Wintering my horses?

[MosMum]

]Hi all, can someone tell me if this sounds reasonable for my horse?

He's a rising 2 arab x cob gelding, and his field companion is a 2 yr old gypsy-type cob filly. I don't own the filly.

They are out in 10 acres, 24/7. Mo has a 130 waterproof rug as saleslady said it was better to be too cold than too hot. He's got it on constantly though I've taken it off on warm days to hose it down

Filly has no rug is this ok, she's very hairy?

Running water in the field, and also water trough topped up daily.

Mojo has 1.5 scoops of cool mix with linseed oil a day.

Filly (Sophie) has 1 scoop of same.

Between them, about 6 flakes of hay a day and of course grazing at will.

Is that enough food for now while there's grass, or is the grass of no use at all now?

Both horses have come in several times during especially bad weather forecasts for a night and day, tops.

I know if they lose condition to feed more etc, but does it sound like a reasonable plan? Should I plan on feeding more hard feed as winter progresses?

The QH's we had back home would have alfalfa pellets, 2 flakes of hay and a scoop of oats & molasses a day and were out 24/7 some with some without rugs.

Thanks.

This is them:

 

[misst]

I think it sounds fine... I have an oldie native x mare and a 2yo TB x QH out on less grazing - but well managed, with ad lib hay in a hay hutch, which is kept topped up. They have a scoop of hi fi light and just under the recommended amount of top spec comprehensive feed balancer twice a day. They have access to clean buckets of water at all times. They are rugged - the baby in a MW and the oldie in a LW. If they loose weight I will put neck covers on and/or increase their rug weights. They have lots of natural shelter but do not come in. If they need more feed I will add speedie beet or similar. This worked well last year. Hope I do not sound too cruel. The oldie is retired.

 

[AmyMay]

I'd be ensuring ad lib hay, actually. And would rather they had that instead of hard feed.

 

[MosMum]

I'd be ensuring ad lib hay, actually. And would rather they had that instead of hard feed.

Thanks for the reply, I was always told hard feed helps them maintain heat, while hay acts as fiber and keeps their gut moving, is that not right? I can give ad lib hay as well as hard feed, or are you suggesting only hay without hard feed?

 

[misst]

Mosmum I was under the impression that it was the digestion of fibre that kept them warm I am no expert though so someone else or Amymay will be able to give better advice. Mine are on a fibre diet with the balancer for vits and minerals as I believe this is better for their guts, their growth (I was advised not to feed the baby much hard feed at all) and it kept them warm. I would say they seem warm and happy and are actually a little on the well covered side, though as winter continues I know they will drop a little. I added speediebeet last year in the snowy weather.

 

[Jojo_Pea4]

I have 2year old Reg Connie, He gets 1/4 mix and 3/4 Hi-fi lite once a day and as moved to a new field atm gets hay at night but in winter will have ad lib hay. They only have trees as shelter and field shelter is being built in there field now. They have clean water. I do not rug as he has a very thick coat. He will not come in this winter.

 

[Lady La La]

I can't say about the rugged one, but the little cobby filly certainly doesnt look like she's fading away!
I'd also suggest ad lib hay, this will help keep them warm - It acts, almost like central heating, waming them up from the inside! I wouldn't worry about hard feed at all if it were me, unless you want to feed a supplement or one or the other starts to drop too much weight.

 

[Biscuit]

Regarding hard feed, I would consider changing the cool mix for a small amount of youngstock mix or balancer, to complement the hay.

As people have already suggested, if you can do ad lib hay that may be a good idea too. How many "flakes" they would need would depend on the weight and quality of the hay.