Re: RC: help! feed everywhere

[RBluebirdpr@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/31/2001 2:32:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Lonehorse@compuserve.com writes:

<< 
 does anyone have problems with horses grabbing at the feed and tossing it
 out on the ground? it is driving me nuts!  they will push it around with
 their nose grab a bunch and throw it out and do it again until almost all
 the hay is on the ground. then of course half of that is smashed into the
 mud and all I see is dollar bills disintegrating  into the mud......yes it
 is winter and the boogers haven't been handled as much, and they only get
 fed twice a day, and a diet of oat hay in the morning and alfalfa at night.
  any great suggestions?
  >>

It's the natural instinct of a horse to eat off the ground.  In the wild the 
only other time it doesn't is when it is nursing as a baby.  I haven't used 
hay racks for years because the horses would pull the hay to the ground and 
eat it.  Horses don't like getting hay or other particles in their nasal 
passage.  That's why they prefer to eat with their heads down.  I throw all 
my hay on the ground when feeding.  Some people will not agree with this but 
given a choice, your horse will eat off the ground or floor.

Phil