Feeds...

Okay - so we ALL know we feed different things and have our very distinct reasons for doing so!!!!!!!!

This article is NOT MEANT to tell ANYONE how to feed or anything like that...haha, I don't follow the advice completely but I sure enjoyed the reading...I like my system dad-gum-it and I don't see changing it any time soon
Soo - here ya go...

Okay now, you pooh-pooh starter... HA! At least B1 isn't on here to yeyaw about the gosh-danged oats! Na-na-na-boo-boo! tehe!

Okay, so I've changed up my stuff just a bit for the ones in the barn, simply for the reason that Scamp having ulcers, and Jazz needing to lose some weight. The rest of 'em is as normal.

So Scamp's getting 1 scoop of crimped Bluebonnet oats (which I just absolutley love) and 1 scoop of the 14% protein, 6% fat, no potassium alfalfa-coated looking pellets. Bo Pilgrim, a nemesis of Tyson Chicken is just 2 towns north of us, and they make this feed. Jazz, the poor fat heifer, is on 1 scoop of oats, 1/2 scoop of the 14%. All my horses get a jigger of GroStrong minerals every morning. If Jazz and Scamp don't go out, they're given one flake of alfalfa and one flake of coastal morning and night... if they're eating it all of it by the next feeding, then they're given more. And nope, haven't started working them, so that'll be increased on the alfalfa and feed side gradually, as soon as I start....

Kid, since he's out now, and almost through with breeding season - don't go there - ARGH!... he gets a scoop and 3/4s of the pellet stuff twice a day, and a flake of alfalfa morning and night, and he's still got a ton of grass in his pen. He's holding very well, even with going through breeding season. He's right at where he needs to be. Not heavy, not light, perfect.

The broodmares get 3 big full scoops, actually the whole darned bucket twice a day of this pellet stuff, course as I said, everybody gets loose minerals in their feed in the morning. Any outside mares, that are actually "up" in a pen, get that, plus all the hay they can eat, coastal and alfalfa. As soon as I pull the babies, the mare's feed will go down to one scoop of feed twice a day for about oh, two weeks, and then they'll get no more feed, but I'll have the same minerals to them, but in block form... that they eat the dickens out of, along with a salt block because of the heat. When grass starts leaving, they'll be on free choice hay... which is fixing to cost the dickens out of me this winter! On their last 3 months, they'll also start getting their feed again, but gradually, working up to a full 3 scoops again...

Babies will be fed according to whatever I think they need... Cool's filly will probably get like Scamp does, but with some Calf Manna stuck in there; Red's colt, we'll see... he's a big honker that's for sure, and he's finally straight in those front legs, so I don't want to mess too much with his protein level. The kids will get plenty of work and turn-out time, to keep their minds fresh, and to still remind them that they're a horse, and they need to act like it....if they're not ready by futurity time, so be it, they'll be awesome yearlings.

When I start working Jazz, Scamp and bring the little ones up, everybody will start getting corn oil, which I'll have to get Mom to get for me at Sam's... worming will be a big deal, and I'm fixing to try Bluejay's approach to that, instead of my usual deal.

I believe in a couple of things:

1) Balance, first and foremost in feeding. More hay than grain.
2) Out time - big plus to keep a horse's mind fresh.
3) Work time, consistently at least 5 days a week, on a well established routine.
4) Consistent feeding time, and the horses that will be shown will get fed 3 times a day.
5) Everybody has a job and pulls their own weight... if not... pure and simple... see ya! There's only one horse on this place that has a right to be here his entire life, period! Others will have that right at some point, but not until they earn it. I love my horses more than anything, but it's also a business, and they'll not drag me down because of my love for them... nope, been there/done that, ain't happening again!
6) Staying focused. Keeping the dream alive, but narrowing it down, stay focused, stay on the path, don't deviate. See what works and take off with it. It takes just as much to feed a junk horse as it does a world champion. I'd just as soon have the big'un sitting here. I've also learned that more isn't always good. Better to have quality than quantity - and you young'uns pay attention to this one... that's the best lesson I can ever teach you - quality will always get you ahead versus quantity!

Okay, I think I'm done.... HA!

Too Funny Sheila we love that Gro Strong Mineral as well!!! that stuff is great!!! made by Mormans their slogan is "Forage First".... our pasture horses have it free choice and salt our horses that are up have it free choice as well as salt and then get Buckeye gro n win ration balancer and a fat supplement for the omega fatty acids... we are getting kind of low on hay and started feeding beet pulp to make the hay last until we get this years cutting for those that are up and I swear that stuff is gold!!! the horses look great since starting them on it it is a little higher in Calicum but is low in Vit A (I think if I remember correctly)...
Thanks for the article Kid very interesting reading!

you pooh-pooh starter, Hee Hee Shelia, your something else!

Under 4 month, Foal Starter
Over, Growth, Buckeye.

Adult horses 14% balanced feed.

Loose Minerals, if in a stall outside blocks

mares and babies before the foals, are 3 months, out all the time After shedding out after dark.

Everyone either gets worked or turn out time. Stud has a ball to play with he dips it in water then plays with it. Or he shoots the basket and its in his hay manager!

He's Not! Hee Hee