Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ellin McGinley Daum on February 9, 2010 at 11:32am

I've noticed that my pasture kept horses are much fatter this winter than they were when the grass was at its best. Can only assume that I am feeding too much hay since they get no grain at all, but with the weather so severe and cold, I want them to be able to stay warm. We'll begin to limit the hay as the temps go up so that they will get back to their regular weight before the grass greens up.

Perhaps just a little less of a good thing would help. If your barn owner will agree, cut your mare's feed by one quarter and measure her weight with a weight tape after about 4 weeks. If she is losing a little then you can decide if you need to cut another one quarter so that she is receiving half the original ration. Keep an eye on your weight tape to see the results and adjust accordingly. My guess is that she is getting too much hay as well, but there doesn't seem to be a way to reduce that unless she can be kept in the barn a few more hours out of 24. Good luck! I hope you find the answer.

Permalink Reply by Linda White on February 9, 2010 at 11:47am

I've learned the hard way that horses don't need anything but hay. I think the feed companies have convinced us that horses need grain and supplements and pelleted foods, but in fact, if they have good quality hay, that's all they need. If the horse is older or has specific metabolic or medical problems, sure - give it what it needs. But given good hay, good water that's warm in winter, a salt lick, and access to shelter, horses will thrive. Too bad you can't limit the hay, but it just means you'll have to exercise her in the spring to get rid of the hay belly. Maybe the barn owners would consider slow feeders - 24/7 access that more resembles grazing than the gorging they can do on a round bale.

Permalink Reply by William C Wilson on February 9, 2010 at 2:19pm

You should start cutting her down on high fat. I had to mares (QH) when in the states, and used to buy low fat grain for them. They got a cup (real measurement) in the morning and night. Since I had premium hay available (bought directly from farmer behind my house) They together had 2 flakes in the morning and 2 at night.
They only got turned out an average of 4 hours a day in the winter in the Pasteur, and 1 hour in the summer. I mowed the grass with my mower, kept it short. As the grass was fiscue, very toxic during the growing season, that was all. They maintained their weight well, and not ridden that much, other than daily walks for an hour or 90 minutes – mainly my exercise.
But there are many types of feed, I used the lowest in fat content for them, and it worked out fine.

Permalink Reply by William C Wilson on February 9, 2010 at 2:21pm

I should make that one flake EACH, as they ate out of the same pile.- not two each.

Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on February 9, 2010 at 3:00pm

Hi, Cathy:

I would immediately cut out the high-fat grain. Your horse doesn't need it (the other older one may), and she likely doesn't need the "equalizer" supplement either, if the hay is of good quality. It sounds like the hay is probably better than what she had before, and the 24/7 is no doubt contributing to her weight gain as well. However, she is better fed 24/7 than left for lengthy periods with no feed, so if cutting out the grain and supplement doesn't help enough, and her hay intake does not slow down as she regularizes in the new setting (it often will) try putting her in a grazing muzzle for the day (take it off at night). I have managed several ponies this way - they have access to hay 24/7 and were very happy about it, but the muzzle slowed their eating down so much that their weight issues became non-issues. Horses can and will learn to eat hay through the muzzle, and it usually deals with the problem humanely and yet reasonably for the managers.

Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on February 9, 2010 at 9:38pm

If your horse is not showing or competing in anyway I would suggest not to feed her grain at all, especially if the hay is of high quality, no dust, lots of leaf, good mix of timothy and alfalfa. Also, certain types of morgans are very easy keepers, especially the western working lines. Also, certain lines of Quarter horses like the foundation lines non racing. A QH/Morgan is a very easy keeper usually, I would also suggest checking out her blood lines to find out if she has a predisposition to "pugginess" :) I have 6 morgans and they live outside year long, only barned if they are ill or showing. There main shelter are the spruce and pine trees in their 20 acre paddock. They get high quality alfalfa, timothy mix, free choice water and an Equest block. They are fat and sassy so to speak, what I mean is no ribs, back bone or hips showing, all is nicely covered 3 are predisposed to double crouping because of their genetics. The only one who is lean to skinny is our 25 year old who is struggling with senior issues when he was younger was the fattest guy, had many bouts of founder with him and he is still with us. I also believe that giving him grain and leaving him on grass to long or too sudden caused the founder, he has been on a tight leash now for over 10 years which has done wonders for him. Now in his old age I give him extra grain with Recovery to help him out, but only when working.

Permalink Reply by Brenda Pantling on February 10, 2010 at 8:49am

Cut out the High Fat/High Fibre. It is like feeding donuts to someone on a diet. If she is getting hay and Equilizer, that is all she needs. Hay will not provide all the trace minerals and such that she needs, at least not in Ontario, but the Equilizer will top things up and keep it covered.

Permalink Reply by Cathy Gourlay on February 11, 2010 at 1:14pm

Thanks again everyone for all of your quick responses and good advice; it's so nice to be able to ask a question and have so many knowledgeable people reply; anyway, here's what I'm doing with SweetHeart; she continues to have access to hay all day, when she is turned out; she is now receiving only Equilizer morning and evening (no more hi fat and fibre); I've requested that she receive 1 flake of hay in her stall, instead of 2 during the night; she wasn't always finishing it all, anyway; I'll watch for 3 or 4 weeks and keep track of what happens with her weight.

I'll keep you posted!

Thanks,

Cathy G.

Permalink Reply by Cathy Gourlay on March 1, 2010 at 8:05pm

Here is a quick update my re. my new feeding schedule for my mare, SweetHeart; I did stop the hi fat and fibre that she was getting; she now only gets her hay and a supplement; the thing I've noticed the most has nothing to do with her weight, but more to do with her attitude; she is much calmer than she was only a couple of weeks ago, and she seems much less restless; she is more like she was before I moved to this new barn; she will again stand nicely for her grooming and not become agitated when, for some reason, I need to go into her stall; is it possible that she was becoming "hot" from being overfed? Anyway, I'm happy to have my calmer girl back.

Cathy

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on March 2, 2010 at 9:02am

Oh yes, a horse can become "hot" from their feed. I had an Arab stud colt turn from a sweet responsive and gentle guy into a sweet raving rearing maniac in two days from a "super feed". He quickly returned to normal on resumption of his old low protein (9-10%) feed.

Permalink Reply by ame on March 3, 2010 at 1:28am

so glad you cut the extra feed. the barn i am at has 15 horses and they are all on hay - a high quality hay but only hay. we have show horses, reiners, trail horses and school horses. not only are they all thriving on hay (except for one 24 year old working horse who needs senior feed), after 12 months on just good hay, half the school horses are going barefoot! now i only need to slow down my guy who figures he should skip sleep and just eat 24/7 out in his field.

Permalink Reply by Tracy McDermott on March 22, 2010 at 7:58pm

Cathy: It sounds like your horse is very happy at this new barn. Even with the same feed a happy horse will gain weight and an unhappy one will not. Maybe the neighbors are more friendly. Free feeding hay should not increase her weight unless the hay is richer. You might need to increase her exercise time, not work harder just longer. Try stopping supplements your giving, it sounds like your very careful and that's good. If she gets ouchy on her feet, any fat deposits on her butt or cresty neck, if she keeps increasing in size have her checked for INSULIN RESISTANCE. My horse is 12 and developed insulin resistance at 11 in the pasture she had spent her life in. She had a big crest and bruising on her hooves. Now there is no more pasture for her, I give her 'SmartPak' supplements for Insulin resistant horse and grass hay - LOW CARB GRASS HAY. She's fine now just no more pasture or graze.
Tracy