[ BAEN Message Board ]

eating off ground oat vs. grass Posted by rosalita208 on 10/21/2009, 7:56 pm 72.62.3.31 My mustang pony is in a dirt paddock. He's been eating oat hay the past few months. I noticed that he burrows into the dirt to ferret out whatever oats might be dug into the earth. So I did a fecal wash on him and he has a good bit of sand. Would it be better to feed him grass hay? Or if the horse is eating off the ground does it not really matter?  Post a Response

Re: eating off ground oat vs. grass Posted by Gail Ivey on 10/21/2009, 8:09 pm, in reply to "eating off ground oat vs. grass" 66.245.45.194 Horses will often go to great lengths to get that last teeny weeny oat, but I have not seen them get that excited about grass hay. If you can avoid feeding him on the ground, that would be the best, but better to feed him a type of hay he won't go digging into the ground to eat. "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." - Socrates  Post a Response

Re: eating off ground oat vs. grass Posted by rosalita208 on 10/22/2009, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: eating off ground oat vs. grass" 208.121.86.213 He's a 2 year old mustang colt and does not at all like being in a stall. He's the kind of horse that likes being out in the elements. So the large paddock is better for him physically and mentally. We put the feed in a feeder that is off the ground, but five minutes after it's filled up he and the other horse have the food spread out all over the dusty ground.  Post a Response

produce bins Posted by Gail Ivey on 10/22/2009, 7:34 pm, in reply to "Re: eating off ground oat vs. grass" 66.245.45.194 Those large plastic bins you see stacked on trucks, full of veggies or fruits are excellent for feeding bins. They can fling hay like crazy, and most of it will still stay in the bin, especially any oats that fall off the hay. You might see if you can get a couple of those. "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." - Socrates  Post a Response

Can you buy a stall mat and feed him on that? Posted by HeyRady on 10/21/2009, 8:23 pm, in reply to "eating off ground oat vs. grass" 76.252.251.23 Even if he is in a shared pasture, if there is a stall mat or two, side by side, out there and he is only fed on the mat, then he would avoid eating in the dirt and he can still have his favorite hay. Just a thought. And by the way, they are only $29.99 this Saturday at Tractor Supply. Horses are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. Paradise Acres Equine Retirement http://www.ParadiseAcres.net  Post a Response

Re: Can you buy a stall mat and feed him on that? Posted by rosalita208 on 10/22/2009, 6:58 pm, in reply to "Can you buy a stall mat and feed him on that?" 208.121.86.213 Thanks for the suggestion. I'll see if that will work. The pasture is kind of sloped and gets muddy in winter but maybe it would help for part of the year.  Post a Response

     «Back to thread

Return to top

SITE INDEX CLASSIFIED ADS MEMBER SERVICES CONTACT US HOME