Re: feeding pasture horses at rides

["Sullivan's" <greymare@jps.net>]

This is VERY important, and an issue a friend of mine has to deal with.  Her
horse gets so fat on irrigated pasture (despite hard riding) that she has
basically pulled him off, out only small amounts.  I would guess you would
have to introduce dry hay several weeks before.....I know with my horses on
green grass, even when it is lush, they do get tired of the "grazing", and
if dry hay is put out, will eat some from that, since it is "easirer."

Karen
----- Original Message -----
From: <Onefarmgirl@aol.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 8:40 PM
Subject: RC: feeding pasture horses at rides


> Hi all
>
> This is the first year that I've had the luxury of having my endurance
horse
> on gorgeous pasture.    That's all well and good, but here's my problem.
I
> don't think that en route to a ride and/or at a ride is a good place to
> suddenly change the horses' feed.   Of course with the pastured horse this
is
> not an option - by definition you have to change your feed practices.
Not
> only am I changing his feed, I'm changing him from fresh grass with a very
> high water content to dry old hay.  I do generally soak the alfalfa; if I
try
> to soak the grass hay, he just won't eat it.  However, no reasonable
amount
> of soaking approximates the fresh grass.
>
> Seems as if I am changing his feed at the worst possible moment, and
changing
> it for the worse at that.   I've been toying with the idea of moving him
to
> his paddock a week or so before a ride to change him to hay then.
>
> So......... whadaya think?   Is this a non-issue?    For those of you who
> have been keeping your horse on pasture, do you just pull 'em off and load
> 'em in the trailer with hay?    Susan?   Comments?
>
> pat farmer
>
>
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