Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

hi heidi

yep, we sure have a lot of horses around here (central coast of CA where we 
do have climate change) mighty thin in the spring because the hay isn't 
increased, sure a sad thing to see.  people have to realize it takes energy 
to stay warm in winter.

we also see people quit feeding at the first signs of sprigs of green 
coming up -- generally useless as no nutrition at first and then later in 
the spring many founder because that same green has too MUCH nutrition.  so 
more thin horses.

roughage has always been my feed of choice to help them stay warm in 
winter.  i might question whether alfalfa pellets would give the roughage 
since it is not long fibers anymore???  i've not fed beet pulp but i would 
think the unpelleted form (soaked of course and hot water might be 
appreciated!) would not be as efficient as the unprocessed (shredded) 
form????  again, longer fibers.

the other thing in cold weather that our horses appreciate is warm water 
twice a day, at least in the morning.  they always drink more if the water 
is warmed up.  if you have to travel a ways to your horse you can transport 
a bucket of hot (cools some intransit) water in a cooler, offer it while it 
is warm.  keeping the horses drinking in cold weather is important to avoid 
constipation and colic caused by blockage.

just another 2 cents worth.

karen


> Yikes!  I sure see a lot of horses around me here in my rural area that
> are thin and rough by spring simply because they are expected to winter on
> summer rations.  We rarely get below zero here (did have a couple of
> sub-zero nights last week, but that's about the extent of it) but we sure
> hang in that range of single-digit nights and days that don't quite make
> it up to freezing for weeks on end.
>
> We DEFINITELY feed more in the winter to equip horses for that sort of
> weather, although I would concur that they need even more when the mercury
> drops below zero.
>
> But I do agree that in most cases it is easiest (and best) to do it with
> more hay.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
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