Do you adjust feed amounts in winter and summer?

[GrassChop]

I just had a thought as I've always changed how much hard feed I give in winter and summer. Does anyone else do this? I.e. more hard feed in winter and cut it down in summer. They get hay as well that they wouldn't necessarily have in the summer when there is good grass. Or do you keep the hard feed the same amount all year round?

 

[Jenko109]

Absolutely.

Summer they might get a token handful of something like Hifi Mollasses free. Only if I can be bothered. Not daily.

In winter they get a decent bucket feed with chaff and sugar beet. Maybe even some nuts. Sometimes twice a day if the weather is particularly bad.

 

[Korg]

In the winter, I feed based on the analysis and how the horse looks. In the summer, assuming they're grazing, I feed more based on how they look and general knowledge on how the grass is here (eg the selenium is almost always very low). So yes, it changes, but I don't really have any standard numbers. My horses don't tend to need added energy, it's mostly protein and minerals that needs to be added.

 

[rhino]

No, mine get balancer, chaff and a small amount of meadow cobs year round. Obviously forage changes massively but not ‘hard’ feed

 

[spotty_pony2]

yes definitely - I also do it depending on how much grass there is in the winter as mine are good doers. They’ve been on a bit more grass this week and have been back to one feed and a small one at that - just enough to have supplements.

In the summer they get a token feed too. It’s actually my mare who is on the most feed currently - was originally obese and on the verge of laminitis but regular work and fitness has made her drop a few girth sizes and she is now on adlib hay (not even soaked any more and currently two feeds per day!) Just goes to show what good exercise and fitness can do for a horse.

 

[little_critter]

I tend to vary whenever I feel I need to.
They are on speedibeet / grass nuts and supplements so it’s very easy to give a bit more / bit less as I see fit.
I did initially increase their feed this winter but as they are still looking well, I’ve cut it back again.

 

[SEL]

With the one who drops weight in winter - he gets more plus conditioning stuff

I live in hope the mares will drop weight

 

[Ahrena]

No as mine are only on chaff and balancer. Obviously hay in winter which they don’t get daily in summer as live out then.

I’ve occasionally added some mash to my boys in winter if they drop weight but they’re all fairly good doers and the boys aren’t in work yet so haven’t needed more.

 

[fidleyspromise]

No, mine get the same balancer, mash etc but if one drops they get more then.

 

[Fransurrey]

Not massively. I adjust the grazing and if it's a cold winter I do switch to Pure Condition from the Easy, but that hasn't been necessary, this year.

 

[Carrottom]

Yes, particularly the oldie (25 yo tb). Increase to 2 feeds a day, basically doubling the amount. I also increase his pony nuts by about 20% when trios drop below freezing.

 

[KikiDee]

I do with the oldie, he does well on summer grass but needs a lot of feed to hold weight in winter so I start to slowly increase in autumn building up to a full scoop dry weight each of FibreBeet & Grass Nuts and 1 1/2 scoops of Cushcare daily. In summer he gets a much smaller token feed with balancer. He gets ad-lib hay also but he’s not a greedy horse so doesn’t eat enough to hold his weight.

My younger ridden one gets the same cup of balancer and handful of fibre nuggets twice a day all year round as he’s a good doer and doesn’t need anything else.