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Discussion on HOT! Feed when cooler or...
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 24, 2006 - 9:10 pm:
What would be the best thing...
If it's 105 degrees, the horses have stalls and fans, I usually feed at 6 pm...pretty much the hottest part of the day, is giving them a snack and then giving the real meal at 8 pm ok?
I'm thinking instead of sweating in their stalls, to wait until the sun goes down to let them dig in...two of the stalls have the sun straight into them as the sun goes down and it boils in there, even with the fans.
So, stay on schedule (which I feel is very important) or to keep them from getting overly hot, wait until later to feed?
If it were just my horses, I probably would just wait, but I have boarded horses too and I don't want to make a mistake with them.
Also, I know this has been discussed before, but should I add a bit of salt to the grain? Everyone seems to be drinking fine, but for some reason I would think they would be drinking more...
The heat wave will last until the middle of next week. Thanks for any input!
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 24, 2006 - 11:59 pm:
Are you saying you have to put them in the stalls to feed them ?
I have never had a horse adversely affected by waiting an extra 2 hours for their meal. Especially when they are turned out and not locked in a stall. When they are locked in a stall they seem more focused on meal time, I think cause it is the only thing for them to be interested in. The biggest thing with this kind of weather(I live in the area too) is having the water get too hot to drink. Many people have above ground hoses and pipes leading to their waters, the sun heats up the water in these and by the time it gets to the horses it is almost too hot to drink.
I never add salt to their diet but of course I keep a salt block right next to the water.
Just be lucky your are not dealing with a horse with a fever like I am ! Poor thing is miserable.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 12:31 am:
Thanks Shelley 
So sorry to hear about your horse... Sending thoughts that your horse gets better quickly!
They do all have salt blocks (one horse doesn't use hers tho and she's 25), that's a good point about the water heating up...I do not automatic water, and I only dump and clean every three days and top off the other days if needed, it'll be daily until this wave ends.
Three of the horses have access to turnouts at any one time, but when it's feeding time they all come in.
They all have 16' runs attached to their stalls, so the two that are in can go out of their stalls if they want. Not that that would help a whole lot.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 8:30 am:
Waiting is fine and salt addition to the feed unnecessary and in fact increases their need for more water to urinate the extra salts out, not increase their hydration status.
DrO
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 4:59 pm:
Thanks Dr. O!
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