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Discussion on Feeding Yearling Mustangs
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Monday, Nov 22, 2004 - 5:43 pm:
Hi All. I just adopted my second mustang this weekend and would like some feeding advice. She is a long yearling - about 16 months - and at the adoption facility in Burns, OR she was eating straight alfalfa as that is the cheapest hay in the part of the country. I feed good quality eastern WA grass hay and she's eating it just fine. However, I would like to introduce her to concentrates and want to know what brand is best so she can achieve her greatest potential for growth. I read the article on feeding young horses but don't know if this applies to mustangs as well as domestics.
She currently has free access to a salt/mineral block, water, and is eating about 8-10 lbs of hay a day. She weighs about 600 - 700 lbs. (guessing here)and is about 13 hands.
Any advice you can give me on feeding requirements for my little wild one would be appreciated.
I'll post pix soon. She's real cute. Thanks!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004 - 8:29 am:
Yes you could use the article for quidelines on feeding your mustangs. You will probably find mustangs a bit more efficient than some breeds of horses so be prepared to DrOp the calories if the condition starts getting to fat.
DrO
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004 - 2:51 pm:
Thanks Doc. I just purchased some Omolene 200 with a 14% guaranteed protein and am introducing her to it slowly - just pouring a handful on her hay and letting her get used to the taste that way. Oh yes, mustangs are definitely more efficient. My four year old gets two flakes a day and he's still pretty pudgy.
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 27, 2004 - 12:24 pm:
Hello again. Next problem. I've been feeding Belle - yearling mustang - the omolene for about a week now and she really has not developed a taste for it. I would have assumed that after trying it the first one or two times she would have realized how yummy it is and inhaled it. If I pour it straight into a feed pan, she ignores it. The only way to get it into her is to continue sprinkling it on her hay but a lot gets lost when it sifts to the bottom.
Any suggestions about getting her to more readily eat her grain or am I rushing things? I never had to deal with this issue before and I am flummoxed!
Thanks!
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Member:
Ryle
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 27, 2004 - 1:14 pm:
I've seen this sort of problem with young horses who's dams weren't fed grain, pellets, etc. The young horse learns what is good to eat by watching mom, so if mom wasn't fed these things, they really don't know what they are of if they are safe to eat.
If she is pastured with no other horses around, then you may have to continue sprinkling it on her hay for some time until she figures out that it tastes good and is ok to eat. You might also try adding a bit of molasses to it so that it sticks to the hay a bit better so that you aren't loosing as much. But either way, it is probably going to be slow.
The quickest way for her to learn to eat something like that would be to have her pastured with a buddy and feed them both at the same time because she would learn from that buddy like she would have if mom had been fed grain.
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New Member:
lunawags
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - 7:55 am:
I have just been gifted a mustang mare as a companion for my 23 year old. She is from the Burns, Oregon region and we think she is about 8 years old. I feed good quality central Oregon grass hay with a protein count between 12 & 15%. She loves the hay and has access to mineral salt block and plenty of fresh water. I'd like to spend time bonding with her. She won't let me touch her yet however she will take grain while I hold the bucket. I've been giving her 1/4 lb of LMF Super Supplement along with cut up carrots and she get about 25lb of hay per day. My concern is that I may be over doing her feed in my desire to spend time with her. Thoughts?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 1:53 am:
Welcome lunawags,
This seems more a training issue than a nutritional one. I suggest you use oats if your concerned there may be too much feeding going on. You might be interested in the topic Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Care and Training the Wild Horse. We would love to follow your training with your Mustang, if you like start a New Discussion in the Wild Horse topic and give us regular updates of your progress.
DrO
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Member:
sodmonst
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 5:51 am:
I read the post, but neglected to read the dates. My apology for wasting space here.
Lunawags, I would like to follow the new mustang progress too, and hope the thread shows up soon.
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 7:11 am:
Envy to both of you! Love working with mustangs you are in for a wonderful experience.We got ours out of Burns 8 yrs ago he is now 11 . Put applesauce in the supplements or molasses drizzled on top should work fine! When we got Whiskey he spit out the carrots until we grated them. Now he starts talking the minute he sees you coming "carrots carrots for me please?" 
He also puts on weight for the winter and looks like a small draft horse but has a secret diet that allows him to lose it all during spring. Pictures would be wonderful. Enjoy!!
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