Has your horse definitely been diagnosed with Cushing's disease? If so, you may need to talk to your veterinarian about treating with pergolide. It can be compounded with a veterinarian's prescription and has become less expensive. The research reports I am familiar with do not indicate that Chaste Tree Berry is effective. The current diet recommendations for a horse diagnosed with Cushing's disease is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. A good-quality grass hay containing 7.5 to 8% crude protein fed at a rate of 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight along with some mineral supplementation, particularly making sure that selenium is adequate and the macro minerals like calcium and phosphorus are at 125 to 150% of NRC intake requirements. Plain beet pulp (without added molasses) can also be fed and/or substituted for some of the hay. Rice bran and some "ration balancers" that certain commercial feed companies manufacture may be good sources of added fat. These also often contain higher levels of minerals so you only need to feed one pound or less per day to meet mineral intake requirements and would not have to feed any mineral supplement.

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