🐴 Feeding Bran Mashes to Horses: A Vet's Guide for 2025 🥣⚠️

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

When cold weather hits, many horse owners reach for an old standby: the bran mash. But in 2025, it’s time to put tradition under the microscope. Do bran mashes really prevent colic or “clean out” the digestive system? Let’s unpack the facts. 🧠🐎

🥣 What Is a Bran Mash?

A bran mash is usually made from wheat bran, warm water, and sometimes molasses or chopped hay. It’s often served as a warm treat, especially in winter. ❄️

For years, bran mashes were believed to:

• 🔥 “Warm up” the horse internally
• 💨 Act as a laxative to “clean out the gut”
• 🚫 Prevent colic

Unfortunately, science says otherwise. 🧪

🧪 The Laxative Myth

Dr. Lori Warren has shown that wheat bran does NOT have a true laxative effect in horses:

• 💧 Stool moisture did not increase with wheat bran
• 💩 Stool bulk increased—but only due to volume, not water content

So while it may look like your horse is being “cleaned out,” it’s simply producing bulkier manure—not looser or more hydrated manure. 🔍

🌿 Fiber Content Is Lower Than You Think

Many believe wheat bran is high in fiber—but it actually:

• 📉 Contains about the same fiber as oats
• ❌ Has less fiber than most regular grass hay

Why this matters: Horses already consume diets with 30–35% fiber (from hay and pasture), so a scoop of wheat bran adds little functional fiber benefit. 🚫

🥄 Wheat Bran Is More Like a Grain

In terms of energy and nutrients, wheat bran is closer to a grain than a fiber source:

• ⚡ Similar calorie and protein content to oats
• 🍬 Palatable and often sweetened

This means bran mashes are not a “light” feed—they should be treated as a concentrated energy source. 🧠

⚠️ The Real Risk: Calcium-Phosphorus Imbalance

The biggest problem with feeding bran mashes regularly is their high phosphorus content:

• ⚖️ Wheat and rice bran both contain significantly more phosphorus than calcium
• 💔 Excess phosphorus prevents calcium absorption and may lead to bone demineralization over time

This imbalance can result in:

• 🦴 Skeletal weakness
• 🦷 Dental issues
• 🚫 Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH)

Rule of thumb: Never feed unbalanced bran mash daily unless properly fortified. 🧪

🧊 Do Bran Mashes Help in Cold Weather?

Warm bran mashes might help encourage hydration during cold snaps, but:

• ❄️ It’s the warm water that promotes drinking—not the bran
• 🧊 Offering warm soaked hay or water-soaked beet pulp achieves the same benefit

So don’t rely on bran alone for winter colic prevention. 🧊🐴

📌 When Bran Mashes Are OK

✅ Use an occasional bran mash as a warm treat or appetite stimulant, especially if:

• 💊 You’re hiding medications
• 🧊 Your horse is off water during travel or cold
• 🥄 You balance the mash with calcium-rich feeds (e.g., alfalfa)

Just don’t overdo it. Regular feeding can cause long-term nutrient imbalances. ⚖️

📲 Ask A Vet for Nutrition Audits

Curious about how bran mashes or seasonal treats fit your horse’s plan? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App for dietary reviews, winter feeding strategies, and mineral balancing. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team are ready to help you build a balanced, evidence-based diet all year round. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, bran mashes are no longer considered a preventive or therapeutic solution for colic. They’re an occasional treat at best—and a phosphorus overload at worst. Use them wisely and sparingly. 🐴🥣

Need a colic prevention checklist or mineral balance guide? Visit AskAVet.com to download your free resources now ⚖️🌾