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Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: Scooter
Post Number: 203
Registered: 9-2000
| | 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. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14657
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006 - 8:52 am: | |
Is there anything for the horses to graze on?
DrO |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: Scooter
Post Number: 204
Registered: 9-2000
| | 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 |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14663
Registered: 1-1997
| | 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 |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: Scooter
Post Number: 205
Registered: 9-2000
| | 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.) |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14696
Registered: 1-1997
| | 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 |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 680
Registered: 3-2000
| | 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. |
Angie
Member
Username: Ajudson1
Post Number: 345
Registered: 6-2003
| | 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!! |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 1-2000
| | 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! |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: Scooter
Post Number: 206
Registered: 9-2000
| | 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. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 1130
Registered: 1-2000
| | 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. |
