[sassyfrass09]

I board my horse at a very nice facility and receive excellent care for an amazing price, so I'm not normally one to complain. BUT they are feeding my horse way too much.

When I brought Fannie out to the barn I told the woman who feeds that she doesn't get daily grain where she came from and she didn't really need any. (Fannie is a cow!) I told her to give Fannie a handful (I literally cupped my hand and showed her how much.) if she was throwing a fit when the other horses were being fed. She said ok and I didn't think anything of it after that.

Well, a few weeks later she admitted to me she had accidentally given Fannie a half scoop that morning because she wasn't paying attention. No big deal accidents happen. She then showed me how much she had been giving her everyday and it was a QUARTER SCOOP. Fannie is a hot horse and they feed sweet that is a no go. So after that I picked up the amount of grain Fannie could have to be clear and put it in her bucket.

I've since then decided Fannie needs no grain at all and bought my own bag of complete to feed on days when she has a really hard work out. But I still think the feed woman is dropping grain to Fannie. I keep seeing little remainders of what looks like sweet feed in Fannies feeder. (I don't feed her in her stall.) The woman who feeds has told me on several occasions that she "feels bad for her".

Any advice?

 

[sassyfrass09]

They feed 12% sweet feed. The protein and the sugar are too much for her in that, so I switched her to a 10% complete grain that is made for horses who have a low tolerance for the sugar among other things. I just got it for days when we have an extreme workout to put some nutrients back into her or if I notice she starts dropping too much weight.

I love where I board and the quality of care is excellent for the price. (Full care for $325) They also let me work it off by doing stalls, so it's super affordable, and with my budget and shots and a trim coming up, moving isn't an option. I don't think I'd move anyway, the people there are wonderful.

 

[sassyfrass09]

The woman who feeds is the BO's girlfriend. She's very nice, but not very horse savvy.

I'm there everyday and most days I'm around for feeding time. None of the horses are being overfed that I've seen. She just says she feels bad for Fannie not getting to eat the things she wants...oiy.

Luckily though, Fannie doesnt seem to care either way. She doesn't throw a fit during feeding time, but when I put her small ration in her bucket she doesn't rush to go eat it.

I know what the lady is feeding her isn't very much, but it's still food that I don't want my horse to be eating. (I've even got a sign up!) Sweet feed makes her hot, and we're trying to work on being calm and relaxing. I've been keeping an eye on it, and I think I'm sure that she's still giving her handfuls of sweet feed at meal times, so I think I'll say something again today. (At this point, it's not how much she's being given, it's the fact that I've made it clear I don't want it given to her, but it's still happening.)

Wish me luck!