Feeding Frenzy
If they do, use a stick to keep a safe distance and don’t back off if they threaten you – remember you are the alpha horse!
I use feeding time to clean and check hooves and even trim them or to treat wounds, groom or just be friendly.
I think its an important part of the relationship – that they can trust you to be close while they are feeding – watch close friends feeding in the paddock, they often eat side by side or out of the same bucket.
Here’s how I feed my herds;
At times, I’ve had to feed from round bales of hay and discovered that it doesn’t take them long to demolish it – five horses consumed a big bale in six days when given free access – they also drank a lot more to go with it!
When I checked out the round bale feeders commercially available, I decided they are not ideal for horses – being designed for cattle to eat through or in between the bars doesn’t mean they are safe for horses who panic a whole lot quicker – I could just see them getting their heads stuck and panicking – sure to result in some nasty injury.
So I improvised and have found a simple and cost saving way to keep the hay in one place that seems to be reasonably safe. By wrapping a 6 metre piece of 900mm tall sheep yard mesh around the bale and tying it securely to 2 capped steel posts, I’ve made an easily moved feeder which the horses can’t put their feet or heads through but can reach over (providing they are at least 14hh) to get the last bit of hay.
They can still toss some out as they root around for the seeds as mine do, but its not too much work to pick up around the area each day and set it aside for the lowest in the pecking order.
Aside from making hay available constantly when there’s little grass, I also feed a small amount of grain once daily to those on maintenance rations which includes their added minerals. They also have free access to a Himalayan salt lick.
The horses that need extra feed to maintain weight get the same minerals etc but more lucerne and Speedibeet plus Coolfuel Copra and linseed.
