Feeding a horse living out all winter, anyone experienced?

[fredflop]

Probably a stupid title really. But wondering what people tend to feed their horses that are out all winter.

Mine is currently stabled, and has ad lib hay, then just a powder balancer in a handful of chaff, as he doesn’t need anything more. In very light work.

Will be going out 24/7 soon (aware not right time Of year but don’t have any choice). Will have ad lib hay and as many rugs as needed.

Any suggestions for hard feed as I would have thought more will be needed than he’s getting atm

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would just carry on as you are now but monitor his weight & condition carefully. If he is rugged you may well find that he thrives on the new regime, without any extra feed, because he is very relaxed being able to move around at will.

 

[DD]

I've kept horses out all year round now for many years. mine get ad lib hay and a close eye kept on their condition. if they start to drop weight and don't need too (TBH mine are too fat at present so I will be happy when it starts to come off in a few weeks
) then they will get a bucket feed once or twice a day. occasionally a horse will need 3 feeds a day but in my experience this is rare. there is a whole plethora of feeds nowadays. and everyone will have their own favourites. keep it simple. condition cubes fed AT THE RECOMMENDED LEVELS ON THE BAG! work very well indeed are easy to feed and can be dampened with hot water to make a warm mash. if the horse really needs extra calories on top then a mug ful of micronized linseed works wonders. also consider rugging. my native x tb d oesnt need a rug he has a decent coat and has good shelter from hedges and a field shelter where his hay is placed.I have kept clipped arabs out in the past 24/7 with suitable rugs.i find the horses are much healthier by being out rather than in
if your horse holds condition on hay then he may not need any extra feeding at all.

 

[Antw23uk]

Probably a stupid title really. But wondering what people tend to feed their horses that are out all winter.

Mine is currently stabled, and has ad lib hay, then just a powder balancer in a handful of chaff, as he doesn’t need anything more. In very light work.

Will be going out 24/7 soon (aware not right time Of year but don’t have any choice). Will have ad lib hay and as many rugs as needed.

Any suggestions for hard feed as I would have thought more will be needed than he’s getting atm

You almost sound like 24/7 turnout is a bad thing .. trust me IT'S NOT. Your horse will thank you for it.

 

[windand rain]

He should actually need less food living out as he will be warmer moving around than stood in the stable but as others have said keep an eye on his weight and add micronised linseed or copra meal to his chaff if he drops weight.

 

[TheMule]

Mine get soaked grass and alfafa nuts when they start to run out of grass. They do very well on it and it's very economical

 

[fredflop]

You almost sound like 24/7 turnout is a bad thing .. trust me IT'S NOT. Your horse will thank you for it.

No I’ve had plenty of horses out 24/7 before, I’ve never actually fed one though (full livery). Only slight concern is that horse is used to being warm in a stable, and it’s not ideal that he’s then going out in the middle of winter. Plus he a toad to catch so coming in at night helps with that!

 

[meleeka]

No I’ve had plenty of horses out 24/7 before, I’ve never actually fed one though (full livery). Only slight concern is that horse is used to being warm in a stable, and it’s not ideal that he’s then going out in the middle of winter. Plus he a toad to catch so coming in at night helps with that!

Have toy ever sat in a stable in the middle of winter for any length of time? It’s not warmer! In fact it can be colder because you aren’t moving. I sat with my pony for an hour one evening last week and I was freezing. Stables are great for sheltering against wind and rain but if yours is well rugged with shelter it won’t be any worse off I’m sure. Mine have access to stables. They go in to lie down each day but they will often choose a sheltered spot in the field instead if it’s windy.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Mine live out 24/7. They get hay and a feed of unmolassed chaff. One mare who needs extra gets scoop of grass nuts and micronised linseed. Those who are clipped are rugged accordingly.

 

[Farma]

I have 2 that live out and don't get anything but hay put in if needed, they are both wb's, they adjust and unless there was a condition problem (which I would be wondering if something else was going on) I wouldn't give any extra feed especially if in very light work or no work.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

No I’ve had plenty of horses out 24/7 before, I’ve never actually fed one though (full livery). Only slight concern is that horse is used to being warm in a stable, and it’s not ideal that he’s then going out in the middle of winter. Plus he a toad to catch so coming in at night helps with that!

In that case cut the balancer into a 1/2 dose and add a small amount (1/4 to 1/2 scoop) of low energy nuts. If the feed hasn't got nuts or mix in it then they're generally not interested in coming in for it IME. There's no point making life hard on yourself with a horse that won't be caught.

If he turns out not to hold his weight well when living out through winter then increase the nuts or change to conditioning nuts. For a poor do-er alfalfa chaff or sugar beet have more calories than ordinary chaff.

 

[SEL]

First year my 2 have been in. Last year even on 10 acres one dropped more than I wanted (the other put weight on). They both came in for breakfast of a scoop of kwik beet and chaff, with the one who dropped also getting linseed.

I should say that as soon as the grass picked up the weight came back on quickly.

 

[JillA]

I have kept horses out for many years, when I was working visiting once a day was the only option, sad to see that stabling is now the norm, mainly thanks to livery yards with too little land.
I was once told of a figure of 10% energy/food saved if horse wears a decent rug. IME it is wet and windy weather that drags them down rather than cold and frosty, and a rug will keep that off them. Good fodder and plenty of it is the best thing, lots of fibre in the gut generates internal heat, plus shelter from wind and rain, even a thick hedge is better than wide open spaces. Bucket feeds are only the icing on the cake, the "cake" is mainly made of fodder, and if that is good quality the icing doesn't need to be perfect.

 

[DD]

excellent post JillA

 

[ozpoz]

Ad lib good hay and shelter. Be prepared to provide more hay if there is a real drop in temperature. In my experience, they consumed twice as much when the temperature dipped below -10. And you need a system to make sure water is always available in low temperatures. Mine always enjoyed coming in daily for a comfortable flat out snooze!

 

[JJS]

Mine don't eat any extra living out than they did living in - they might actually have a little less now - so don't worry too much. Just feed by eye as you normally would and see how he goes.

 

[irishdraft]

My hunter living out & clipped has nuts & beet am & pm plus hay my retired mare & a pony I have have a bit of hay no hard feed I just up the hay if the grass gets short weather turns bad. No rugs unless prolonged rain .