round bale dilemma!

[anyalouise]

Hi my two horses one 16hh and one 14.2 ( history of ulcers) live out all winter with round bales and have a trickle net which is fab. However, the weather was getting mild and they are carrying a bit too much weight but only in that they both have hay bellies. Thought time to go back to feeding hay twice a day and what happens bang! winter is here!!! so have I made a mistake? They were hungry Sunday but bought in as weather so bad. The 16 hh is about to event end of March and pony is semi retired. It so difficult as weather looks to be colder but equally spring is coming??!! Both are fed very little hard food and eventer is in work now 6 days a week. I hate horses to be hungry but perhaps I have jumped the gun! Any ideas?

 

[be positive]

They can drop off very quickly at this time of year so I would go back to ad lib if they are hungry on restricted, mine are still only getting a limited amount twice a day and have been slightly more keen to come for it the last couple of evenings, they are not hoovering it all up and look well so I am happy they are getting enough grass to sustain them with the hay being a top up rather than their main diet.
Yours that is in full work should be fine on ad lib and as you increase the workload getting him fitter the hay belly should go, I would not want him dropping due to lack of forage at this time of year, in summer it is easier to be tougher on them.