Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

At 07:01 AM 3/15/2004, you wrote:
> So, basically my question is, what are the thoughts of experienced endurance=
>
> folk and vets on giving soaked flake hay to my boys while trailering?

I agree that wetting the hay is probably a good thing to do.  However, if 
you use mangers or feed bags where the water/wet can accumulate you need to 
be on the ball with cleaning those areas out after each use, or mold can 
grow---be sure to check if you are on long trip.  Some of the mesh hay 
manger type bags are nice because you can take a hose to them and wet 
everything down before hanging them in your trailer.  Otherwise, dunking 
hay into a bushel bucket of water and then putting it into a manger will 
also work.  I love having mangers because I can put small buckets with 
water and soaked feed in there for them.

I would not withhold hay from my horses in the trailer unless I had a 
really good reason for doing so. Everybody's horses are different 
though.  I am careful about the kinds of hay and/or feed I put in the 
trailer with them for traveling (absolutely NO alfalfa!).  I never feed 
them grains of any type before or during travel (going to/coming back 
varies).   But definitely, have not ever limited the amounts of hay 
available to them and keep it replenished at all stops (and, I don't 
usually soak it either).  I have found that once I get to the ride site, if 
I simply walk the horses for 10 minutes every hour or two, they will be 
stimulated to eat and drink (this is even more important after the ride is 
over, or between days on multidays).  A horse that hauls 4 times a year 
compared to one that goes on 40 trailer trips a year is probably going to 
handle things differently, it all boils down to learning how to manage each 
horse as an individual.  If I am hauling a long distance, I will try to do 
it in one day.  My horses all handle that better than taking two days to do 
it, and spending an extra night somewhere (nevermind the additional risk of 
possibly exposing them to illness at some of the fairgrounds and stables 
along the way).  I do try to get to any of the far away rides a day early, 
do the haul in one day then the next day they get to rest and 
recover.  Often in the middle of the night I encounter the same riders 
walking their horses.  Those same riders, who....I have never seen with a 
horse in any kind of trouble and have a lot of experience.  Too many people 
seem to think that their horses move around enough in their corral panels 
or whatnot, they stick them in there and forget about them. :+/

Karen
in NV

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There are 2 ways to win at this sport. You take a horse and race him for a
short time and then find a new horse or you can take one horse , do the
homework and spend many miles and years enjoying that horse.
~  Paddi Sprecher

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