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Discussion on Winter feeding
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006 - 6:58 am:
Hi, Dr.O. as you know I have my horses on a weight loss program. Right now I am feeding them about 1% of their body weight in grass hay. They also get 3oz. of safechoice pellets with a good vit. & min. supplement. We have had very mild weather here for Jan., however they are calling for Feb. to be below normal and cold. Should I adjust their hay up in the colder temps.? if so how much? They are starting to look much better and I don't want to over feed. 2 of them still need to lose about 100#. 1 could lose about 50# more thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006 - 8:52 am:
Is there anything for the horses to graze on?
DrO
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006 - 9:10 am:
Right now they do have pasture with dead grass and of course the water crest. If it snows that will end tho. The grass hay I am giving them now was actually baled off the pasture before the cattle grazed. It is of decent quality and greenish. My husband says I could probaly feed as much as they want. I don't think so tho as they are very easy keepers. I HAVE to get this weight off before spring grass, but I don't want to starve them. The cold weather is my weak point here. Do they need more to keep warm? Especially the old mare I worry about. Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 2, 2006 - 7:18 am:
With the dead grass in the pasture they will not go hungry Diane. If it snows find a clean stemmy hay to feed and increase the amount to 2% bodyweight. If anyone starts to shiver at that amount offer freechoice.
DrO
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 12:51 pm:
Dr.O. I was wondering what exactly is cold to a horse with a good winter coat? (taking the wind & wet out of the equation.)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 6:17 pm:
With no wind or rain horses tolerate sub 0F very well. Check out Care for Horses » Particular Situations & Procedures » Wintertime: Caring for Horses in the Cold for more specific information.
DrO
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Member:
Tangoh
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Posted on Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - 1:48 pm:
Hi Diane,
I see you are from Illinois, so if my geography lessons don't fail me, your winters are darn near as cold as ours are up here in western Canada. Our horses tolerate even -40 with very no problems, they actually prefer it to the heat of summer. Their hay intake increases and we offer them free choice hay all winter to keep their furnaces going, but unless, like Dr. O says, wind and rain are factored in, they can tolerate very cold temps. Our horses don't even come in out of the wind and rain, but they will seek shelter in low spots and in the bushes that surround the sloughs in their pasture.
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - 3:53 pm:
Many years ago here in Upper MI, we had windchills in the minus 60 to 70 range. Only time I ever saw horses shiver from the cold, without the rain/snow being a factor... and at that only 2 shivered, and 2 did not. They only had a lean to shed for shelter, and we put old army blankets on the 2 coldest ones; tied with baling twine. It's the wind mixed with rain that gets them, or snow and wind too. As long as they have some winter grass under the snow, let them paw and work at getting some, burns some calories. Of course feed hay at minium amounts. Should keep the weight loss going...geez, maybe I should dig thru the snow for supper!!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Feb 6, 2006 - 4:17 pm:
Ummm..Angie,I have to say that's one weight loss method I haven't tried!
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006 - 8:37 am:
Sherri your geography is good. It does get brutal here. keeping the weight loss going and feeding is my problem. They have shelter and never seem cold. I just don't want to free choice them as they are total pigs. When it's windy or wet they stay in their lean-to. I have upped their hay a little. Their weigh in day is the 13th and if they are gaining I guess I'll DrOp it back. Sara alot of people manage their horses here like Angie describes, I just haven't gotten that tough yet.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006 - 10:20 am:
Diane, I was referring to Angie's comment about her digging through the snow for her supper!  AS long as the horses are well fed, have water, and shelter of some kind, I've no problem with their staying out all winter.
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Member:
maribeth
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Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2009 - 12:13 pm:
I'm new at having horses at my home. I have a large run in for both horses to go into. Michigan weather has been brutal this year and I started out feeding them their hay inside the run in. I have a corner feed bunk at each corner where I given them about 2.5 flakes each once in the a.m. and once in the p.m. They quickly pull the hay out to look for the alfalfa. They prefer to eat off the ground but I'm concerned with hay waste from urine and feces. We've had a thaw this week and wow, my run in and barn yard is a mucky mess. Interested in what others do to avoid the hay waste. thought about round bales and round bale feeder. But I have to get through these square bales first. I'm also concerned with their feed being exposed to their feces and urine.
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2009 - 5:01 pm:
hmmmm, I used the 65 gallon water troughs as feeders in my stalls and break/shake apart the hay. If I dont break it apart they will bite the flake and shake it apart on the ground.
I also feed round bales in the pasture but will wait for summer to tractor up the mess. Diane E has a thread on feeding with round bales with lots of great info on it
Leslie
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2009 - 5:59 pm:
Maribeth I have hay feeders in my lean to also, but I don't even use them. I throw their hat at the back of the lean to and if they poop and pee on it I gave them too much . Horse normally won't eat hay that's been used for their potty, unless they are starved.
As far as your mud I can't say enough about limestone, I have it in my lean-to...which I clean daily and for my paddock...which I clean as well as I can in the winter. I have NO problems with mud in that area what so ever . The paddock also has a bit of a slope to it to keep the water drained, and the roofs water runs to the back of it which helps a lot.
We just are going through a spring thaw and rain, the pasture is boot sucking mud and the lean-to/paddock is high and dry The 1st pic is from Sat. the pasture was flooded and as you can see the paddock/lean is basically dry. The 2nd pic is from last spring The horses were muddy and wet, but not the lean to. Oh and honestly feeding big bales makes a bigger mess!
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2009 - 8:47 pm:
I free choice feed a round bale during the day and when I lock them in the corral at night I always (not that they need it after eating all day)give out two flakes per horse and a bit for the mini.
I always figure if there is hay left in the morning I have fed too much or its really gross hay.
I feed it directly on the ground, not a scrap left in the morning.
When I lock the filly in her stall overnight she will usually wait to pee when I let her out.
The first thing she does is go stand directly over the hay and pee.
DrOve me crazy but apparently no harm comes of it other than my hair loss.
At the round bale feeder there is always a certain amount of feed that is pulled out on the ground, this is also where she pees.
It doesn't seem to bother any of the horses, but gee shouldn't her mom chase her off.....
Diane, spring? already? Nice.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2009 - 9:09 pm:
Just a fake spring, but I'll take it. Back to winter next week
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Member:
maribeth
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 - 7:59 am:
Thanks Diane and Lori. I think I'm feeding too much. Usually a bale a day for the two horses. That really seems about right, I think I'll start just throwing it on the ground in the run in and forget the feed bunks. Just go back to making sure the run in stays clean. Diane your horses are beautiful and their shelter is spotless. I'll look into the limestone in the spring. Thats a great idea.
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Member:
maribeth
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 - 12:50 pm:
Thank you also Leslie for your feedback I've thought of using water troughs. Good idea. This has been a winter for learning. Next I need to get something better than the wheel barrow I have, can't cut it through all the Michigan snow to the manure pile. Or maybe the manure pile needs to come closer!!! Today southwest Michigan it is 60 degrees. The first thaw I've seen since November. My husband has a nice John Deere tractor, I'll need to have him teach me how to operate.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 - 3:48 pm:
Maribeth, not that long ago, a member here on HA posted about using a plastic sled for hauling manure through deep snow to the manure pile. I'm here in MI, too, and suggested the idea to the barn owner where my horse lives...she loved the idea and has used it since (until the current meltdown)
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