Rugging and hay

Slightly different, but friends 28 year old mare who grows an immense coat, was barely touching her hay replacer overnight and friend was getting quite worried. She fully clipped her last week, as she does every winter, and popped a light stable rug on and pony’s appetite came back instantly. We think pony was just getting too hot and that eating was obviously causing more internal heat to be produced. We have barns that are always 2 degrees warmer than outside, and it’s not been that cold yet, so it seems she was just too uncomfortable and hot. Friend is relieved, as you can imagine.
 
scats said:
Slightly different, but friends 28 year old mare who grows an immense coat, was barely touching her hay replacer overnight and friend was getting quite worried. She fully clipped her last week, as she does every winter, and popped a light stable rug on and pony’s appetite came back instantly. We think pony was just getting too hot and that eating was obviously causing more internal heat to be produced. We have barns that are always 2 degrees warmer than outside, and it’s not been that cold yet, so it seems she was just too uncomfortable and hot. Friend is relieved, as you can imagine.
Click to expand...

I agree with this theory as well with some horses eating can over heat them so they just don't eat as much.

I would rather put a thinner rug on and feed ad lib hay.
 
My mare will not eat as much over night when warm. As she is on a diet she has a certain amount of haylage and access to straw, so far she hasn't touched the straw so isn't cold or hungry enough to want it. I always know if she is too hot by how much she eats, for me I under rug a bit so that she eats more as I would rather have something going through her stomach.
 
I wonder if there’s any connection to what seems like an ulcer epidemic in THIS country? When I was a child in the 70’s, ulcers and laminitis were unheard of, but management of horses was so far removed from what it is now, as in lack of turnout, not enough exercise, over rugging etc? Not rocket science is it really? Our winters are so much milder now that most horses even fully clipped could cope in no more than 200 gms . I’ve got one on my yard that is already wearing 400!???? not sure what the owner will do if we go sub zero ??
 
chocolategirl said:
I wonder if there’s any connection to what seems like an ulcer epidemic in THIS country? When I was a child in the 70’s, ulcers and laminitis were unheard of, but management of horses was so far removed from what it is now, as in lack of turnout, not enough exercise, over rugging etc? Not rocket science is it really? Our winters are so much milder now that most horses even fully clipped could cope in no more than 200 gms . I’ve got one on my yard that is already wearing 400!???? not sure what the owner will do if we go sub zero ??
Click to expand...

400 already :oops: yikes....far too early for a 400

I agree, never heard of ulcers when I was growing up
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top