Guide for keeping horse at home in winter

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bigchief

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Hello Everyone,

I am still searching for a suitable first horse (16.2hh middleweight). The winter is approaching fast! I am just posting to ask for advice from all the Horse and Hound veterans about winter feeding and it's cost. I understand this changes and tends to be a case-by-case or horse-by-horse situation, but if someone could list a general guide I would be grateful. I don't plan on doing too much work at first with the horse, just hack 4-5 times per week and some basic flat and jump work a couple of times per week to get to know the horse. After the winter I would be competing.

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
If you end up buying a good doer, you may find that he needs just mainly hay or haylage alone over the winter, especially if you are not working him hard.

A horse should have about 2% of its bodyweight in feed per day - a horse of the size you are looking will probably be at least 600kg. Assuming that in winter your horse is not getting much nutrition from grass, you would need to feed at least 12kg a day of hay - probably about half a bale. You could start by giving him a basic feed of chaff with either a balancer or a vit/min supplement, and weigh tape him every week to see if he is losing, gaining or maintaining weight, and adjust his feed accordingly.

Prices vary a lot throughout the country, especially for hay, so best bet is to visit your local feed merchant and check out what they charge.

However, if you buy a poor doer, you may have to spend a lot more money on supplementary feeding!
 
Our local feed shop do their own bagged cool mix which is made by a big manufacturer, just in plain bags. Might be worth asking about at local feed shops to find out if they do it.

How much land have you got for grazing?
 
Thanks Haffy, Yes I would be going to local farmers in ref Hay, it is the mix that i'm not sure on as the price varies due to price and mix etc purpose and additives....Thanks Minskikai for the tip off about the non branded mixes...I will keep that in mind when I inquire.

As for Grazing there is a 1 1/2 acres with a small dry paddock of 8m x 10m.

I understand this is not perfect but is managable?
 
Echo re buying hay/ haylage and straw straight from the farmer, definitely cheaper, also Nuts are cheaper than a mix!!
We buy British Horse Feeds H&P nuts at £6.70 per bag and my boys are looking a picture of health at the moment!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Echo re buying hay/ haylage and straw straight from the farmer, definitely cheaper, also Nuts are cheaper than a mix!!
We buy British Horse Feeds H&P nuts at £6.70 per bag and my boys are looking a picture of health at the moment!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks FoxFolly!

Can anyone even give a rough guide to their average cost permonth of feed during the winter....what they expect/budget for now that it's established that it varies on the type of food used and the horse. Just an estimate please would be greatly appreciated...
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Thanks!
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Sorry to post again or Bump as some people may describe such a post.

What roughly would your winter cost per month keepin out at home in fields during Jan-May for 16.2 middleweight WB. I understand bags of mix cost anything between 8-15 or more depending on brand and size. Hay is £3-5 per bale.... Haylage is £12-18 Balancer may be need.

I know all costs vary depending on area/horse/needs of horse/activities horse is being used for/weather etc...

The horse as stated at start of post would only be used for hacking and light work during the winter...

Any rough quote would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Everyone!
 
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