This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am stalling him at night until spring comes for my old guys sake. I have had him just a week, I have fed "copy" free choice grass hay all day in the field and a generous portion again in his stall at night, i am giving him 1/4 of a plastic horse scoop of 12% pellet (Prime). He is pleasantly plump but not obese (YET!) I know this is an issue with Fjords from lurking here on the list most of you comment on your chubbies. I will not be riding or working him until Fall since i am 5 mos pregnant now. Any comments are welcome. >>>>
First I'd like to congratulate you on your upcoming baby! Then on your getting your first fjord!!! <g> About the feeding, if I fed my fjords like that, they'd be happy little piglets...... until they exploded!!!! I've had to remind my husband over and over again that he can NOT feed our fjords like regular horses. It is killing them with kindness. Finally I think I have gotten through to him and he is more sensible with the feed than he used to be. We've got about 2 acres set up for the horses (the rest needs to be fenced) and they really eat that down, just on two hours a day! That is ALL they get as far as pasture. Unless it is late summer and it is brown and dry, they can stay out for 3-4 hours. And have their hay cut back a bit. The way things work for us, and I still have to be certain that I keep them well exercised is like this: A thin flake of grass hay in the morning. Then they have to wait a couple hours before they are turned out on the pasture. A couple hours pasture, then into the barn. And the horses that I'm going to exercise are exercised. Brush them, and then give them MAYBE a half a flake of hay. Then they wait several more hours till dinner where they get a decent sized flake. I try to feed them as often as possible so we don't have to worry about ulcers. But try to keep their meals on the small side. We have cob for our QH mare who is not an easy keeper, and the fjords get a handful with their vitamins and Continuex. More for taste than anything. The growing horses get a little more. Maybe a cup or two. Maximum. Hope this helps you just a little bit. We all have different ways of horsekeeping, but this is what works for me. I'm sure others will have different systems that work well for them and their horses too. Have fun with your Copycat! Pamela Northern Holiday Horses Welcome Polaris
