For those who's horses live out

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Kate_13

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Do you feed your horse hard feed throughout the summer months??

My boy is going to live out as of Friday and wondered if I should still feed him.

Would 24 hour grass be enough?
 
Each one is different. Mine is out 24/7 and eventing happily on no feed (gets some pony nuts with electrolytes after an event but that's it).

If he has enough energy and looks healthy then he probably doesn't need feed, but just because mine is fine, doesn't mean anyone elses will be (if that makes sense).
 
Mine are fine with just grass but my competition horse might get a bit of mix if he's worked/is going to be worked hard - I try to feed him a couple of hours before work so he'll have the extra energy rather than feed him after to replace any lost energy - obviously this can't always happen!
 
Mine just gets 2 small handfuls of hi fi lite to put his supplement in and a few carrots...he has this all year round just for the supplements as his diet is grass and hay only. He has plenty of energy and takes me round 15 mile pleasure rides most weeks in the summer.
 
mine is living out 24/7 and getting no hard feed at all.
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Mine doesn't get hard feed at all, winter or summer. He was on a few h&p cubes but not any more. The joys of having a fatty
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I feed Bailey's Lo Cal Balancer to my 16.3 I.D. who lives out with no extra feed - I feel this ensures he gets all the vitimins and minerals etc he needs to keep him well. His coats is shiny, he has loads of energy and as he is unshod, his feet are strong too.
 
Mine are normally out 24/7 although they are still in at night this year cos of Alisha's injury. I usually give them some hard feed cos both normally compete alot over the summer
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Out 24/7 and last year she just had the grass but this year I am token feeding in the evening, just 1/2 a scoop of chaff so she can have her supplements
 
All mine live out, the lactating mare is the only one that gets fed.

The others have a handful of oats (and I mean a handful) in the evening when they come into their paddock for the night. Purely because I was having a heck of a time getting them in from the woods, now, at 8.30pm they are standing over their bowls waiting for their morsels! Would you be keen to leave this for an ordinary paddock?
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Actually, it's all a bit of an illusion, that is a set aside field in the middle of a wood lot, mainly weeds but still enough grass to keep them happy and on the verge of too fat!
 
My boy is on nothing he gets a hanful of chaff after working hard and thats it. My old girls are fed all year round they don't have much grass and I need to get the joint supplement in there.
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Mine are still getting hard feed as if its winter because we have very little grass, contemplating sending one of them away for a few weeks to get some weight ON.
 
My ridden horse gets fed a very small feed just to get vits and mins down him. (I am sure he is fine without, but, it makes me feel better).

My Youngster gets fed as she is growing.

The oldy gets fed for vits and mins also.
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Mine all live out 24/7 all year round. I stopped feeding them about 3 weeks ago and no they will not get any throughout the summer otherwise they will turn into huge elephants! I always make sure they have lots of mineral blocks though and I always have hay available to them should they wish it.....but no hard feed at all.
 
It depends on the horse and what they do.

I personally feed mine all year round. Mainly because they either are competing or are old (or need condition).

I tend to limit their grass (ie. not massive paddocks) though far more than what others seem to offer their horses. So I feel mine need more vits & mins which they dont get from limited grass.
 
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