Yellow: with caution
Yes, beet pulp is a proven horse feed as long as you prepare it correctly. Kentucky Equine Research describes it as a fiber feed that provides more energy than most roughage and is easily digestible by horses.
Why the traffic light is yellow
Poison is not an issue here, the preparation is. Dried cutlets swell a lot: According to Kentucky Equine Research, they absorb four to five times their weight in water when soaked for several hours. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists beet pulp, along with grain and hay, as the foods most likely to give horses a blockage, especially if they eat quickly. The Gruber table from the Bavarian State Agricultural Institute advises soaking bulk food such as dried schnitzel beforehand so that it doesn't swell up in your stomach. The University of Tennessee takes a more relaxed view of this: They say that dry schnitzel does not cause a blockage in the throat; it is due to hasty eating. Soaking is the safest option, also because it doesn't cost anything.
What you should pay attention to
- Soaking: Soak only as much as you will feed at the next meal. According to Kentucky Equine Research, soaked cutlets spoil quickly in warm weather, and the University of Tennessee recommends limiting the soaking time to a few hours. You throw away any leftovers.
- Watch out for molasses: According to Kentucky Equine Research, molasses cutlets contain a significant amount of sugar, while unmolassed cutlets contain very little. For horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), a specialist article in the veterinary portal dvm360 names beet pulp without added molasses as a suitable low-starch feed.
- Not a complete food: Beet pulp contains little protein and some vitamins and minerals. They supplement the ration.
- Roughage remains mandatory: When good hay is scarce, beet pulp can replace up to 50 percent of roughage, according to the University of Tennessee. However, your horse should still get at least 1 percent of its body weight in hay or pasture.
What to do if your horse has eaten beet pulp?
If your horse has eaten dry pulp from the bag, watch it closely. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of throat obstruction include food coming out of the nostrils, excessive salivation and teeth grinding. Then take away the food and water immediately and call the vet. If you feel restless, have a stomach ache or don't want to eat, call immediately.
If poisoning is suspected or if there are signs of colic, go to a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to soak beet pulp for horses? The specialist sources do not entirely agree, but the Gruber table from LfL Bayern recommends soaking source feed. This puts you on the safe side.
Are horses with EMS allowed to eat beet pulp? Unmolassed beet pulp is considered to be low in starch and sugar and is listed as suitable feed by EMS. Molasses goods are unsuitable.
How long do you have to soak beet pulp? According to Kentucky Equine Research, several hours until they have absorbed four to five times their weight in water. Also follow the instructions on the package.
Read more
- Can horses eat molasses?
- Can horses eat hay?
- What can horses eat? The overview with traffic lights
- Horse weight calculator: How to estimate your horse's weight
- Buying a horse: the checklist
Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: Kentucky Equine Research, Beet Pulp: A Super Source of Fiber for Horses; Merck Veterinary Manual, Disorders of the Esophagus in Horses; Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Gruber Tabelle zur Fütterung der Pferde (PDF); University of Tennessee, Tennessee e-QUINE Report Februar 2014 (Dr. Bridgett McIntosh); dvm360, Equine metabolic syndrome: dietary and medical management (Proceedings, Kritchevsky)
