Does anyone only feed their horses hay still?

M

Mitchyden

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 February 2009
Messages
445
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
I have 2 arabs and a DHP all of which are slightly overweight. They are still living out 24/7 unrugged and as they don't get supplements, I only give them hay twice a day. They only get hay because they are still in the summer field which doesn't have a lot of grass left and will be moving into the winter field with knee high grass in the next few 3-4 weeks.

Does anyone else not give their horses a feed because I feel guilty when all the other horses at the yard are getting them? Mind you the arabs do seem to actually prefer hay to their bucket feed, whereas the DHP eats anything and everything!
 
I only feed hay and grass. I think suppplement manufacturers do a good job of brainwashing us into thinking that our horses can't possibley have a balanced diet without supplementary feeding. However neither my horses field or his hay are a grass monoculture - both also have other plants such as thistles and nettles so that may help.
 
I haven't fed my horses anything other than hay or grass for over 10 years. They are all good doer types, in regular light to medium work and show every weekend over the summer. If your horses are still tubby now I would not be feeding them anything until they start to look like they need it. Feeding horses because you feel guilty is mad!
 
Yes, me.

I have a whole bunch of very easy keepers, they get hay, lots of it.

I feed the ones that need it, the young, the old and the cold, the sick and the thin, and the (pregnant/lactating) mares of course.
 
I have several that never get feed, they don't get hay either unless they really need it, the horses in work get fed as required but the others don't, they are in different fields so have no expectations of a feed arriving.
 
Nothing wrong with no hard feed if they are good doers, but if they are tubby, don't feed hay yet. Grass is still growing (slowly), mine don't usually see hay until December.
 
Thanks everyone I don't feel so bad now. I'm one of the only people on the yard that doesn't give a feed and hasn't got their horse rugged yet so I sometimes feel I'm in the wrong.

w1bbler - I have to give them hay because although the grass is still growing they are hungry and when they are hungry they start being complete a**eholes towards each other. As I've learnt in the past, this then leads to injury so they get hay to keep them happy. They are only slightly tubby and have actually dropped weight due to the lack of rugs and the recent weather so it doesn't bother me too much. They will go into spring nice and slim hopefully!
 
Mitchyden said:
Thanks everyone I don't feel so bad now. I'm one of the only people on the yard that doesn't give a feed and hasn't got their horse rugged yet so I sometimes feel I'm in the wrong.
Click to expand...

But all horses are different, both in terms of breed and amount of work. Just ignore what everyone else is doing and feed yours according to what they need. Mine aren't currently doing anything except light hacking so they are getting nothing and are unrugged; this time last year they were being ridden 4-5 times a week therefore got a token feed when brought in and were clipped and rugged. They are currently fatter now than they were last year.
 
I do give token feed for balancer as I know our grazing is low in magnesium. They have a red Rockies lick too. Having just made the decision to put down my second Cushings horse, I darent risk otherwise.
 
I hard feed for health not condition. If they need more condition, then they are not getting enough bulk (grass/hay). I am very conscious that they graze the same paddock 24/7 and have done for most of their lives. The hay is grown on the same property.

So I hard feed for good quality protein and over all good health. Just because the feed comes in a bucket, doesn't mean you need to fill up a big one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top