feeding Q.....

[IrishDQ]

If you stop feeding hay during the spring/summer when the grass is good, do you still keep feeding cubes (or whatever feed)? Is it necessary to give the horse enough energy for work? Also, how can you prevent a horse getting a grass belly from being turned out 24/7? or are they OK as long as they are getting enough excersize? Thanks! :)

[Joyscarer]

My Sec D is a good doer, in light to med work in summer and lives out 24/7.

Because of this I have started to reduce her feed already in preparation for the spring grass.

In winter she gets Alpha a lite, pasture nuts and her suppliments.

I begin to swap her feed over just coming into spring. I drop the pasture nuts over a period and then I begin to swap from alpha a lite to hi fi lite. Then I begin to reduce the quantities of the hi fi lite as her appetite dictates to just about a handful after work to get her suppliments down her. Any more than that and she wouldn't eat it.

All you can do is go on your horses condition and performance and make sure that whatever you give it gets the right balance of nutrients :)

[puzzles]

A grass belly is caused by a build-up of gas (i.e. caused by diet - especially grass - changes) not fat as many people think.
It is still important to top up your horse's diet with a feed balancer/vitamin & mineral supplement if he is out at grass without hard feed, so that he receives a balanced diet without any unnecessary energy.

:-)

x