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Discussion on Cold Weather Hay for Dry Lot Ponies | |
Author | Message |
Member: dwfaith |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011 - 6:07 pm: Hello Dr O.We have several rescue mini's who are all EMS+ and are dry lotted. They get 1.5% of their body weight in coastal soaked for an hour before feeding daily (in two feedings). We are having unseasonably cold temps this winter. How much do I need to increase their hay to compensate for the cold? Typically in any given year we might have a weeks worth of temps below freezing but so far we've had nearly a week of temps in the teens and twenties with wind chills in the sub zero. They do have shelter from the wind, but they spend most of their time muzzleing the ground looking for that last scrap. One mini wears several layers of blankets, as he is clipped for his thyroid problems, and the other has typical mini coat length but it is terribly thin. The forecast for the rest of Feb is worse. I don't want to overwhelm their metabolic problems (both have old founders issues) but I don't want them getting any sicker than they've already been this year. They are still both on long term antibiotics. Thank-you Dianne |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2011 - 7:39 am: Diane,I would make my basic feeding decisions based on body condition at this time rather than weather. Are they showing signs of cold stress? I would not restrict a thin horses forage to 1.5% of body weight and consider adding some concentrate till he recovers to a body condition of 5. Concerning hypothyroidism in horses check out HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Endocrine System » Hypothyroidism in Adult Equines. DrO |
Member: dwfaith |
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2011 - 12:48 pm: Hi Dr O. None of these minis are underweight. We've been battling overweight issues with them since we took them in. One is at an appropriate weight, two are still on the obese side. I had to put a blanket on the older mare, the one at a good weight, last night as the temps were in the LOW teens with wind chill at 2 degrees and her old bones were rattling from the cold. Those are just unheard of temps here in South Texas. And the one mini who is overweight was shivering slightly, but we don't have a fourth mini blanket, the mini with the thyroid problem (who was given a close summer shave in August to prevent his overheating and hasn't added any coat length) has two blankets and a hood. He was the only comfortable one in the lot.The two smaller minis force the older mare out of the shelter and she is stuck standing out in the wind. If I can find another hood, I'll put it on her. But I'm still left with the dilemma of how much hay to feed these guys when the temps are so bad. My vet shakes his finger at me every time I take them in for their farrier work as he doesn't think they are losing weight fast enough and are still quite fat. We measure their Purina LowCal with a kitchen diet scale and their hay is weighted prior to soaking every time. They are being fed at 1.5% of their body weight . Would it be safe to just throw them an entire bale till the temps get above freezing? Wouldn't they convert the extra sugars into heat production or will it really mess them up metobolically to have free access after months of restrictions? Dianne |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2011 - 11:26 pm: Diane, you should find a way to provide adequate shelter for everyone. I don't think throwing out extra hay is the answer if you feel that there are those suffering cold stress do to lack of adequate shelter.DrO |