my new horse has lived out for the past 8 months and happily grazes away. im keen to get feeding right for the winter and i know that i have to introduce feed slowly no idea what to mix/provide. bought some 'hi fi' (suggested by yard owner) but i dont want anything that give more energy as that is not needed!!
the next question would be how much to feed morning and evening?
If he's lived out for eight months, presumably he was out last winter?
Pasture + ad lib hay first off
Then add in a chaff like Hi Fi - up to half a scoop per meal to start off with
Sugar beet half a scoop (soaked)
Then if this isn't sufficient add horse nuts, or cool mix, or straights.
Really - it's so complicated due to the plethora of choice that if you are at a yard you are best off looking at what all the others are being fed, and asking what and how. This is the best way to learn.
As for introducing new feeds, you should introduce over a week on a gradual basis.
If your horse is a good weigh, you're right that he doesn't need more energy, so you shouldn't need to feed anything extra. Don't know where you are, whether there's snow that eliminates grazing or such, but if so, grass hay is fine. In the same manner, how much to feed depends on what is needed. Horses should have at least about 2% of their bodyweight daily in roughage. He will almost definitely benefit from a good nutritional supplement, to balance his diet. Feedxl.com is one good resource for diet & nutrition.
I have always fed 1 1/2 pounds of hay per 100 pounds of bodyweight daily. We feed bermuda grass in the morning, alfalfa in the evening. A thousand pound horse would get 15 pounds if forage (hay) per day, 7 1/2 pounds of bermuda grass and 7 1/2 pounds of alfalfa. We also supplement with grain. 1 1/2 pounds of soybean meal, 1 coffee container ((1 pound size) approximately 10 ounces) of rice bran, 1 pound alfalfa molasses, 1/2 cup diatamecous earth (food grade only!) for fly/parasite control and individual medications as necesary, with
very hard keepers getting 3 lbs of alfalfa/bermuda mix pellets additionally.
Stalling for 12 hours and providing 1/2 bermuda grass rations for several weeks with small amounts of grain, mix a bucket and feed 1/3 each day for a week, 2/3 the next and a full bucket the third week. Fouth week add increase bermuda hay to full ration and add alflafa. Available outside forage should be a minimum by this time.
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