Posted 2008-12-01 5:58 PM (#95560) Subject: First overnight trip
Member
Posts: 26
Location: Saskatoon, Canada
My daughter is attending a barrel clinic in January and we have decided to just keep her horse overnight at the barn where the clinic is being held as they have box stalls for $10 a night which is cheaper than gas to haul him home. What I'm wondering is what is an appropriate amount of hay to take for the trip, basically two days riding and one overnight? He is usually just turned out to eat at the bale with the other horses so I'm not exactly sure how much he eats in a day. He is an 8yr old 1150 pound Appaloosa gelding. Any suggestions would be appreciated.Thanks
Posted 2008-12-01 6:36 PM (#95563 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Iowa
Take a whole bale with you. Bring home what you won't use. I always take extra hay & Grain , you never know what might happen. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Posted 2008-12-01 11:31 PM (#95574 - in reply to #95563) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: washington
Ditto on the whole bale of hay. I always take extra and bring home what he didn't eat. I also take some alfalfa to entice him to eat if he's feeling fussy... he used to go off his feed after along trip and the alfalfa would get his appetite back on track. Just a flake added to his normal hay would be enough.
Oh, and if you can, bring water from home. Some horses won't readily drink water that is not from home. I have a 39 gallon horse water tank in my trailer and always take water to rides, jsut in case.
Posted 2008-12-02 7:15 PM (#95637 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Member
Posts: 26
Location: Saskatoon, Canada
Thanks for the advice on the hay and water. I usually haul water with us in the summer but it gets a little difficult in January up here when it's 0 degrees F, the water gets hard real fast at that temp.
Posted 2008-12-02 7:26 PM (#95638 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Florida
Pack two bales to be safe.
Hay is the best babysitter. you may want to walk away and get a hot dog.
You will want to have a hay net for your horse during the day. Most likely you will fill a manger of some sort in your trailer for the ride to and from.
So many times I bring too much hay and to find out it was just enough. Seems my guys eat more on the road. Hey so don't I :)
Posted 2008-12-03 7:25 PM (#95699 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522
Location: Tucumcari NM
One trick I learned about horses who are finicky about drinking foreign water is to sprinkle strawberry jello in their water at home. When they get used to the smell of the jello, it is easy to doctor the water from wherever you might be, and your horse won't know the difference. It only takes a small sprinkle. Just enough for your horse to smell.
Posted 2008-12-03 9:12 PM (#95706 - in reply to #95699) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
I've done that water trick, too.. Only with mint extract.. My picky mare likes it and she is strange about what she will or will not drink.. She may refuse water in one bucket, only to drink the same water in another bucket..
Posted 2008-12-04 11:54 AM (#95730 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Florida
Both hay and water are very important when you travel with your horses.
We camp frequently and have learned that the more your horse becomes accustomed to drinking away from home the more they will.
Kinda like you and me we have our habits too.
Local to our property we have running water and ponds. We are always encouraging our horses to drink on local trail rides. This has taught our horses that it is okay to drink elsewhere besides their special red bucket (spoiled brats all have their own matching colors).
There have been places we have gone that the horse actually turns away from a water source. Trust the horse it may be foul. Although my qtr horse prefers a muddy puddle in the paddock over his water trough.
I would suggest bringing water from the barn the horse is stabled in. But I see you are traveling in the winter. However, Walmart sells inexpensive Blue water containers. And I still stick to more hay is better. Don't take the chance. I have had to find hay one time too many to make me learn to carry more than I need.
Posted 2008-12-04 7:37 PM (#95747 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
When I travel I always take water from home and the feed/water buckets out of the horses stall (mine have matching colors as well). The more that is familiar the more relaxed they will be.
Posted 2008-12-05 7:01 AM (#95775 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan
I have been on many overnight trips ( in fact they are usually multiple day/night trips). Bring a bale of hay and any buckets you need. i have never brought the same feed tubs or water buckets they use daily,just the ones stored in the trailer. I don't haul around my own water but the horses always managed to drink anyway. Most horses will eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. Don't let some of the responers make more of an issue out of this than it is. Go and have fun.
Posted 2008-12-05 7:14 AM (#95777 - in reply to #95560) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Danielsville Georgia
Farmbabe is 100% correct! I have 'borrowed"table salt from a closed concession stand in the middle of the night cause I forgot mine and stalls were in straw .I wanted them to DRINK!
Posted 2008-12-10 11:56 PM (#95988 - in reply to #95775) Subject: RE: First overnight trip
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: washington
yea, go and have fun :) The first time I took my horse overnight he did great and he is a big baby - a worry wart. But he ate, drank, peed and pooped just like he should. You'll be fine.