Horse Feed

[haley10]

I'm trying to take care of my son's horse to a degree. Someone else puts out hay and gives sweet feed and water.

I heard apples are not good, so I have given him some carrots for treats and that seems to work. Any other tips for treats that are healthy?? I heard apples will give them the cholic.

I don't know much about horses, but he's a good animal and seems to expect some attention and a treat.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

If you want to give him a treat, get him a mare!

Seriously, I wish I could help you out, horses are magnificent animals.

 

[haley10]

quote:

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Originally posted by GROUCHO MARX:
If you want to give him a treat, get him a mare!

Seriously, I wish I could help you out, horses are magnificent animals.

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That's another problem! He can sense them miles away and will jump the fence to go there.

Just looking for food advice.

 

[MarkC]

I used to feed the horses in my backyard back home clumps of the clover that grew just out of their reach, and they seemed to love it.
Oats would be a good choice.

 

[twigdog]

If he is doing little to no work, then just good quality hay, water, and a mineral block at free choice is all that it will take to keep him healthy and fit. Add a good brushing and fly spray a couple of times a week with a treat of carrots or apples(in moderation) and he will be happy horse. Is he alone, or does he have any pasture mates?

 

[Rob Taggs]

It all sounds good. Just don't feed a horse alfalfa right before a parade if it is ever in one. The street cleaning crew will have a nasty time if you do.

 

[haley10]

quote:

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Originally posted by twigdog:
If he is doing little to no work, then just good quality hay, water, and a mineral block at free choice is all that it will take to keep him healthy and fit. Add a good brushing and fly spray a couple of times a week with a treat of carrots or apples(in moderation) and he will be happy horse. Is he alone, or does he have any pasture mates?

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No, he didn't get along with the gelding or mare, so they were moved. Guess I need to get a mineral block??

 

[MarkC]

Sometimes horses enjoy the company of goats or roosters. Don't know why.

 

[Bret Chase]

my wife's Tennesee walking horse made it a sport of trying to kill her mom's goats...

 

[Gary Allan]

My old girlfriend(s) (sisters

) used to hang stuff for some of their horses to play with on the stall door opening. Sometimes it was just an empty milk jug. Others actually were some sorta toy

I took care of one sister's horses while her and her husband went to New Zealand for an IFYE conference (we were still friends). She had the nastiest quarterhorse (1974 AQHA champ runner up). While I groomed and mucked the stall I had to have a riding crop in my hand. She'd just put her ears back and appeared to want to take a chunk out me when I wasn't looking-nasty witch. I almost blew it with a few of her other horses. Although I did everything that I was supposed to, I screwed up on one detail. She was feeding beet pulp to a few of her competition trail ride horses that were'nt in training. Now you're supposed to mix the stuff with water for about a half hour before feeding. That was one detail I kinda forgot. The fear was that if would expand in their digestive trac and cause issues. It didn't happen ..and they appeared to enjoy the stuff dry. Apparently I gave them the appropriate amount so there was no excess volume to turbo charge the innards.

One of the evolutions that I found neat was the breeding of draft horses and thoroughbreds. I always wondered how aging (and heavier) babyboomers would adapt horses to handle the added weight.