ogm
Newborn Foal
OGM = "old gray mare"
Posts: 22
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Post by ogm on Nov 10, 2010 17:32:30 GMT -8
As a newby here and not yet connected to other `horsie` folks (with the exception of this board) I have what may be a silly question. I'll grant you that I am forming my assumptions by reading the farm and garden posts on Craigslist, but enough of them have eluded to horses here wintering with only hay. So now I have to ask. Is it common here to winter a horse on hay alone? I know some of the best hay in the nation is grown here, and the protein content is quite high in the alfalfa grown here, yet I am accustomed to feeding some sort of grain. If not all year at least through those hard winter months! Can anyone enlighten me of the difference in practices?  |
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Post by andrea on Nov 10, 2010 21:45:00 GMT -8
None of my horses can even have grain, they're all fat or have other problems with carbs. They'd die if I fed the 5+ lbs of grain a day that most of the feeds recommend (and I'd go broke).
In addition to grass hay I feed soaked beet pulp, but just enough to get them to eat their 2oz of HorseGuard or Equerry's vitamins (both companies have websites, just add .com). This area is selenium deficient so they have to have a selenium supplement at least, but I like the variety they get from either of those brands of vitamins (not both at once, either/or). LMF Super Supplement is also popular - you feed a pound a day. There's also something called NW Horse or something like that. I don't know much about that one but I think I was told it's similar to the LMF Super Supplement. I don't rely on salt blocks for their mineral intake, they just can't lick enough to get what they need.
One year our hay was really low protein so I fed half alfalfa and half grass hay and they picked right up.
I have had really old horses that needed grain, but honestly even they didn't get much, they mostly got alfalfa, beet pulp and soybean oil, and of course their vitamins.
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Post by StillPlayswithHorses on Nov 11, 2010 16:18:58 GMT -8
My older mare who is 17, is on grass hay, and then I supplement with Grand Complete, and a cup of grain to mix it with. We bought her a 1 1/2 years ago, and have noticed a huge improvement in her feet, coat, weight, and just over all health. I don't feed her more grain, because I worry about her getting to fat and foundering. She gains weight pretty easy, if we let her, and she swayed backed, so she definetly doesn't need any extra weight. The Grand complete is a little spendy, but I like that it has everything in it. I don't have to worry about any other supplements, expect Sand Clear , every once in a while to be on the safe side. And because it's a complete supplement, it seems to hold her well, even when our hay isn't as good of a qualility.
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Post by FlyingCowgirl on Nov 11, 2010 17:46:43 GMT -8
I feed LMF Senior, which upon reading found out that LMF Senior is meant for older horses without teeth! Ack... I wish my feed store knew that! I'm going to educate them a little bit because my next bag is going to be LMF Prime Time which is meant for an older horse that can still chew their hay. Classy is only 20, but I have noticed a change in his ability to keep on weight this year. It helped, selling the other horse who was part hoover.
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Post by StillPlayswithHorses on Nov 11, 2010 20:54:42 GMT -8
eek! that is good to know about LMFsenior! I didn't realize that! I have used that in the past for a different horse!
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Post by FlyingCowgirl on Nov 11, 2010 21:51:06 GMT -8
LMF has Glucosamine (sp?) in it now, or at least the Senior Feed did. I don't know for sure if the Prime Time does, but I like that it's included. I think when a horse gets older, they can use all the help they can get keeping those joints moving fluidly.
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ogm
Newborn Foal
OGM = "old gray mare"
Posts: 22
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Post by ogm on Nov 13, 2010 10:36:56 GMT -8
Good to know about the selenium deficiency here. Thank you Andrea!
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