Hot Feeds And Mud Questions.

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Just a couple of questions that I would like opinions on please.

First, feed sugar beet and always make it with hot water and take it to pony still warm/hot. Is that good or bad, better or not.

Second, pony out 24/7, unrugged and gets groomed everyday (as long as dry). Is it better (re warmth) to leave the mud?
Is that why pony rolls in it?
Or does the coat keep the cold out better when hairs all separated/brushed so they can stand up and trap air more.

Thanks for any answers, it's just two things I have never been sure about as to whether they were for my benefit (hot feeds look/smell much nicer to me) or the pony's.

 

[SmartieBean09]

I was always told to never over groom a pony living out as you remove the oils from the coat.

 

[amage]

We do hot water on all the horses feeds in Winter/cold days! Doesn't seem to do any harm at all and we have noticed with the TBs that used to go off their feed after a race/hard piece of work grub up better with the hot water.

Re: the mud I tend to leave it and do a good curry and groom once a week or so with my broodmare. She is living in a night still and our fields are fairly dry so she doesn't get caked in mud.

 

[amandaco2]

Unless riding I'd leave mud on.
I use warm water in my horses feeds.
Only thing to watch would be hot water on 24hr soak feeds in summer...as can increase fermentation and colic risk

 

[scots]

Best feed warm sugar beet than cold/slightly frozen - one on our yard had colic last night vets
Thinks from snow / cold sugar beet - suggested adding warm water to feeds and water buckets too

 

[mandwhy]

You know I have often wondered whether the rolling in mud actually keeps them warmer, I think it does. I only flick mud off every few days or whenever it is dry, usually put a lw rug on overnight if riding the next day so I don't have to scrape off wet mud from saddle area which she hates, as do I! No point brushing away at semi wet mud, it removes the oils and I leave their legs until absolutely dry so as not to mess about with mud fever bacteria.

A warm feed certainly won't do any harm but I don't think it will make pony warmer or anythint like that

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

I was always told to never over groom a pony living out as you remove the oils from the coat.

Yes, I heard this years ago. But it was restricted to not using a body brush, a stiff dandy just removes the dried mud?

(Oh Gawd, just read that back and a "stiff dandy" sounds so dodgy)