I bought a 19 yr old appy/percheron cross gelding a few weeks ago. I am feeding him free choice hay. He also gets about 3 cups of nutrina safe choice 2x a day and 1/4 cup of ground flax. I dont have any pasture so he only gets about 1-2 hours of hand grazing fresh grass a day. He seems to be in good shape and is energetic. I am taking him for a week long trail ride in June and I am wondering if I should just continue to feed him like I am of if he needs something more. I have never gone on a ride like this before so this will be new to both of us. We will be out on the trails all day and back in camp at night. Should I increase his feed or feed him something different ?
Thank you for the reply speed racer. Yes we are both working towards getting in shape for this. Riding every day with lots of walking and trotting and lots of hills. The trial ride I am told will be done mostly at a walk with frequest breaks
When I went on a ride like that I had a lunch for my horse-cubes, carrots, & I put it in a "goodie bucket" that went on after I took off the bridle. So he ate while I did. It was a week-long ride & he actually put on a few pounds-he was 19 & an Arab/Appy X.
No feed changes - but bring extra to up if he does start to drop weight. And in case you end up with truck, etc issues and have to be gone longer than planned.
If possible, bring some water from home to last the first day. Some horses don't like sudden water changes.
a week out I would start out adding soaked beat pulp in his feed, encreasing it as the trip got closer to about 2 quarts dry (before you soak it a day. The fiber you give him thursday will be in his gut saturday and beat pulp soaks up a ton of waater and will give him a bit of reserve. No idea where you are riding but watch your pace and dont pass up an oportunity for some green grass. Nibbling all day is way better than starving all day then pigging out in the eveneng.
Although more concerned with endurance horses some good info in this article aabout what to feed before and during the trail. Read part one and part 2 of "Beating the metabolic pull." Beating the Metabolic Pull: part 1 - Susan Evans Garlinghouse
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