Snowbound and off his feed. should I be worried

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MyBoyChe

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All our horses were in yesterday and again today although I am popping him out for an hour morning and evening. He seems OKish but is not really eating his hay as I would expect and this morning left his bucket feed (which is only fast fibre & Hifi). This is not like Che, he usually eats up straight away. He's not particularly stressed about being in, as long as they are all in he settles. He is well rugged and is not cold or too hot! Is it likely that he just isn't hungry cos after all he's doing absolutely nothing, he doesn;t appear colicky, but I just cant think of a good reason for him not to eat. Anyone having similar issues, is this fairly normal or should I get the vet to come and have a poke about? This is the first time Ive had to keep him in since I bought him so new territory.
 
Mine's doing exactly the same - been in since Friday morning. She was fine for a few days, and is now being fussy. Fortunately I know from past experience that this is normal for her. I expect your boy is the same, but worth keeping an eye on him in case it becomes a problem
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My little cob is exactly the same, he has been in since Thursday and really likes being out for most of the day usually but since the snow he has had to stay in with his mates! He always tucks into his happy hoof feed and haynet but now just turns his nose up at and looks at me as if to say Mum I need grass!! Happy in himself, just bored with the weather.
 
Check he is not dehydrated by pinching a fold of skin on the neck - if it springs back into place straight away then he is fine, but if it goes back slowly he may be a little dehydrated. Often they stop drinking properly if the water is icy, and if they aren't drinking well they may not be as keen to eat. If dehydration is a problem then give water with the chill taken off and some soaked feeds as well.

Also, what are his droppings like? If they are hard and dry he may be starting an impaction, in which case you would be wise to ring the vet for advice.
 
Peter, I am chopping apples and carrots for him and hiding them in his hay and his bucket feed. He picks them all out and eats those first but is still turning his nose up at everything else. Polos are also acceptable. He also helped himself to the HIfi this morning from the feed bin in the tack room, pushed the lid off and stood there for a good 5 minutes with his head in the bin. It's just when I offer him a proper feed and hes in his box, it is almost as if he's sulking. It seems from what other people have said that maybe they do sulk a bit, lets just hope this ice starts to thaw a bit soon.
 
I think some get bored quicker than others. My poor horse has been on box rest 5 weeks, hes not really eating much hay, hes stuffing down carrots though, and I have to leave his feed in with him as hes taking hours to eat it and leaving some. Hes just bored. Only issue I have is how much weight hes loosing through it. but not allowed to turn him out
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[ QUOTE ]
Check he is not dehydrated by pinching a fold of skin on the neck - if it springs back into place straight away then he is fine, but if it goes back slowly he may be a little dehydrated. Often they stop drinking properly if the water is icy, and if they aren't drinking well they may not be as keen to eat. If dehydration is a problem then give water with the chill taken off and some soaked feeds as well.


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hmmmmmm this is interesting to read....
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will have to get my OH to check this with my youngster. He lives out 24/7 but has gone off his feed lately... I wonder if this is my answer??
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Funnily enough, the last two days the automatic troughs in the field aren't working, so the farmer has taken a water bowser down and topped the troughs up. Rox has eaten his feed these last 2 days, makes me wonder if the farmers water is warmer. Sammi my 16 year old is in the same field, and his appetite hasn't been affected at all!! xx
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My boy is still eating hard feed but is not really eating any more hay during the 20 hours he is in than he would usually eat on an average 12hour night in... I think it's quite normal and some of them just get bored of it!!
 
Funny several of you including TGM above mentioned it, be careful they are not getting dehydrated. Many horses, particularly older ones, back off drinking water in cold weather. Add some Horse Quencher (google it) to their water just in case, this new product gets them drinking immediately and is wonderful if a horse is prone to colic, or after colic, to keep them rehydrated. It's also useful to take to shows and travelling, also when horses often don't drink. i would be a bit worried if they weren't eating and drinking as normal.
 
Thanks for all the replies. He is drinking OK, about the same as normal overnight and a similar amount through the day so although I havent done the pinch test he should be OK. Actually tonight he had eaten about half of todays hay net, which was a huge one, about third of a bale and he had emptied his decahedron which my friend pops in about 4pm when she does hers, this had about a half scoop of nuts in it. When I left him he was nibbling his feed of warmed up fast fibre and hifi with apples. Whilst he was out for a wander whilst I mucked out he was digging the snow and trying to nibble grass so I think he must just be fed up with the dry stuff. Ill keep a close eye on him and hope we can get some decent turnout over Xmas!
 
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