09/12/2024
The importance of twice per day small feedings vs one large meal once a day. Lengthy read but worth the time!! ⬇️
Pictured is my personal gelding who will be 27 in 4 months. The top picture is from October 15th when I was still self boarding. The bottom was yesterday, December 8th where he has now lived at my house and been on twice daily feedings for 6 weeks (tomorrow)
When I self boarded, I could only get there once a day. He was on free choice hay and approximately 8 lbs of alfalfa/beet pulp pellets combined and Tribute sport senior.
Since moving and being able to switch to two feedings twice a day, he still is on 24/7 free choice hay and his feed has been cut in half to about 4 lbs per day of the same feed. No fancy supplements for weight gain, etc.
His teeth are what I would consider "decent" for his age with a couple things I'm dealing with to make them "better"
There is an incredible difference in his weight. Note the topline, shoulders, hip and girth specifically. This is the best he has looked in about 2 years.
*NOTHING* has changed, besides REDUCING his grain and going to twice a day feedings.
This horse is ridden regularly as well by a 5 & 6 yr old, has arthritic knees (per vet needs to always stay in work), is on vitamin e & msm and is sound. Nothing else, because less is usually more for our horse friends!
Smaller, more frequent meals are much easier for a horse to digest. Horses are meant to eat slowly over a long period of time. They are supposed to eat 20 of 24 hours per day
Not everyone can provide multiple feedings a day (ME 🙋♀️ for many years) and you make do with what is available to you and your horse. However, if it's an option where you board, if your horses live at home with you, I HIGHLY recommend it if you have one struggling with weight!!
Of course, proper dental care is also key to making sure those seniors in your pasture maintain their weight.
I'm always taking new clients 😊
Pm the page or call/text 989-493-0470
