@fureverfarms
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Hey! Thanks so much for continuing this conversation! My horses do have access to their stalls in the barn so I will put hay bags there and see what they do! I appreciate all the input and continued stories of free feed. This is a great group and so willing to share – something I haven’t found before. I love that we are affirmative to our horses AND to each other. Yay for us and Anna!
Hello Everyone,
Free Feed is something I am just learning about as I am new to this group. I live in TX and have 2 horses. My mare is a 23 yr old QH and retired reining horse. She has been diagnosed with navicular disease – which I would have to say is not a very “exact” disease. I have gradually quit riding her in the last year as she most always has a slight lameness. I also have a 13 yr old Paint gelding who is generally healthy. I ride for pleasure a few times per week on my own property. I ride western but have been intrigued by dressage after following this group! Excited to learn and start leading from behind! I have approx 25 acres of pasture that is not “planted” but has a bit of bermudagrass in the front and some silage in the back, mixed in with general pasture and tree lines too.When I switched to a farrier who does natural hoof care, she suggested that my horses were getting too fat in the summer and I needed to split their time 1/2 pasture and 1/2 dry lot. So that is what I have been doing for the last few years – only to find out now that they have probably been suffering through the time in the corral. Generally, March – October they split time and Oct-March they are in the pasture.
After reading all the posts, I have a much better understanding of free feed. My horses move around most all day. My pasture is split with about 8 acres in the front and 16 acres in the back. I have been keeping my horses up in the front pasture with no access to the back for the last few weeks. I noticed that the front has been eaten down and so I have allowed them pasture access 24/7. I do feed each 1 cup of oats each morning for Lena’s supps/meds. They seem to be maintaining a nice weight so I have allowed them in the back pasture for a few hours each day. So I guess I am wondering if I still need to free feed hay if they seem to be doing ok on the pasture? I notice that there is lots of trial and error so maybe that is what I need to do. Offer the hay and see if they eat it? And also wait a few weeks to see if they self regulate?? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Annette
