forage amounts - probably a silly question

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PeggyPatch

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Hi,

I'm trying to figure out feeding rates of hay for my ponies at night when they come in through the winter. I've usually just stuffed haynet but I'm being conscious of weight and correct feeding, so thought I'd try to figure out what they need. Looking at feeding ratios it usually says for a 500kg horse they will need XX% forage of their body weight. However, if they are out at grass during the day for say 12 hours and in for 12 hours. How do you figure out what forage they should need if you don't know how much they are eating grass wise....am I over thinking this?

Both of mine get a small feed which is Thunderbrook chop, a cup of fast fibre (so they eat their mins), linseed, salt and chastree. I'm going to swap out fast fibre for base mix when the fibre runs out and hope they eat it. I'm looking to improve feet of one so sorting the diet is important.
 
Your horse should still have hay left when you go down in the morning. If he doesn't, you need to up his ration. They should have constant access unless you have a medical issue to account for.
 
In winter I tend to ignore grass intake unless they are turned out on somewhere with long grass. Its mainly water and not a lot else once the temperatures start to drop.
 
SEL said:
In winter I tend to ignore grass intake unless they are turned out on somewhere with long grass. Its mainly water and not a lot else once the temperatures start to drop.
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Thanks SEL so I'll just stick with the bodweight % ration suggested...makes life easier.
 
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