tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post1950749143771695342..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Hay is for HorsesMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-31758596903613516082011-07-01T07:56:22.495-06:002011-07-01T07:56:22.495-06:00When I got December back from a lease arrangement ...When I got December back from a lease arrangement completely underweight and having weird colic problems I thought ulcers might have been the culprit. I never had her scoped to be sure on the advice of my vet who wanted me to change her feeding program first. <br /><br />I couldn't even get her to eat hay at first but she went out in a nice pasture with 24-7 forage. I also started her on beet pulp, and alfalfa pellets once a day and just a tiny bit of rice bran. Right now she's also getting a flake of 3 grain hay once a day because the brat still won't eat the grass hay I was feeding and the winter pasture wasn't as rich. I'll wean her off that now that the grass is really coming up. <br /><br />Six months later she's fat again, looks great and is jumping 2'6 courses for me at the age of 14. She really looks great.Fyyahchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09680300099730314108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-31426476765492183732011-06-06T18:59:15.981-06:002011-06-06T18:59:15.981-06:00I can't stand it when a barn feeds 2 flakes of...I can't stand it when a barn feeds 2 flakes of hay, 2 times per day, regardless of the size or needs of the horse. My horse is fat, but he proceeded to get ulcers on that type of diet. Mine is also on a cup of alfalfa pellets with a vit/min supplement and joint supplement. I also know people who give no hay during the day since the horse is out on grass all night. It's amazing none of teh horses are showing signs of ulcers yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-70727073335057725412011-06-05T12:41:45.903-06:002011-06-05T12:41:45.903-06:00I agree also. I've always been taught and agre...I agree also. I've always been taught and agree that horses should pretty much always be able to eat, whether grass or hay or hay product like haylage. At home in the UK, our horses are out from 7-4 in winter, then have hay in their stalls at night in nets, and out 24/7 in summer.<br /><br />Where I work in Canada, the horses that are not out during the day are given a slice of hay every 3/4 hours, which fits in with the recommended eating schedule. If you can't deal with poop, why would you work with horses?!Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386998873768199907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-83478534109559513402011-06-05T07:00:14.859-06:002011-06-05T07:00:14.859-06:00I also do mainly grass hay. I feed a pelleted supp...I also do mainly grass hay. I feed a pelleted supplement, very little. And one of them wears a muzzle when there's grass in the pasture. They are all slightly plump, and shine like they've been sprayed with show sheen. Never had a colic (knock on wood), but I do have a lot of poop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-80610343192934594182011-06-04T20:55:15.564-06:002011-06-04T20:55:15.564-06:00A video on Slow Feeders... they are awesome!
http...A video on Slow Feeders... they are awesome!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch? feature=player_embedded&v=YVRWskvdsio<br /><br />Mommyrides had a great idea for making your own using hockey nets!Chelsihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045101705493626989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-9763197392261803032011-06-04T19:39:24.048-06:002011-06-04T19:39:24.048-06:00mommyrides- I just went 1/2 and 1/2...mommyrides- I just went 1/2 and 1/2...mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-5970196548710791382011-06-04T19:21:39.105-06:002011-06-04T19:21:39.105-06:00Thanks for the suggestion on the alfalfa/beet pulp...Thanks for the suggestion on the alfalfa/beet pulp mush I will definitely try my old girl on that. Is there a specific ratio of cubes to pulp?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87508084849763169452011-06-04T14:06:53.411-06:002011-06-04T14:06:53.411-06:00Another vote for alfalfe pellet/beet pulp mush.
...Another vote for alfalfe pellet/beet pulp mush. <br /><br />I'm convinced that free-choice hay and alfalfa pellet/beet pulp mush is the ultimate way to put weight on ANYTHING. I've never seen it NOT work. Love it.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12538162584572250005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-11330998910776343882011-06-04T11:12:54.182-06:002011-06-04T11:12:54.182-06:00mommyrides- I've had great success with alfalf...mommyrides- I've had great success with alfalfa cube/beet pulp mush. The oldies love it and it keeps everything fat, even the hard keepers.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-56895601648065237852011-06-04T10:06:38.464-06:002011-06-04T10:06:38.464-06:00My horses get only grass hay as well, with the exc...My horses get only grass hay as well, with the exception of my older girl who is 20 who gets a senior supplement, they all are fat and shiny. My gelding could survive on air so because of that I have gone to making my own nibble nets from hockey nets. Yes we live in Canada and you can find hockey nets any time of the year!!! I cut off the smaller sides then loop rope through the holes to make a draw sting bag. The holes are around 1 to 1/2" and they are very tough!! A large hockey net can fit most regular size hay bales. This ensures that they eat slower and have something to eat throughout the day and there is less waste. On my small property that is a big deal!!<br /><br />Does anyone have suggestions for those older equines that take a little more to keep their weight up? My girl seems to be doing okay with her supplement but this year I also added a fat and fiber food as she seemed to come through winter a bit more underweight. Thanks for your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-84257111992317772602011-06-04T04:11:57.950-06:002011-06-04T04:11:57.950-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Stilllearninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16563077467348752977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-32455515651145143492011-06-03T13:31:38.616-06:002011-06-03T13:31:38.616-06:00Amen.
I wish I could do truly free choice hay, ...Amen. <br /><br />I wish I could do truly free choice hay, but I am making due with NibbleNets.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-50988366719659520322011-06-03T13:22:59.877-06:002011-06-03T13:22:59.877-06:00Mine get free-choice but slow-fed timothy during n...Mine get free-choice but slow-fed timothy during non-pasture season, and are on grass much of the spring-summer-fall (tho not 24/7 as they aren't getting as much exercise as they really need right now). They get a vitamin-mineral supplement, and a pinch of loose salt (to make sure they're drinking), but no grain.<br />Funny thing was, the other day an equine chiropracter that I hadn't met before commented on how healthy my two girls looked, and then proceded to tell me how I should change their diet! (He also suggected a dose of "ace" for my one higher-strung girl, just as a matter of habit, to calm her down. At that point, he negated any value his advice might have had for me.)EvenSonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02032555334605790413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-88023184059740178102011-06-03T13:20:25.187-06:002011-06-03T13:20:25.187-06:00It's amazing how many problems you can prevent...It's amazing how many problems you can prevent simply by allowing horses to be horses. It makes me wonder what we're doing to human health.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-46821053048115874842011-06-03T12:03:03.327-06:002011-06-03T12:03:03.327-06:00Boy! I wonder how the beautiful wild horses get al...Boy! I wonder how the beautiful wild horses get along. Sometimes I think you just have to get back to basics. Thanks for sharing the article!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04068684611506771719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-59224772468038798302011-06-03T11:20:38.369-06:002011-06-03T11:20:38.369-06:00I cannot imagine a (modern) endurance rider endors...I cannot imagine a (modern) endurance rider endorsing such a bizarre feeding program! These days, Saint Susan (Garlinghouse, DVM) has pretty much convinced American endurance riders to feed FORAGE AND LOTS OF IT. Hay, hay, and more hay if there isn't any pasture. A teensy bit of alfalfa. Supplement with selenium if you live in the Northwest. That's all. <br /><br />Results: fat horses, and lots of poop piles!AareneXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17569818745110332355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-54928841985928973762011-06-03T11:09:44.760-06:002011-06-03T11:09:44.760-06:00Mine too are on timothy hay free choice and pastur...Mine too are on timothy hay free choice and pasture. I do use a ration balancer (Tribute Feeds) along with a joint supplement, and my gelding is growing out his crappy feet (bad farrier) so is on hoof supplement until they are nice again.<br />They are fat, shiny, and muscled!<br /><br />Now the mini's are on the same, but in proportion, and no grass pasture, just dry lot with some grass, but mini's are different than horses being prone to founder.<br /><br />JackieHorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87336770985668360462011-06-03T11:00:03.119-06:002011-06-03T11:00:03.119-06:00I agree that hay as the base of the feed program r...I agree that hay as the base of the feed program reduces bouts of colic.<br />I only have the 1 horse and live in Fla, land of sand. My horse has free choice Alicia hay and 2 feeds a day of Safe Choice.<br />I have never in the 20 years of horse ownership, ever experianced colic.He moves about freely in a small paddock but seems to do fine.Wildcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09950895129437309897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-36705470146687300492011-06-03T10:23:44.548-06:002011-06-03T10:23:44.548-06:00Being a one horse, suburban horse owner, I use man...Being a one horse, suburban horse owner, I use managed stables. I found a place where my horse can be in 'pasture' with 4 or 5 other horses and get grass hay only. I keep looking for other similar situations so I have alternatives if this place closes or chnages the feeding situation.<br />I wish we could hang nibble bags instead of the twice daily feedings - but haven't figured out how to sell that solution.<br />Thanks for the article Mugs. I never find that stuff boring!deedeehttp://sonnyduo@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-38162694016296662272011-06-03T10:11:51.982-06:002011-06-03T10:11:51.982-06:00I feed lots of quality grass hay and my horses are...I feed lots of quality grass hay and my horses are happy and healthy on that diet. I agree with KES, it is scary if they aren't pooping a lot. Gotta keep that system moving!<br /><br />Great article, I can see how it might be easy for some folks to think that bagged feed fortified with a bunch of stuff with nutrition info listed on the side might be the best food for their horsey.Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-14203205727848004022011-06-03T09:53:54.883-06:002011-06-03T09:53:54.883-06:00The 'they dont poop as much' is a very sca...The 'they dont poop as much' is a very scary comment. I freak if I dont see healthy piles, often. ;)<br />Good article.<br />Lots of grass hay is my ideal feeding for my ottb.Kristen Eleni Shellenbargerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458744919530540978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-57163728119258386152011-06-03T09:52:01.762-06:002011-06-03T09:52:01.762-06:00I agree with this 100%. I feed my horses grass hay...I agree with this 100%. I feed my horses grass hay. It's orchard/fescue mix. I just been getting round bales and letting them free feed. I always have people asking me what I feed my horses to get them so shiny and fat. They never know how to respond when I say I only feed them hay. I do not supplement with hard feed. I do keep 2 bags of alfalfa pellets for emergencies though. And before anyone says anything about fescue, yes, I know fescue hay is bad for breeding mares. I don't breed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com