Gingerwitch
Well-Known Member
Does anyone else think that horses eat less overnight than in the day? or is it just that the sugars are lower at night so the grass is "less fattening" at night?
Fat horses and overnight turn out?
- Thread starter Gingerwitch
- Start date
ElleSkywalkingintheair
As excited as Kitty about to be a bridesmaid
Bit of both, horses tend to eat less at night when turned out 24/7 but not sure how this translates when the horse is only turned out at night, also the sugar levels in grass are lower overnight, beginning to rise about 10 in the morning so keeping horses in in the day means the grass they eat is less sugary.
I can't remember which papers I learnt these from, but if you go on Science Direct, and search for sugar levels in grass and equine grazing habits/equine time budgets or similar the abstracts will appear
I turn my fatties out overnight, also helps by keeping them in and away from flies in the day/early evening which they appreciate even if not the reduced grassing time
I can't remember which papers I learnt these from, but if you go on Science Direct, and search for sugar levels in grass and equine grazing habits/equine time budgets or similar the abstracts will appear
I turn my fatties out overnight, also helps by keeping them in and away from flies in the day/early evening which they appreciate even if not the reduced grassing time
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Horses usually eat for about 16 hours out of every 24. If grazing time is restricted they will try to make up for it by eating solidly instead of intermittently.
My overweight horse who was clipped out by her previous owners is now out 24/7 without rug, on the bare winter field with haylage and barley straw, in an attempt to encourage weight loss.
My overweight horse who was clipped out by her previous owners is now out 24/7 without rug, on the bare winter field with haylage and barley straw, in an attempt to encourage weight loss.