[Newhorseaddict]

So...my horses came home a week ago and now I have full control over what they are going to eat. I have cut their grain down to 2 quarts in the AM and Pm and 1/2 quart of beet pulp Am and Pm. They also get joint supplement and ground flax seed. They are at good weight right now for the winter (a little pudgey ) but I wouldn't want them to get any bigger. So... question is I give them 2 flakes each AM and PM and 1 flake each before bed. I have heard that giving more hay in the winter will help keep them warm so If I up the hay should I decrease the grain and add a vit/min supplement and how much hay can I give without them getting huge hay bellies. Sorry long winded. Thanks for help.

[Dawn]

Is this the only forage they receive? (i.e. no pasture) If so, assuming they are full sized 1000-1200 lb horses, they need a lot more.

If you're using 'normal' square bales of hay, you're only feeding each horse 12 lbs of hay a day.

That is in contrast to their minimum requirement of 20-25 lbs (depending on exact weight).

Now you are feeding beet pulp which is also a long stem fiber, but not in enough weight to make any difference in this situation.

If they are getting access to pasture as well, then you need to take into account the amount and quality of pasture available.

[Blistering Winds]

Without seeing your horse, knowing their workload, I couldn't tell you THIS amount will not give your horse hay bellies.

And each horse is different. This is where ART comes into the SCIENCE part of the equation.

Balance your horse's diet. Find out the minimums, and then play with the hay intake. if anything gets played with, it is hay. Go no less than 1% of their weight....for optimal gut health.....but increase exercise when needed if necessary.

MANY hay bellies have nothing to do with overeating, but everythign to do with being stationary. If the horse isn't using the carbs, they store it.

[JBandRio]

For winter, I would go with at least 2% of their weight in forage, between your hay and any grass that's there. So, if they weigh 1000lb, that's minimally 20lb of hay a day. Are they turned out? If so, spread they hay around as much as you can, no more than 5lb in a pile. Horses are meant to forage on the move, so standing around in front of a pile of hay is not as healthy for them as it could be.

If they are stalled for lengths of time, ideally you'd be able to give them hay frequently so they don't just stand there and inhale it, leaving them with hours at a time with nothing in front of them.

You do need to balance the diet nutritionally, with either a vitamin/mineral supplement or a ration balancer. You probably don't even need the grain - you aren't feeding enough to make much of a nutritional difference, and the beet pulp is a great source of calories, with the calcium going nicely with your grass hay.

Unless the horse has metabolic issues, if he's healthy and is turned out and worked any at all, it's unlikely a hay belly will develop. That's generally caused by issues with the above, or lack of nutrition in general.

[Newhorseaddict]

Dawn, They are getting about a half a bale a day each. This isn't enough? Where they were being boarded they only got 4 flakes each a day and weren't skinny by any means but they also got a little more grain. They do not get pasture especially now because we are heading into winter. Next spring they will have access to grass. Just wondering when people give their horses free choice hay - this means the horse eats as must hay as it wants right? So is should get a scale? Does everyone wiegh the hay? Questions Questions? Sorry

[Newhorseaddict]

They are not stalled but can go in and out of the stalls when they want. They have access to about a 100x75 foot paddock. What kind of scale do you use to weigh your hay? A people scale? Should I up the beet pulp at all and cut back on more of the grain? Thanks again

[Dawn]

Are you using standard square bales (two twines)? Or large (more than 2 twines)? How much does a bale of hay last?

The average flake of hay weighs 4 lbs. I've seen them go up to 6 lbs, but that's on a very tight bale, and not the norm. So even at 6 lbs, not enough hay for their gut to function.

It's not a matter of fat vs. thin. It is about gut function.

[Xiphias]

When I had more than one horse to feed, I fed round bales free choice all the time....as for a scale, I got a nice one at target in the cooking utensil dept, I use it to weigh my horse's feed, but with the hay, I just give her as much as she will eat....but I am home all the time, and can watch , and if she runs out of hay, I throw her a couple more flakes, that way I am not wasteing it, but she gets as much as she can eat...Cathy

[Blistering Winds]

I free-feed my horse round year round.

however, those that I know who don't, start free feeding late september because while there is "GRASS", most of the grass has begun pulling nutrients to the roots for the winter, and what you find in the blades is Lignin, highly undigestible by horses.

Basically, once your temps nail in the low 40's at night, start supplementing unless you have a winter crop beginning to grow. Then you have up until the freeze.

We've hit our freeze here in the panhandle, so everyone is now on roundbales at the facility I am at. There is still "GREEN" out there, but we are not counting on any of it being useful.

Weight of the bale/how many flakes makes a huge difference on if you are giving enough. When in doubt, weigh it.

Some flakes will be larger than others.

To me, if you can move majority of your nutrients to the hay/roughage (beet pulp too), your horse will be much better for it.


And honestly, between now and Early Feb, I don't worry about hay bellies. I worry more about my horse staying warm and having enough fat/hair to hold the winter without dropping weight.

He isn't goign to get much work this winter....but come February, I plan on kicking him back into gear.

So honestly, unless you are hitting the world shows this winter, I'd not worry about the hay belly.

[Newhorseaddict]

Thanks to all your comments. I was thinking more hay the better for the winter. They will probably only be ridden 2 -3 times a week and not hard because of snow with some visits to an indoor. I am going through one bale of hay a day now (about) -two twine and they waste none . Interesting subject feeding my horses has become. Thanks again