ridecamp@endurance.net: RE: Number of feeding a day, was Myths.

RE: Number of feeding a day, was Myths.

Linda VanCeylon (LVanCeylon@vines.ColoState.EDU)
Mon, 28 Apr 97 14:55:03 -0600

>A question to you and others, I'm genuinely curious and am not in any
>way out to insult anyone please don't take this the wrong way!!! Why
>feed two or three times a day? Why not just shove a load of hay there
>and make sure it never all gets eaten? That way they just snack a little
>all day and don't eat any more than using the several feedings a day
>method. There is no meal time as such here, but they still look forward
>to their supplement time. This way I can grab a horse anytime of the day
>without worrying about feeding time being missed and go riding. Or am I
>wrong?
>
>Nicco
>--
>Open the bay door please, Hal.

Hi Nicco,

The only reason I don't feed hay "free choice" is because of the waste. At
$6.00 a bale I can't afford to have them tromp 1/2 of it into the mud. So,
I try to adjust feeding to exactly what they'll clean up in 12 hours. This
is tricky, but basically if I go out in the morning and see that some hay
was tromped and soiled, I cut back by 1/2 a flake or so. If every leaf is
gone in the evening, I give them a little more. After awhile, I get to
know each horse's appetite and I'm fairly certain they each are getting the
amount they will eat in 12 hours. So, it's essentially "all-they-can-eat"
but not really what you'd call "free choice".

Linda Van Ceylon
lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu
phone: 970-491-1428
fax: 970-491-2838

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