This message is from: "Debby" <[email protected]>
Mine are doing good around the barn and one turnout left open they have access to. We've kept it mowed. I feed them their mineral/vitamin supplement in the morning, no hay, they just go out. If its cold, I'll take some chopped forage, mix a few handfuls with fairly warm water, to warm their bellies, and then out all morning. I do put a bit of hay, grass, out for them but they aren't interested in it. Then they come in at lunch, stalls with runs that are very sparse...but the older one will go out and walk around and pick. The younger one usually naps. A few hours later, I will go out, give them their hoof supplement which is a pellet and some other supplements, and then a bit of forage and a half a flake of hay. Then at dinner time, their other half of the mineral/vitamin supplement and a full flake of hay, maybe a bite of forage with warm water if its getting cool. I usually then put some loose salt and loose mineral in their feed bins at that time, and they will have cleaned it up through the night. My husband goes out at 9pm and gives them a flake of hay, and closes the door to the runs. So they have it fairly good as their food is split over many feedings through the day. We get up early, 6am is early for us, and they are now going out in the dark. I'm glad I'm not feeding any grain anymore. I feed good quality hay, so if I need to increase weight I do it through hay or if I need to decrease weight I do it through hay. The forage is low starch, 9% I think, and its easier for me to get than beet pulp, which has to soak for longer periods and can't find one here that isn't molasses. I do feed 1/2cup of horseshine a day too, with the hoof supplement. With the fjords, I seem to have to watch daily, at their weight. I'd not have them on a dry lot for that many hours with nothing to eat. I don't think its good for tummies to be empty that long. If he needs to lose weight, then I'd find some older hay that is clean, not weedy or moldy, dusty, musty, and let him have it while in the dry lot. I think you'd need to be careful to feed him hay that isn't stemmy. This time of the year they tend to drop their water intake and one needs to be careful about impactions. You might feed him a bit of good hay mixed in with some older good hay at first. Then give him the remainder of the better, newer hay while he's in his stall. Mine inhale their hay too, just hurry and feed so I don't get the "feel sorry for me" eyes. My Ynde is spoiled, she LOVES warm water to drink, especially when its getting cooler. Debby in Tx Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
