I am curious how many of you feed a regular store bought feed and how often.
I am boarding at a farm where there are 6 horses on pasture only, plus they get round bales of hay in the fall and winter months and they are the most healthy horses you would ever want to see. We trail ride alot and they have great endurance too. The pasture here is in great shape year round. It used to be an old dairy farm so I guess it was sowed with some good stuff at one time.
Some of my friends would never think of pasture boarding as they want the horse to have grain or pelleted feed everyday.
Posted 2005-08-10 5:01 PM (#29096 - in reply to #29090) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Ive got one that can't go with out feed, a preg. one who is getting some and two that only get a some if they are being worked. The amount of extra feed they get depends on the quality/quantity of forage they are getting and how well they hold weight without it.
Posted 2005-08-10 8:19 PM (#29108 - in reply to #29090) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
Most horses only need great pastures with little or no grain if they aren't worked very hard. It all depends on the pasture, the horse, and the quality of the hay when the pasture is done for the year.
Posted 2005-08-10 9:25 PM (#29112 - in reply to #29090) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Ditto, on Hav's statement. I prefer to keep horses on pasture but with hard training schedules and even tougher hauling demands great pasture is but a dream. Horses digestive tracts are funny, very funny. Some horses do great on feed and others do better on pasture. It depends on horse, pasture, feed and your needs.
Pastures do more than just make grass.
I believe most horse folks should pasture their mount if for nothing more than the mental release it provides. Weekend warriors should let their horses out at night if nothing more. (This keeps the hair coat from becoming burned.)
Posted 2005-08-15 1:22 PM (#29227 - in reply to #29090) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
I appreciate your responses. I am thinking of taking over the operation of this barn and wondered how to answer the questions we get from prospective boarders who have only had their horse under full care somewhere with two bucket meals a day. My two quarterhorses have made the transition nicely from full board elsewhere to this wonderful place. Picked up a couple books on horse nutrition and between them and my vet, I think I'll give it a go. Thanks
Posted 2005-08-15 6:15 PM (#29241 - in reply to #29227) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Palmdale, CA
In that case, I would definetly find out the nutritional content of the pasture, have it analyzed. Need to know the calcium/phosphorus ratio, mineral, vitamen & protien content. This way you can supplement whatever they are lacking in the pasture, if anything, instead of guessing. With this knowledge, you can put to rest any fears your boarders may have.
Posted 2005-08-15 10:57 PM (#29252 - in reply to #29090) Subject: RE: Feeding Horses
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I don't have enough pasture to feed my 5 horses. So I thow out a bale of hay in the morning and a bale in the evening. (Actually 1/2 a bale of Oat hay and 1/2 bale of Alfalfa/Grass mix.)
The gobble up the Alfalfa and then pick at the Oat hay all day. No grain, I keep a tub of Equinelick and a block of white salt in the corral. My daughters & I ride the 3 adult horse at least twice a week. Usually for 20 mile trail rides. So they are doing 25-40 miles or mountain trails each week.
Horses are on the plump side of the scale, coats look great. Farrier loves their feet.
Feeding Horses
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