Ribbon Creek Farm

01/16/2025

Thanks to the AAEP

01/15/2025

🥶 Why should you feed more hay in the winter?

We see it every year. On the first warm day of spring, the owner pulls the horse’s blanket, and to their surprise, ribs are showing. We understand that when the vet says to feed more hay, many people see dollar signs dancing in their heads. 💸Some people will choose to feed an extra cup of a fat supplement rather than add an extra two flakes of hay. To make things worse, horses can be great at wasting hay; they walk, trample, p*e and p**p in it. They may waste 10-25% of what is offered, resulting in needing to feed even more volume. 👎🏻

🌡️ It’s important to feed more hay in the winter though. Lower critical temperature is the temperature below which a horse needs additional energy to maintain body warmth. The lower critical temperature estimate for horses is 41°F with a summer coat and 18°F with a winter coat. This number is affected by the horse’s coat length, if they get wet, if they are blanketed, whether they have access to a shelter, and their body surface area to weight ratio.

For every degree below 18°F the horse requires an additional one percent energy in their diet. 🔥Microbial fermentation of forage in the horse’s hind gut acts as an internal furnace to keep the horse warm during these brutally cold winter days. Some believe that feeding more grain will keep a horse warmer. But digestion, absorption, and utilization of grain does not produce as much heat as the microbial fermentation of forage.

Lastly, it’s important to remove your horse’s blanket from time to time during the winter to monitor body condition. An ideal body condition score (BCS) is 5/9 where you can’t see the ribs but can feel them with light pressure. 🐴

If you have questions about your horse’s BCS or whether you’re feeding enough (or too much) hay this winter, our vets are happy to evaluate your horse and go over feeding recommendations.



📸 The Horse

01/05/2025

Large caliber guns are produced at Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY, on the west bank of the Hudson River - 1944

From 1940 to 1945, Watervliet’s workers assembled 49,052 cannons, and employed some 9,332 men and women.

LIFE Magazine Archives - Andreas Feininger Photographer WWP-PD

08/29/2024

I love a bit of procrasti-riding!

06/19/2024

True

BY LAUREN MAULDIN I’ve spent a long time feeling like I was lesser within the equestrian world. Growing up riding at a small private barn, our focus was fox hunting and horsemanship, not equitation medals and hack classes. I didn’t have anxiety about my junior career, because I had no junior car...

06/19/2024

❤️🐿️

06/09/2024

😂😂

I'll just leave this here.....

06/09/2024

Local

Stray Pup

This handsome little guy was found on Cliff St in Canajoharie after finders said he had been running for a couple of days.

He's so sweet and is hoping his family may be looking for him.

If you know him, please contact the shelter at 518-673-5670.

06/09/2024

NETPOSSE ALERT for SEARCHING FOR HORSE NAMED OXB McCoy - WINCHENDON, MA AREA | NETPOSSE ID #8279
You can find the full story and contact information, as well as the download and print this flyer for posting in public places, at https://netposse.com/tag.asp?id=8279 Feel free to share.
Name: OXB McCoy Gender: Gelding Breed: Arabian
Description: Horse was leased as a companion. He was supposed to remain on the property in Winchendon, MA but was moved to Waxhaw, NC without notification or permission. Horse has been with legal owner since 2002. Current location confirmed by MA law enforcement. Horse is 27 years old. DOB 5/20/1997. Blood bay with star, strip, snip and birdcatcher spots on body and neck. Left hind sock. He is 15 hands. Very kind and willing. Old mild bow RF 2019.
Last seen: 5/1/24

Please see contact info on flyer.