Re: Winter feeding

["Whitney Bass" <wbass@montananet.com>]

Carla,
I think that as long as you keep a close eye on your horses' weight, and
they seem to be "maintaining", you don't need to change anything.  My horses
have around 45 acres of grass to munch on, so I expect them to consume a
portion of their diet by doing the work and digging thru the snow.  I like
to feed between 10 and 15 pounds (grass or grass/alfalfa hay) per horse per
day, and increase/decrease it as we go through the winter according to how
well they maintain their weight.  Also, when the temperature drops below 20
or so, I increase the amount of alfalfa by at least a few pounds, and
increase their daily ration to at least 20 pounds.  But the same program
doesn't necessarily work for every horse.  I have two geldings that will be
3 this next summer, and they seem to do much better on a "free-choice"
ration.  I also have a mare who can't eat as much at one time as the others,
so she'll quit eating and then come back to munch, only to find that the
others already cleaned it all up -- so I keep her in with free-choice hay,
when she looks like she needs it.  As long as you are fairly aware of how
much each horse is eating and how he/she looks overall, you probably don't
need to change anything (although an alfalfa diet is always a little scary
to me). =-)

Whitney and friends (frozen in Montana since the 3rd week in Sept.!!)



----- Original Message -----
From: "robert and carla lawson" <robandcarla@hotmail.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2000 7:30 PM
Subject: RC: Winter feeding


> I am starting to get the ever so popular stares from fellow nieghbors that
I
> am abusing my horses. So here is the deal...
> I am feeding my mares 1 flake each of alfalfa in the AM. that is pretty
much
> it.
> I feed 1 1/2 pounds of grain with 1/2 pound of alfalfa pellets with 2
flakes
> of alfalfa Every evening. They do not have free choice hay. They are in 3
> acres of pasture. I do however offer free choice hay when there is an
> abundence of snow on the ground. I also scatter it out in various places
to
> keep them "forageing"
> I have two horses that are still fat and sassy and energetic. They are not
> being ridden but maybe once every two weeks if lucky. They have access to
> shelter but I have to take them to it. I do not like to put them up in the
> barn or even in the small corral  that is adjacent to it. I did last week
> and Ansata stocked up very badly and not only stocked up but she proceeded
> to attempt to go visiting several neighbors to say howdy! Which resulted
in
> two near serious injuries. Haley stayed stocked up. I brought them back to
> pasture and they are doing much better. Also weather was permissable.
> Sooo the question is. I still have good pasture available that I am going
to
> switch them into in two more weeks. They are fat, healthy and energetic.
> Should I be offering free choice hay?
> Haley If I am not careful could possibly founder. And Ansata is fatter
than
> the day I bought her. Given the facts here and the History of them... I
> really would like to quiet the silent wispers that I am abusing my horses
> for not offering free choice hay.  But here in this community if you saw
all
> the foundered feet you would wonder.
> Carla (Going to go feed my "abused" dogs the left over Gravy heated up in
> the microwave.)
> Ansata (ohhh apple treat time!)
> Haley (me first me first)
> Rob (is that a rib? or is that cellulite?)
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