Feeding woes
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/27/2007 10:27:19 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Who knows about giving unlimited access to straw forage for Fjords. I've been told that it's good for their intestines and good for their need to be grazing. Does anyone do this? If so, does it make a lot of difference in gaining/losing weight, colic management, behavior etc.? Ellen. Hi Ellen ! Personally, I would be very cautious in feeding straw to fjords to help anything. Ours hog down straw like its the best meal on earth and pack their stomach's full given free acess. When we travel, we usually ask ahead to have their stalls UNbedded from straw. Mine do not drink ( much ) when we haul ( even though they have buckets hanging in front of them ) so our fear is to arrive after 10 hours of little hydration and then pack down a dry meal like straw. We feed 3 times a day here. Knowing that horses in the wild graze, and that it is the most natural and a healthier way to feed them, we have dry lot here in S. UT. so every bite they getwe give them. Also, watching wild herds of horses near us, we see how much time is spent traveling and NOT eating, trying to find shelter from sun.moving around to find water, avoiding us watching them ect. It is a mis-conception that wild horses eat 24 X 7. Risking impactions by feeding straw ect. with our borntobepigs Fjords wouldnt be worth the risk IMHO. Good-Luck !Lisa Pedersen / Pedersens Fjords * Cedar City, UT. ** currently feeding 100 + lb. 3 strand bales of a nice orchard grass / alfalfa mix hay, at 9.00 a bale, tarped, not delivered. *** People from Vegas driving up on weekends buying hay at this price and selling it at their tack and feed stores 2 and 1/2 hrs away for 16.00 a BALE. *** Friends in San Fransisco, CA area report hay nearing 20.00 a bale now. ** See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Feeding woes
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] I also warn against feeding straw. I prepared a path to my arena (goes through the pasture) for riders by buying two bales of straw and strewing it all out. The next day it was almost gone and my fjordie had impacted. My big near 18 hander was not too comfortable either. So, several hundred dollars later, I learned never to have straw on the place. Jean Gayle Author of: 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Feeding woes
This message is from: Linda McThoy Patorni [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sorry everyone, but I disagree. I am a great believer in feeding straw for weight control. You just have to do it carefully. The Donkey Sanctuary in England feeds its obese donkeys with barley straw, the most nutritious (of not very nutritious) straw, and it keeps their weight off. If any of you know about the Donkey Sanctuary they really do have experience in nutrition, and this works. Some of them are on 100% straw. I have four donkeys and they get a good share of barley straw along with grass hay. But back to Fjords. I also have mules and two beautiful Fjords and they would gain weight simply looking at hay. So I usually mix straw with their grass and they are healthy and maintain a perfect weight. They are also active and exercised regularly. Don't dismiss the straw idea. I also use straw for bedding because in New Mexico wood shavings don't decompose that easily. No one has died or been ill from sleeping on or eating straw. Linda On Dec 28, 2007, at 7:33 PM, jgayle wrote: This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] I also warn against feeding straw. I prepared a path to my arena (goes through the pasture) for riders by buying two bales of straw and strewing it all out. The next day it was almost gone and my fjordie had impacted. My big near 18 hander was not too comfortable either. So, several hundred dollars later, I learned never to have straw on the place. Jean Gayle Author of: 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Linda McThoy Patorni [EMAIL PROTECTED] The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
