Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Quick to prepare . |
| Disadvantages: |
More expensive than sugar beet (alternative) . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
no |
Winter is fast approaching, a time where horses need more looking after and require more feed to maintain their weight and their energy levels. It is also a time which, as well as needing more time, a horse will also cost more to look after. Whilst there are certain horses, especially native ponies and those not in work, that do not require much hard feed, as long as they have good grazing and hay or haylage, I will be refering to those that do, which are the majority that are in work.
A brief overview. Horses are trickle feeders, that is they need to eat more or less constantly when they are not working (little and often). When they are out in the field grazing, they spend time relaxing, but they also spend a lot of time grazing. In comparison to dogs and cats, they spend a lot of their time eating. When in the field they forage, eat things they can find in the hedge, grass. When they are in the stable they need ad lib hay or haylage so that they can eat more or less for the duration. They will spend time not eating and it doesn`t matter if they have a short time without, but generally speaking, it is essential to ensure that horses have forage feed available at all times.
When they are fed feed in winter (coarse mix, build up, top line, barley plus and many others), this is known as hard feed. I won`t go into what each one is but basically it is like their meal, which contains most of the nutrients. It is essential to get the balance right when feeding horses, they are all indiviiduals. Some will not need as much, some will need weight gain, some will need non-heating (doesn`t get them too excited), some will need feed that will not cause them to gain weight.
What is Speedi Beet?
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Speedi beet which is the product on review is in between a hard feed and a forage. It can be given to older horses as it is easy to chew and digest but is given to all ages. It is more commonly used to bulk out feed and add fibre and moisture. Fibre is an important part of the
horse diet.
Speedi beet is unmolassed and sugar free, good for horses that have had laminitis, non-heating and slow release. The slow release is easy to explain as it is the same as human food that is slow release, lasting longer in the system. The other things mean basically that it should not make the horse too excited. Some horse owners need to be careful in case of lamimitis (more common in ponies on lush grazing). It is a condition that causes the pedal bone (a bone in the foot) to rotate causing lameness. Speedi beet is suitable to feed animals prone to laminitis as it does not contain anything that would cause or exacerbate the symptoms.
Why use Speedi Beet?
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As already explained, speedi beet is usually used to bulk out the feed. It is relatively cheap and provides fibre which should be a high percentage of the horses diet. It make the feed nice and palatable, horses love the taste. It helps with keeping weight on in the winter. Horses tend to lose weight in the winter as the amount and quality of the grass decreases and it is colder.
Where does Speedi Beet come from?
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Speedi beet is derived form the sugar beet crop. Sugar beet is fed to horses in winter. It is basically the same. There are different variations available but the basic ingredient is the same, sugar beet.
What is the difference between speedi beet and sugar beet?
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Basicially convienience. Ignoring the variations that are available and different types (molassed, unmolassed, no added sugar etc)., basically they all have the same ingredient, sugar beet.
Sugar beet cannot be given to the horse as it is, it needs to be soaked for 24 hours prior to feeding. Sugar beet is available in pellets.
SPEEDI BEET is in flakes. It only requires 10 minutes of soaking time prior to feeding.
The reason both of these feedstuffs need soaking is that if they weren`t, they would expand in the stomach possibly causing colic (belly ache) which can be very serious (and expensive vets bills) in the horse.
Speedi beet is much better I can hear eveyone saying. Yes, whilst I agree, it is much quicker and easier to prepare the same feed, it is also around twice the price of sugar beet.
Rountine.
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Horse owners have to be very routine orientated. Winter days are shorter, it is more difficult doing things in the dark, there is more to do in winter. It is much easier only waiting 10 minutes for the feed to soak. However, it is very easy to make soaking sugar beet over 24 hours a part of your routine. Most horse owners don`t have a problem with this.
Speedi Beet or Sugar Beet?
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I have used speedi beet before and have found it useful. I have also used sugar beet and found it useful. Both fit into my routine. I either soak one (speedi) before I bring the horses in and it is ready by the time that they are in. The other (sugar) I soak the night before and it is all ready by the time I prepare the feed.
Individual preference
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I will feed sugar beet this year at almost £4 a bag. The speedi beet it almost twice this though I am not sure of the exact price. This will last afew weeks. When feeding more than one horse, the cost makes a difference. They are not cheap to keep and making savings where possible is always welcome.
On the other hand, for those only feeding one horse where cost may not be as important or for those who are forgetful, speedi beet would be more suitable. Horses need to be fed the same each day. Coming up to winter the increase must be gradual. You cannot miss a day and feed again the next day.
Availability
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Sugar beet is always available from the feed merchants accross the road from my yard. Speedi beet isn`t (though it may be in other areas). It is much easier to just be able to buy on demmand. Time is a very important factor for horse owners in winter (less time to exercise) so most want feed that is readily available.
Conclusion.
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I have only rated speedi beet as average. Whilst I am very pleased with the product, it does the same as sugar beet but costs more. I will use sugar beet this winter.
I think speedi beet is important and useful for those who may forget to soak the sugar beet, or who`s needs may change frequently. For the average horse owner, I think that sugar beet is adequate as is provides the same feed value. I integrate the soaking in my daily routine which is not a problem. Speedi beet is great for when you need the pulp really quickly.
