Beet Pulp for Horses: Benefits, Risks, Soaking, and How Much to Feed
- Horse Education Online
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
Beet pulp is a high-fiber feed that can support calories, gut fill, and hydration when used correctly. It is popular because it adds digestible fiber without the starch load many owners want to avoid.
It is not a magic weight-gain shortcut and it is not right for every horse. The “best” beet pulp plan depends on dentition, eating speed, water access, and how carefully you introduce it.
For a quick foundation on how fiber, protein, and energy fit together, read: The Basics of Equine Nutrition: An Introductory Guide
Medical and feeding disclaimer: This guide is for education only and cannot replace veterinary advice. Feeding rates and soaking practices should be tailored to your horse’s health, teeth, workload, and water access, so confirm any changes with your veterinarian or equine nutrition professional.
Quick answer
Beet pulp helps most when your horse needs more digestible fiber without relying on large grain meals. It is commonly used for:
Hard keepers that need extra calories without huge starch
Senior horses that struggle with long-stem hay
Horses that do better on “cooler” fermentable fiber energy
Winter intake support when fed as a damp mash, especially if your horse reliably eats it
Beet pulp can be risky when the horse or setup increases choke or digestive upset, including:
Poor dentition or weak chewing
Fast eaters and horses that bolt feed
Inconsistent water access or horses that drink poorly
Sudden diet changes or large jumps in feeding amount
Horses with a known history of choke or repeated digestive sensitivity
“Soak or not” depends on the form (pellets vs shreds), the horse’s chewing and eating speed, and barn management. For many barns, soaking is less about tradition and more about reducing avoidable risk.
If your horse is dropping weight, start with an estimate first: How Much Does a Horse Weigh
What is beet pulp (and why horse diets use it)
Beet pulp is the fibrous portion left after sugar is extracted from sugar beets. In horse diets, it is used as a fermentable fiber source that can add calories and support hindgut function without the same starch load as many grains.
It is not a replacement for forage, but it can act as a useful “bridge” between forage and higher-energy feeds when a horse needs more intake than hay alone is providing.
Beet pulp vs grain vs hay
Beet pulp is a fiber feed, not a grain. The calories come mostly from fermentable fiber that the hindgut microbes convert into energy.
Hay provides long-stem fiber and chewing time, which supports gut motility and normal feeding behavior. It is still the foundation for most horses.
Grain and high-starch concentrates can add calories quickly, but they are not a fit for every horse, especially if the horse is sensitive to starch or becomes too “hot” on higher concentrate meals.
A practical way to think about it: beet pulp sits closer to hay than to grain in terms of how it fuels the horse, but it is often easier to chew than long-stem hay and easier to add calories with than “just more hay.”
Types you’ll see
Shreds vs pellets
Shreds tend to soften quickly and are often easier for many horses to handle when dampened.
Pellets are more compact and can be higher risk for fast eaters or poor chewers unless fully softened.
Molassed vs unmolassed
Molassed beet pulp has added molasses for palatability and can be easier to get picky horses eating.
Unmolassed versions generally have less added sugar, which can matter for easy keepers and metabolic horses.
Why labels matter
Not all beet pulp is the same. Look for the form (shreds or pellets) and whether it is molassed. Your horse’s needs, eating behavior, and metabolic status determine which version makes the most sense.
Benefits of beet pulp (who it helps most)
Beet pulp is most useful when you need to increase calories and fiber without leaning heavily on starch. It shines when a horse needs “more” but you still want the diet to behave like a forage-first program.
Weight support for hard keepers
Hard keepers often need more calories than hay alone provides, especially in winter, during higher work, or when stress reduces appetite. Beet pulp can help because it adds calories through fermentable fiber rather than a big starch hit.
Practical example: a horse that stays ribby despite good hay may do better adding a consistent beet pulp meal than repeatedly increasing grain and seeing loose manure, attitude changes, or inconsistent appetite.
Senior horses and dental limitations
For many seniors, the limitation is not “calories” first, it is chewing. Long-stem hay becomes hard work, and intake drops. Beet pulp (properly prepared) can act as a hay extender or a way to keep fiber intake up when the horse cannot process hay efficiently.
If chewing is a struggle, dental health is often the real driver: Horse Teeth and Floating: How to Care for Equine Teeth and Estimate Age by Dental Clues
Hydration support in winter (mash advantage)
A damp beet pulp mash can add water to the diet, but only if your horse eats it consistently and you are not relying on it as the only hydration strategy. Some horses drink less in winter, and a warm, familiar mash can help support overall fluid intake.
For winter water strategy and what’s unsafe, see: Heated Water for Horses in Winter: What Actually Increases Intake and What’s Unsafe
Risks and downsides (what owners get wrong)
Beet pulp is usually safe when introduced slowly and matched to the horse’s chewing ability and eating habits. Most problems happen when owners treat it like a harmless “extra scoop” and change the diet too quickly.
Choke risk (why soaking can matter)
Choke is a management problem more than a beet pulp problem, but beet pulp can contribute when the setup is risky.
Higher-risk situations include:
Fast eaters that bolt meals
Poor teeth, seniors, or horses that do not chew well
Pellets that are fed dry
Low saliva production (often tied to dental issues, stress, or very dry feeds)
Meals that are too large or eaten too quickly
Ways to reduce risk without overcomplicating it:
Feed smaller meals and slow the horse down (meal splitting, feeding setup changes)
Make sure water access is consistent and clean
Use the form and preparation that matches the horse, not what is cheapest that week
If your horse has choked before, do not “test it and see.” That is a vet conversation.
Digestive upset from sudden changes
Beet pulp is fermented in the hindgut. The microbes that digest it need time to adjust. When owners jump from “none” to “a lot,” manure and appetite are usually the first things to change.
Common patterns that show the diet moved too fast:
Loose manure or manure that looks different than baseline
Gassiness, discomfort, or a horse that seems “off”
A sudden appetite dip
The fix is usually not “more supplements.” It is slowing the change and keeping everything else stable.
Metabolic horses and sugar concerns
Beet pulp can work in some metabolic programs, but “it depends” is the honest answer. What matters most is the full diet: hay type, total non-structural carbohydrates, body condition, and how much beet pulp is being used.
Key owner points:
Molassed beet pulp has added sugar for palatability
Unmolassed is often a more sensible choice for easy keepers
Any feed can become a problem if it pushes overall calorie intake too high
If your horse is easy-keeping, cresty, or insulin-resistant, start here: Equine Metabolic Syndrome: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention
Should you soak beet pulp for horses?
Soaking is not a rule for every horse, but it is one of the simplest ways to reduce avoidable risk, especially with pellets or horses that do not chew well.
When soaking is strongly recommended
Soaking is usually the safer choice when any of these apply:
Pellets are being used
Seniors or horses with dental limitations
Fast eaters that bolt feed
Horses with a history of choke or repeated “coughing while eating”
Barns where water intake is inconsistent or the horse tends to drink poorly
When soaking may be optional
Soaking may be less critical when:
You are feeding shreds
The horse has good teeth and chews slowly
Meals are modest and split, not one large feedEven then, many owners still prefer to dampen shreds for palatability and to reduce dust.
How to soak safely (simple, practical)
Aim for a texture that is fully softened and easy to chew. If it still feels firm or crunchy, it has not done its job.
Basic safety habits:
Use enough water to fully soften the feed
Do not leave soaked beet pulp sitting for long periods in warm conditions
Rinse buckets and remove leftovers so the mash stays fresh and appetizingIf it smells sour or “fermented,” discard it rather than trying to make it work.
If you’re using beet pulp to boost water intake, also monitor hydration: How to Tell if a Horse Is Dehydrated: Simple Checks Every Owner Should Know
How much beet pulp to feed (by goal and horse size)
This is where owners get stuck, because beet pulp can be used for different goals. The right amount depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what else is in the diet.
Start low and build slowly
Treat beet pulp like any meaningful diet change. Start with a small amount, make sure the horse eats it well, and only increase after you see stable manure and appetite.
Most “beet pulp problems” are really “too much, too fast” problems.
Feeding ranges
These ranges are intentionally broad because horses vary, and beet pulp can be used as a small add-on or a bigger fiber calorie source.
Small pony
Maintenance: small daily amount as a carrier or fiber boost
Hard keeper or senior support: modest increase, split into meals
Average horse
Maintenance: a small daily amount if needed for fiber or as a carrier
Hard keeper: gradual increases, split into at least two meals
Senior hay support: use as part of the fiber plan, not as the only fiber source
Large horse
Maintenance: small amount as needed
Hard keeper or senior support: higher total amount may be used, but still split and introduced slowly
Practical tip: If you find yourself pushing beet pulp higher and higher, step back and reassess the whole feeding system. Often the bigger win is improving forage quality, total forage intake, or adding fat strategically rather than endlessly increasing one ingredient.
Use body condition, not guesswork
Owners often “feed by scoop” and miss slow changes. Track body condition score and a consistent weight estimate so you can judge whether beet pulp is actually helping.
Use your calculator for a consistent baseline: Horse Weight and Body Condition Calculator
How much beet pulp to feed (by goal and horse size)
What to feed it with
Beet pulp works best when it is part of a complete plan, not a random add-on.
Common, owner-friendly uses:
As a carrier for supplements or medications (many horses accept it well when damp)
As a forage helper when a horse struggles to chew long-stem hay, paired with an appropriate balancer so vitamins and minerals do not drift
As a hydration support mash during cold snaps for horses that reliably eat it
If you are using beet pulp as a “bigger” part of the diet, it becomes more important to think about what else the horse is getting so the overall ration stays balanced.
Salt and electrolyte basics (owner-friendly): Horse Salt and Electrolytes: How Much, When, and How to Feed
Beet pulp vs other popular “weight gain” options
Beet pulp is not the only tool for weight support. The best choice depends on whether the horse needs calories, protein, better forage, or just more total intake that they can chew comfortably.
Beet pulp vs alfalfa pellets
These feeds solve different problems.
Beet pulp is mainly fermentable fiber calories. It is often chosen when you want calories without pushing starch.
Alfalfa pellets bring more protein and different mineral characteristics, and can be a better fit when a horse benefits from higher-quality protein intake or you are using it as part of a forage replacement strategy.
Some horses do better with one than the other because of appetite, manure consistency, or how the overall ration is built. Many programs use both in smaller amounts rather than relying heavily on one.
Alfalfa pellets deep dive: Alfalfa Pellets for Horses: When They Help and When They Don’t
Beet pulp vs hay choice (orchard, timothy, alfalfa)
Forage still comes first. If weight is dropping, the most common root issue is that the horse is not getting enough forage calories or the forage quality is not meeting the horse’s needs.
Beet pulp can help, but it will not fix:
A horse that cannot chew hay (dental problem)
Hay that is low quality or not enough total hay offered
A management setup that limits eating time
If you are deciding whether to change hay type or add beet pulp, start with the forage comparison so you know what you are working with.
Hay comparison guide: Orchard vs Timothy vs Alfalfa: NSC, Protein, Ca:P, and When to Feed Which
Red flags and when to call your vet
Beet pulp is not supposed to create drama. If it does, treat that as a signal to stop guessing and get help.
Call your veterinarian sooner rather than later if you see:
Repeated choke episodes or coughing while eating
Colic signs (pawing, looking at flank, reduced manure, rolling)
Refusal to drink or signs of marked dehydration
Fever, significant depression, or a horse that looks systemically unwell
If colic is suspected, use this first-hour action guide: Emergency Colic Kit for Horse Owners: First-Hour Actions + Vitals Checklist, and read The horse’s vital signs.
FAQs: Beet Pulp for Horses
Is beet pulp good for horses?
Beet pulp can be a useful feed for many horses because it adds digestible fiber calories without relying on high starch. It is most helpful for hard keepers, seniors with chewing limits, and horses that do better on forage-type energy. It is less ideal for fast eaters with a choke history or situations where diet changes happen too quickly.
Does beet pulp help horses gain weight?
Yes, beet pulp can support weight gain because fermentable fiber provides calories, especially when it is added consistently and introduced slowly. It works best when forage intake is solid and the overall diet is balanced. If the horse is still dropping weight, the bigger issue may be forage quality, dental pain, parasites, or an underlying medical condition.
Should you soak beet pulp for horses?
Often, yes. Soaking is strongly recommended for pellets, seniors, horses with poor dentition, and fast eaters. For shreds in low-risk horses with good teeth and slow eating habits, soaking may be optional, but many owners still dampen it to reduce dust and improve palatability.
How long should beet pulp soak?
Soak until it is fully softened and easy to chew. The exact time depends on whether you are using shreds or pellets and the water temperature. Avoid leaving soaked beet pulp sitting for long periods in warm conditions, and discard it if it smells sour or fermented.
Can beet pulp cause choke in horses?
Beet pulp can contribute to choke risk when fed dry (especially pellets) to fast eaters or horses with poor teeth. Soaking, feeding smaller meals, slowing intake, and ensuring good water access are practical ways to reduce risk. If your horse has choked before, talk to your veterinarian about the safest feeding strategy.
Can beet pulp cause colic?
Beet pulp itself is not a “colic feed,” but any sudden diet change can trigger digestive upset. The biggest risk comes from introducing too much too fast, inconsistent water intake, or feeding practices that increase choke risk. Introduce beet pulp gradually and monitor manure, appetite, and comfort.
Is beet pulp safe for senior horses?
Often, yes. Beet pulp is commonly used for senior horses as a soft, chew-friendly fiber source, especially when long-stem hay becomes difficult to manage. Seniors still need a complete, balanced diet, and dental care is usually the deciding factor in whether beet pulp helps or creates problems.
