Free choice during truly bad weather, IR equines?
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jmc
We have some really, really cold weather coming up: It's only supposed to get up to 17f today (maybe, it's 9f now) and not getting above freezing until Saturday... but we have almost 3 days where it'll be below 0f, and down to -20f on Wed... now, Wed night, due to a wind chill that might be -40f, they will be inside (which only stays 10f above ambient), but because my horse has a muscle disease, leaving him in for days is... inadvisable. He needs to move around. They normally get weighed hay in ultra slow nets, and I feed an extra pound or two for each 10f drop below 20f. I'm wondering, just for a couple days, if feeding them a bale in a 1" net (hay chix) would be OK. Even with tons of blankets, I'm concerned about them staying warm. Yankee is IR/PPID/PSSM2, Red is assumed IR and is a mini mule. |
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You didn't mention their body condition score. Fat is an excellent insulator. If they are lean, go with the 1 inch net for just those severe days. If not, what you were doing is fine.
-- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com |
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jmc
thank you. Yankee's weight is good, low end of 5. Red is probably a 6 but losing weight. The temps jump into the 40s a couple days after -20f, so this would probably be however long it takes them to eat a single bale - hopefully 2 days; I'd put the bale out probably Tues PM, and they'll be in Wed night anyway.
-- Jodi June 2018 NW Wyoming Yankee Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jodi%20and%20Yankee Photo Album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=54386 |
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Starshine Ranch
Hi Jodi,
I've been free feeding my IR horses for several years now and for the first few weeks they over ate and gained weight but then they lost and leveled out. I love free feeding, especially in the winter when they noticeably eat a bit more but do not gain weight. When it gets really cold (not as cold as you will be experiencing) it makes me feel at ease knowing the feed will help to keep them warm. Hope that extra bale works as well for you as you hope. Merry Christmas! -- Linda in Grass Valley, CA 2020 Midnight and Ostara https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Linda%20Midnight%20OStara |
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Starshine Ranch
And WOW! You certainly do get cold!
-- Linda in Grass Valley, CA 2020 Midnight and Ostara https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Linda%20Midnight%20OStara |
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Same brutal cold spell here in Alberta Rocky Mountains, lower than - 20F for three days with windchills to -40F/C and lower. I have put out a half bale in a slow net with 1 inch holes, not found by K by yesterday and have added a couple small flakes a day. (BC4.5-5) I do not get to see her everyday and fingers crossed, she has found the exta and thank goodness it is to break by weekend.
Feeling your pain and stress! -- Kandace K Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Oct 2020 K and J (over the rainbow bridge) and now T https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Kandace%20J%20and%20K https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=259062 |
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As long as the hay is safe (has ESC +starch that your horse can tolerate) I see no issues with free feeding a horse with EMS/PPID for a few days of severe cold, especially if you can't be there to feed regular meals. You can also increase r/s/r beet pulp or TCNTB/ODTB cubes. The worst that could happen is they gain a few lbs. I would not free feed all winter, only on the coldest days where you want to be sure they get enough calories to stay warm and you can't be there to give them a meal evert 4-6 hrs.
Movement is really important in keeping warm, so encourage them to walk to multiple feeding stations rather than stand at 1 big bale. After 15 min of just rolling a treat ball around in a small pen, taking very few steps, my boy's hooves (in boots with socks and wool pads) go from cool to touch to toasty warm. -- Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album Snickers' Case History Snickers' Photo Album |
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jmc
The weather is so dismal today (-14f, wind chills to -40f) that I'm keeping them in, with hay pillows to encourage movement. The bale will be used tomorrow morning, it'll probably be -25f or so, but the wind will be light and the temp rising. I have medical appointments so they can enjoy the bale while we are in town. Once it gets up to zero, I'll remove the bale and go back to weighed hay.
-- Jodi June 2018 NW Wyoming Yankee Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jodi%20and%20Yankee Photo Album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=54386 |
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