Tiddles’ glucose levels from his last blood test were off the charts and Waffle’s only slightly better. This is not good and it has to change.  The vet said to stop everything as something was obviously contributing to Tiddles’ ridiculously high glucose levels.

So I spent my morning making a list of what Tiddles actually eats and looked at the ingredients. I was shocked.  Every single thing had alfalfa (a known glucouse spike for Insulin Resistant ponies) and even molasses, despite being labelled as low sugar and acceptable for ponies prone or with laminitis.  So no more.  All sugar is out of everyone’s diets and maybe, just maybe, we can get on top of this.   They get zero chaff and a tiny measure of unmolassed beet.

And I am weighing everything for the Shetland ponies.  Everything.  Plus all hay will be soaked.

The old ladies are exempt from this regime, much to their relief.

 

But I just have to sort this out before the spring grass arrives.  I feel awful that I have got it so wrong for Tiddles all this time when I thought I was doing the right thing.

 

11 thoughts on “No Sugar!

  1. Jacqueline

    Amazing to see that sugar is even a problem for horse feed. I’ve just heard that American butter and flour are sweetened!

    Reply
  2. Judith Garbutt

    It’s a nightmare trying to feed little ponies and there’s no doubt that they love sugary feeds! My Shetland won’t eat sugar free chaff or Speedibeet. Who would have believed a Shetland could be so particular? They have a reputation for being greedy and eating everything that’s offered but it definitely isn’t the case with mine! You have all my sympathy, Frances!

    Reply
  3. Beth

    You poor darling – you must be feeling between a rock and a hard place.

    First: stop beating yourself up. if it were not for your selfless care none of The Minions would be alive or have had any life at all.
    Second: you do not know what you do not know, BUT, you know now aand weighing/portioning food will be beneficial for everyone. Easy for you to organise in the comfort of the shed, and healthy for all your four-legged family.

    Best of luck going forwards, x

    Reply
  4. Deb

    I feed my 33 year old pony (with Cushings and high insulin levels) products from a company called Simple Systems. They are excellent and have a very helpful team to answer questions.

    Reply
  5. Alexa Berenbak

    Good morning! I just want to add that my farrier pointed out that carrots have higher sugar content. I was feeding my donkey Sam 2 carrots a day. Sometime feed apples. He has “metabolic issues” – isn’t Cushing’s as I originally thought. I am very cautious w his diet for years now. He’s 21. So stopped carrots & have low sugar starch treats or now & then. (I should google sugar content of his fruits to be sure). Extra pets, rubs, scratches, to your lovely crew. Healing thoughts for Monster! Keep us posted about him Please. Also, hugs for you & all your hard work with them.

    Reply
    1. Frances Post author

      Interesting. I think with Tiddles and the other Shetlands, it is alfalfa. It is in everything masquerading as being fine for laminitics. It isn’t.

      Reply
      1. Alexa Berenbak

        Sam is on 29 acres of beautiful field grass & wears a grazing muzzle a lot. I don’t give him alfalfa & check feed ingredients carefully. Is same thing you do for your babies. Again, thinking of Monster.

        Reply

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