Feeding fjords
This message is from: MKint me.k...@yahoo.com I put on my Christmas want list the Dover hay nets with the small openings. I've been using them for several days now and they are great. Really slow the eating down. The first time I used it my two looked at me like what are you doing to us?. I went out several hours later and they were still eating away. The next morning the nets are empty! During the day they are turned out so I only use the nets at night when I keep them in there stalls with a turnout pen. I think I'll have a better handle on there weight this way and keep them happy by prolonging their eating time. Mary in California and it is COLD! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Feeding fjords
This message is from: Karen McCarthy weeg...@hotmail.com Mary can you please provide a link to these haynets? Sounds like a great product. Also very cold here in central Oregon: freezing fog since daybreak and 20° @ 12:00noon Not a hope in H*@ I will get those frozen biscuits off the ground today! :: Karen McCarthy :: Great Basin Fjords :: Madras, Oregon :: http://www.picturetrail.com/weegees Subject: Feeding fjords From: me.k...@yahoo.com Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:04:41 -0500 I put on my Christmas want list the Dover hay nets with the small openings. I've been using them for several days now and they are great. Mary in California and it is COLD! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Feeding fjords
This message is from: Gail Russell g...@zeliga.com http://www.google.com/search?q=small+mesh+hay+netsie=utf-8oe=utf-8aq=trls=org.mozilla:en-US:officialclient=firefox-a At paddock paradise slow feeder (just google) you will find a chart about all the different types of hay nets. The SMHN (small mesh hay nets) are cheap, but a little harder to fill than the nibble nets. There is a whole culture surrounding the nets and how to fill them. You can almost certainly create a template to fill them and close them. People use smooth lead ropes in place of the ropes provided. They use special carabiners to latch them. They hand them on poles. There are also hay nets that are designed to be hung on perimeter fences. You could easily set one up. There are also ways to net a tub. ALL KINDS OF THINGS. Dave could make a fortune fabricating the just right system to go with some of the nets! Look at paddock paradise and READ. I can supplement and answer questions from my e-mail database. Gail Mary can you please provide a link to these haynets? Sounds like a great product. Also very cold here in central Oregon: freezing fog since daybreak and 20? @ 12:00noon Not a hope in H*@ I will get those frozen biscuits off the ground today! :: Karen McCarthy :: Great Basin Fjords :: Madras, Oregon :: http://www.picturetrail.com/weegees Subject: Feeding fjords From: me.k...@yahoo.com Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:04:41 -0500 I put on my Christmas want list the Dover hay nets with the small openings. I've been using them for several days now and they are great. Mary in California and it is COLD! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
feeding fjords
This message is from: Debby miss.am...@earthlink.net 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
Re: Feeding fjords
This message is from: spiek...@isu.edu - Original Message - From: Barbara middleagespr...@rconnects.com Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:19 pm Subject: Re: Feeding fjords To: Fjord Horse Horse Fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Use a bathroom scale if you don't have anything else. get on the scale, weight yourself. get off and pick up your hay ration and get back on. The weight of the hay, within about a half pound, is the difference between the two. I don't get that elaborate. I have the weigh bill from the hay delivery, divide it by the number of bales which gives an average weight per bale. You do not have to be exact every day, just as you do not eat the exact same thing each day. Obviously doesn't work on the round bales. Just make sure that no-one is looking over your shoulder and the scale is on a flat surface. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Feeding fjords
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah han...@ai.sri.com spiek...@isu.edu wrote: Use a bathroom scale if you don't have anything else.� get on the scale, weight yourself.� get off and pick up your� hay ration and get back on.� The weight of the hay, within about a half pound, is the difference between the two. Before anyone relies on that method, I would strongly recommend that they first check how accurate their bathroom scales are in that mode! We got an Aussie puppy this year, so I was weighing her regularly. At first, I just put her onto our bathroom scale, and that was fine. One day, she was being wiggly, so I picked her up, weighed us, then weighed me. The difference was 15 lb, which was significantly less than she had weighed the previous week, so I managed to get her on the scale alone---21 lb! Being of a scientific bent, I got an unopened 15-lb bag of puppy kibble, weighed it on a good kitchen scale (15.5 lb), weighed it alone on the bathroom scale (16 lb), and by the delta method (12 lb). Obviously, my scale is not linear in its response to weight. Your mileage may vary Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- han...@ai.sri.com anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Feeding fjords
This message is from: katesei...@aol.com I bought the Taylor Precision 30504106T Industrial Hanging Scale from Amazon.com ($13.00). Weighs up to 55 lbs, which is fine for me since I am just doing flakes, not the whole bale. I hung it from a rafter next to my hay bales using that old stand-by - baling twine. I use a muck bucket hanging from another section of baling twine to the weigh hook - but I like that idea of using a laundry basket! Kate *** In a message dated 4/30/2009 12:04:41 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, middleagespr...@rconnects.com writes: What do you all use for a scale I'm guessing some sort of a hanging scale but would love more detail on how you do it. **Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219491521x1201306563/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.double click.net%2Fclk%3B214102108%3B35952091%3Bs) Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Feeding Fjords
This message is from: Sue Clark-Sorger clarksor...@comcast.net I weigh all my hay, guessing weight is not one of my talents. My fjords mare, Anniken, who is worked 3-4 times a week, gets 1lb of alfalfa and 10lbs of grass hay, plus 2 cups of crimped oats with her supplements. My gelding, Paul, who gets less work, as he is still young, get no alfalfa and 9lbs of grass hay plus 2 cups of oats and supplements. They get 1 hour a day on pasture this time of year, but how long that will continue depends on our rainfall. I do feed a little more grass hay when the temperature gets below 20 degrees in the winter or if Anniken has been working particularly hard, but all in all they both keep their weight pretty level on the feed I am giving them. The weather here, while still getting down below freezing at night, is in the 70s during the day so I am off to drive my fjord. Have a great day! Sue Sue Clark-Sorger Crown Oak Fjords Sandia Park NM Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Feeding fjords
This message is from: jern...@mosquitonet.com when I was feeding hay out of a round bale, I discovered I was giving them about twice what they needed until I started weighing it. I took a large trash bag and cut it open, laid the hay in it and gathered both ends up to hook on the hand held scale. It was a small spring scale that you could weigh fish, or put samll animal in a burlap bag and weigh...I used it in my snowshoe hare study. it has a hook on one end and you can hang it up with the handle on the other end. It worked pretty well. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska What do you all use for a scale I'm guessing some sort of a hanging scale but would love more detail on how you do it. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Feeding fjords
This message is from: Karen Keith kkke...@hotmail.com You can get a fish scale from any sporting goods place (Walmart works). They range from the simple spring operated one to fancy electronic ones. I've had both. The electronic one didn't hold up well in an unheated barn through Colorado winters. I still have the little spring one. I hung the scale from a beam in the barn (baling twine works nicely here). Add a plastic laundry basket suspended from, again, baling twine. Fill the basket with estimated hay, hang the basket via baling twine to the hook on the bottom of the scale and -- voila! -- you've got your hay weighed. The electronic scale allows you to tare the scale with the weight of the basket. The spring one requires you weigh the empty basket and remember its weight, then subtract that number from the weight when filled with hay. As I recall, the difference in price for the convenience is the difference between about $5 and about $40. You decide. Cheers! Karen, Northern VA Just a quick question on this weighing of hay. What do you all use for a scale I'm guessing some sort of a hanging scale but would love more detail on how you do it. _ Looking for a fresh way to share photos? Get the new Windows Live Messenger. http://download.live.com/ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Feeding fjords
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah han...@ai.sri.com Barbara middleagespr...@rconnects.com wrote: on this weighing of hay. What do you all use for a scale I'm guessing some sort of a hanging scale but would love more detail on how you do it. Barb Midddleage Spread Eagle Creek OR I have done it a couple of ways. I first got a baby scale, which had a 25-lb capacity, and sort of a cradle on the top. I sometimes just laid a flake of hay on it, or put the hay into a xerox-paper box lid, or a paper grocery bag. However, that scale wasn't really robust enough for barn use---the plastic cradle eventually broke, where it attached to the scale. I now use an ordinary kitchen scale, again with 25-lb capacity. I also use a firewood carrier---a rectangle of canvas, maybe 24x48, with 2 dowels in pockets sewn on each end as a handle. I first put the empty carrier on the scale and zero'd the scale to that weight. Then, I add hay to the carrier, and put it back on the scale, adjust the hay, reweigh, iterate. Either of these types of (analog) scales might be had at garage sales. My baby scale had been sitting on the very-top shelf in the hardware store for years, and they were happy to make me a deal on it. The kitchen scale came out of my mother's estate. Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- han...@ai.sri.com anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
feeding fjords
This message is from: Debby Stai [EMAIL PROTECTED] I feed my guys the Triple Crown lite also...in fact, their forage is supplemented with the same so one can just feed the forage if they likeWith the hay being so hard to come by, the forage has been a life saver for methe horses like it way too muchOne has to be careful to not overfeed it. Debby The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Feeding Fjords, again
This message is from: Warren Stockwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] I haven't used Bluegrass straw. I do use reed canary and that works well for the munch factor without having much food value. In fact when I firs got my Gunnar that's all he would eat but now he likes the timothy alfalfa mix. Around here alfalfa gets fed on a very regulated basis : ) Roberta MN This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] OK, I don't recall seeing anyone post this question... Has anyone on the list fed out bluegrass straw? I'm wondering where to get it, and if I can feed it just like hay? I'm looking for a really low-cal hay substitute to fill my mare up.
Re: Feeding Fjords, again
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Has anyone on the list fed out bluegrass straw? I'm wondering where to get it, and if I can feed it just like hay? Don't know about the straw, but around here, we can get ryegrass pellets, which I assume are a by-product of the grass seed industry in the Willamette Valley. (My guess is that they're made from grass straw and seed cleaner leavings---chaff, weed seeds, etc.) My equines will eat them, but aren't exactly thrilled by them. I make a point of buying slightly over-mature pasture grass hay, which has a lot of straw---more chewing satisfaction for the same calories. On a similar note, I ran across some early clinical trial results that suggest that horses that are insulin resistant may be lacking in magnesium. [...] Has anyone used magnesium for their tubbo ponies? It's too early to tell if it's working for my mare , I just know that she thinks it's *not* yummy at all. Eileen and Jane, who's off all grass :(, in eastern WA About 18 months ago, my vet sort of went down the row of my plump equines (2 Fjord geldings and a standard donkey), chanting less food, more exercise, and get some magnesium into them. I had heard good things about Quiessence (magnesium and chromium), from Fox Den Equine, so gave it a try. It's expensive, but they eat every crumb of it. My equines have slimmed down noticably, but I can't say for sure what part the magnesium played, as I also cut back on their pasture time. This had the side effect of increasing their exercise, as they spent that missing hour pacing the corral fencelines, complaining about Room Service. ;-) The fattest one also has to wear a grazing muzzle for his pasture time. And, I removed Equine Senior from their diets; it was only a cup or so, meant to motivate consumption of supplements, but I now use alfalfa pellets, instead---less sugar in their diets. It should be noted that many of the cattlemen in this area supplement magnesium to their stock. In many parts of western Oregon (and undoubtedly Washington), millenia of heavy rainfall has leached many of the minerals out of the soil. The grasses here also tend to accumulate sugar in cool weather---a good strategy for being ready to grow when things warm up, but not good for insulin resistant equines. Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon
Re: Feeding Fjords, again
This message is from: gillgables _ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Mr. Stockwell... I have recieved several E mails intended forthe Fjord folks by mistake. Don't know if it's their internet provider or what, but wanted you to know your E did not get to it's intended recipient. I would LOVE to own a Fjord but can't find any here in Oklahoma . Being from WA state originally and Norwegian to boot, on both sides! I've always dreamed of owning a Fjord or two. I periodically check the Fjord sites which may explain how my E has gotten into the system. Who knows. Respectfully, Susan Gill [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Feeding Fjords, again
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] OK, I don't recall seeing anyone post this question... Has anyone on the list fed out bluegrass straw? I'm wondering where to get it, and if I can feed it just like hay? I'm looking for a really low-cal hay substitute to fill my mare up. On a similar note, I ran across some early clinical trial results that suggest that horses that are insulin resistant may be lacking in magnesium. I started Jane on a supplement by MVP called 'X-Carb', which is a hefty amount of chelated magnesium and a small amount of chromium, contained in a rice bran filler. Has anyone used magnesium for their tubbo ponies? It's too early to tell if it's working for my mare , I just know that she thinks it's *not* yummy at all. Eileen and Jane, who's off all grass :(, in eastern WA
Re: Feeding Fjords, again
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Eileen, We have fed it all this last winter with a little alfalfa thrown in. We have now stopped the alfalfa but still feed the bluegrass straw. Our horses love it! What we have is really soft, small stemmed hay. The horses held their condition great all winter. The only bad thing about it is that it is in 1000 lb bales! We have tractors and have devised a way to feed it but it would really be a problem if we didn't! For the cows we just drop a bale off in the pasture as they won't overeat on it. Barb Lynch -- Original message from [EMAIL PROTECTED]: -- This message is from: OK, I don't recall seeing anyone post this question... Has anyone on the list fed out bluegrass straw? I'm wondering where to get it, and if I can feed it just like hay? I'm looking for a really low-cal hay substitute to fill my mare up. On a similar note, I ran across some early clinical trial results that suggest that horses that are insulin resistant may be lacking in magnesium. I started Jane on a supplement by MVP called 'X-Carb', which is a hefty amount of chelated magnesium and a small amount of chromium, contained in a rice bran filler. Has anyone used magnesium for their tubbo ponies? It's too early to tell if it's working for my mare , I just know that she thinks it's *not* yummy at all. Eileen and Jane, who's off all grass :(, in eastern WA
Re: feeding fjords
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I feed my fjords three times a day - 7 am, 1 pm, 7pm . little Hasse has hay most of the day - All get grain twice a day. Big boy Sven gets barely a cup of grain but he is a happy camper. I switched to all grass hay - no alfalfa - for Sven - I can feed him more and he keeps his weight pretty steady. I give Lena and Hasse alfalfa in the evening along with grass hay. I may try grass large bales up north - it is restricting to try to be home for the lunch feeding - or, a muzzle for Sven - he has adjusted well to the muzzle for pasture grazing in the summer. Linda in MN Oh my - the mud season has arrived. YUK!!
feeding Fjords and pumpkins
This message is from: Sue Harrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] Will do! Thanks for the info, it's very helpful. I will tell our boarding managers to feed 1/3 alfalfa and 2/3 (good quality!) oat hay. No, no, no,not oat haythat, in this neck of the woods, is just plain old straw...suitable only for bedding and is never fed. A mixture of grass hay (pasture grassestimothy etc) is what you want. We also feed Storm and our other two horses a 12% protein sweet feed plus 1/2 cup of Blue Seal Sunshine plus twice daily. Each gets about 4 cups of sweet feed with the sunshine plus and two flakes of hay twice dailyalso a flake of hay apiece at noon. So far Storm is in good shapenot too fat or thin...but if and when he starts putting on too much weight, the grain will be decreased. Our vets all recommend some grain, regardless of breed. We finally bought a light driving harness. I got it brand new at a horse and tack sale a week ago. It is cob size and had to be taken up with lots of growing room, so it looks as if it will always fit. Storm is 13.2 hh and was two in April. I don't think he is going to be very tall. Even the cob size Bridle can be let out more. It is hunting season here so no more going in the woods. We do all our ground driving in the paddock. The day I got the harness, I brought it out to the barn and hubby says...ok put it on him. Me, who had never before harnessed a horse or even seen a driving harness put on, immediately set it on Storm and went to work. When I headed for the belt punch, hubby stepped in.he says what are you doing? I says oh I am trying to get this part here fastened around his girth. and it is too small... I need another hole.Randy says hold it right there ...that goes over the withersohhat that point I was ousted from my attempts and he harnessed the little guy, who just stood there non chalantly nibbling hay. Ok ok laugh if you wantI guess it was sort of funny. (: Maybe I will get it right next time well er maybe that one part. LOL Maybe I should stick to a saddle? By the way, one of my Atlantic Giant Pumpkins reached a weight of 191 pounds and won 3rd prize in a big pumpkin contest. I got a hooded bug jacket...and a silly court jesters type orange and black hat. The largest weighted 431 pounds.I sure have to try to get a heavier one next yearideas anyone? (I use only the best fertilizer. 1/3 Fjord poop and miracle gro. ) LOL Well gotta run, have a nice day everyone, Sue in N.B. (Desert Storm's mom)
Re: Feeding Fjords
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jan, my Holsteiner is an easy keeper like the fjords so rather than restrict her exercise and take her away from the others, I bought the muzzle that has hard strong wire but allows a blade of grass occasionally. At first she laid a great guilt trip on me as she tried and tried to eat and to wonder what I had done to her. But after several days she easily allowed me to put it on her and did beautifully. At least she could be with the others. Also, do not forget calcium for the young and mares. Watch that ratio. That is why I like alfalfa for all. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, June 25, 1999 1:02 AM I've tried restricting grass by keeping them in during the day; this makes 'em mad. I'm considering getting a grazing muzzle so that they can still be out with their buddies. Has anyone used these? What do you think?
Feeding Fjords
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, list. I've got a question about feeding fjords, particularly pregnant mares. I've been feeding other boodmares for years, but not these fuzzy little marshmallows - they gain weight on a bucket of water! All of my fjords have access to full-time pasture, and that seems to keep everyone more than well-fed. I do like to grain the youngsters and the lactating and pregnant mares, as they need more protein for their various jobs. BUT - a little grain goes a long way with these guys! In fact, four oats and a corn kernel seem to be overload! I know the youngsters and mares have increased protein needs to lay down good bone, or to grow a healthy baby - but how do you feed them without turning them into the Goodyear Blimp? I've tried restricting grass by keeping them in during the day; this makes 'em mad. I'm considering getting a grazing muzzle so that they can still be out with their buddies. Has anyone used these? What do you think? Any suggestions about adding Protein to their diet without adding pounds will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jan
Re: feeding fjords in the spring
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Julianne, I try to have my horses fairly trim before the grass starts coming. Also, if all else fails buy a muzzle. The muzzle allows the horse to move about and be with the others but they can only get a few blades. This may be bothersome for the owner of the stables to put on and they may accept leaving the horse in. Jean Gayle Aberdeen, Wa. -Original Message- From: Juliane Deubner [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, March 29, 1999 1:08 PM Subject: feeding fjords in the spring This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Juliane Deubner) I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I only discovered this forum a few weeks ago. So if you don't mind I would appreciate hearing about your strategies of feeding (or should I call it restricting access to fresh grass) your horses in the spring, when the pastures turn green and invite overweight horses and founder. My problem is that I am boarding my 3 mares, and it is difficult to explain to people, who are used to keeping thoroughbreds, that especially this type of horse should not be send out to pasture in May for 24 hours a day. I would appreciate any suggestions that could work in a boarding situation, that means resonable amount of work involved for the people who take care of our threesome. There are 2 big pastures (native grass) and a couple of paddocks, also could possibly use electric fencing. Thank you all Juliane Deubner, Saskatoon, Canada
Re: feeding fjords in the spring
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't know about everyone else, but I cut way down on grain during the summer. Baldur gets just enough to make sure he gets his Bioten supplement. The paddok he is in has very little grass, what grass does grow is quickly eaten. I try to make sure he gets mostly hay since my belief is that a primarily roughage diet is best for all horses. I don't think it's the grass so much that makes them founder as the fact that they are being fed primarily grain then they go out to the fresh grass and gorge themselves on it. Causing an overload of nutrients. We have a 25 yr old Morgan at the farm whose life was saved by giving him free roam of the farm to graze. He almost died in the fall of choke and lost all his weight while being unable to eat. He now looks like a 15 yr old. He grazes all day and gets plain pelleted grain, no supplements. My plan for Bladur is to give him just enough grain so he doesn't get upset when the other horses are fed (less than a cup) and make sure he gets enough hay and grass. We did this last year and it worked out great. I will be interested in what everyone else does and whether your horses are in work or just hanging out. Kate (who is so excited that it's finally warm in CT!)
feeding fjords in the spring
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Juliane Deubner) I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I only discovered this forum a few weeks ago. So if you don't mind I would appreciate hearing about your strategies of feeding (or should I call it restricting access to fresh grass) your horses in the spring, when the pastures turn green and invite overweight horses and founder. My problem is that I am boarding my 3 mares, and it is difficult to explain to people, who are used to keeping thoroughbreds, that especially this type of horse should not be send out to pasture in May for 24 hours a day. I would appreciate any suggestions that could work in a boarding situation, that means resonable amount of work involved for the people who take care of our threesome. There are 2 big pastures (native grass) and a couple of paddocks, also could possibly use electric fencing. Thank you all Juliane Deubner, Saskatoon, Canada
