Feeding a horse warm bran mash is an equestrian tradition. In the winter, horses love a warm bran mash with their regular feed or as a reward after exercise. Bran mash smells good and is easy to eat for most horses. Not only is bran mash a comfort food, but it is a great way to hide medicines, supplements from your horse. Making a warm and delicious bran mash is easy and fun for the kids to do as well!

What you will need, per horse:

1-3 lbs. of bran (approximately)

½ cup of molasses

2 chopped carrots

1 chopped apple

1 tablespoon salt

4-6 unwrapped starlight peppermints (crushed candy canes work also)

4 cups of hot water (approximately)

A bucket

A long spoon to stir

In a bucket add dry bran. Slowly add boiling water.

Stir until all the bran is moist, you may need to add extra hot water. Cover the bucket with a towel and let the water further absorb for 5 minutes.

Add molasses, carrots, apple, salt and peppermints. Stir contents of the bucket.

Place any additional supplements or medications in the cooled mixture and thoroughly stir the mash.

Allow the bran to cool before feeding it your horses. It should be lukewarm, but not hot.

Tips:

If you use rice bran instead of wheat you should make your mash with less water. Rice bran has the tendency to turn mushy with too much water.

Bran is high in phosphorus content and should not be fed more than twice a week. For horses less than 4 years of age, only feed once a week.

If you have not given your horse bran before, start with a smaller ration.

Large bags of bran are available at the local Las Vegas feed stores such as IFA and Jones Feed.

If you do not have wheat bran available at the barn, the grocery store is a quick alternative for the occasion as they usually carry Red Mills wheat bran in small bags.