Re: [RC] [RC-Digest] Vol: 03.5565 Feeding in winter - Chipnml
When I kept my horses at home, they were such easy keepers that I limited
their hay intake on "warmer" days (above single digits), and fed them four times
a day (I could do this since I essentially work a split shift). But when
the weather got into single digits and below zero, I would have hay in front of
them 24 hours a day. The extra hay I fed was grass hay, often from the
year before....not really high nutrient, just roughage). I'd been told
that eating and digestion was what maintained their warmth. They always
got minimal grain (around 1/2 lb per day). I think it's also what your
horses are used to. If I had a horse from a warmer climate, I'd be a lot
more careful about blanketing, possibly keeping it in on cold nights, etc
etc. But my guys turn into shaggy neanderthal creatures in the
winter.
