My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Blankets are one way to keep your horse warm during the winter, but you can also help your horse generate his own heat by feeding him more forage. We feed a lot of hay. Much more than my horses ever got at commercial boarding facilities. Long stem forage is good for a horse’s digestion and […]
Read MorePredictably unpredictable. That’s how I’d describe the feeding schedule at our barn. Yes, we have “windows” where we’d like the horses fed. In the mornings that would be anywhere from 7-9 and in the evenings between 5 and 6. But at a co-op barn where everyone has a life and lots of responsibilities, sometimes those […]
Read MoreI’ve always hated when my horses waste hay. It’s like throwing money on the ground and it’s a pain in the butt to rake it all up. So, about five or six years ago I invested in a pasture feeder. Pasture feeders are expensive. It’s easy to spend several hundred dollars for a rugged model. […]
Read MoreThe rain we had this summer has had a big (negative) impact on hay yields. Some of my friends who grow their own hay have already concluded that they will need to buy some to get them through the winter. People like me are dreading the surge in prices that usually accompanies a shortage. Two […]
Read MoreCribbing, weaving and other stereoptypic behaviors can be reduced through diet and stable management. Recently I wrote about cribbing and how to help prevent it. Conventional wisdom has always been that frequent grazing and turnout can reduce cribbing behavior. Now a study conducted at the University of Bristol confirms that horses whose lifestyle approximates the […]
Read MoreLast winter hay was scarce and expensive. It doesn’t look like this winter will be much better; weather conditions this summer made it difficult to cut and bale hay, resulting in a shortage in many parts of the country. Here in New England, hay is about $350 per ton, so when you have two tons […]
Read MoreFor the first time in seven years my hay supplier is flat out. It’s a problem here in New England. It will be several months before the first cutting is in and my horses, at least, don’t have enough grass to sustain them. The good news is that hay is available, but the price is […]
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