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RideCamp@endurance.net
Is this a job for beet pulp?
Amanda Perez amandaperez@ureach.com
Sorry to post as guest - but I can't seem to register on-line
using the registration form (or it needs more time to take effect?)
I am field-baording my newly acquired horse a a nearby farm.
My horse and four mares are sharing a 10 acre field snd run-in
shed (two other geldings share a separate field). I get free
board in exchange for doing the AM feeding (one elderly gelding
gets Sr feed). Here is my problem: the other horses are all
either retired or rarely ridden, and do well on the pasture
alone. Because of this, the farm does not feed any hay unless
the grass is under heavy snow-cover. However I am riding at
least 6 hours on the weekends and hope to sneak a couple of
rides in during the week, and I think my horse, Cy needs more
forage than the grazing provides - I have walked the field and
it is chewed down pretty thin except for weedy patches. He also
seems to have lost some weight since he's been there, and since
he's out in the weather I'd like a little more weight on him
for warmth. The person I bought Cy from had been feeding him 3 -
4 lbs of 14% sweet feed daily. I think this is too much
protein, as he is very spirited and 'hot'. I switched him to
10% sweet feed and tapered him down to about a pound per day,
once in the AM. I have also started adding in some bagged
chopped grass forage (no alfalfa), mixed in with the grain and
dampened to keep the dust down. Cy does not seem crazy for the
forage, and only eats what is well-laced with the sweet-feed,
so there is a limit to how much forage I can get into him
without upping the sweet feed. I feed on my way to work, so I
need to feed something that can be consumed in a reasonable
amount of time so he can be turned back out before I go (which
is why hay is not the answer). I am thinking of adding some
soaked shredded beet pulp to the grain/chopped forage mix to
make it more palatable and add some calories. I am thinking of
building up to equal parts sweet feed, chopped forage and beet-
pulp. I am also thinking of replacing the sweet-feed with
something with less molasses to lesson the 'rocket fuel'
effect. I guess I could throw a bit of corn-oil in too, though
I'd like to keep the morning feeding routine a simple as
possible. Does this seem to be a reasonable approach? Any
suggestions, other than to find a new boarding situation...
I'll bring him home as soon as I can afford to put up the
fencing and run-in shed, but that won't happen before next
summer unless I win the lottery! ;-).
P.S. ... I understand from reading the archives that there are additives in some forms of beet-pulp intended for cattle that are unfit for horses: if anyone knows what these are, I;d appreciatte a list.
RSVP to AmandaPerez@ureach.com
Thanks,
Amanda
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