Little Wolf Ranch
Well-Known Member
I've been doing a lot of research and have been talking to a lot of trainers in my area but wanted to expand my research and ask my friends here.
2015 will be my first show season with my miniatures and I am wanting to do right by them. I have shown in English and western events with my qh so I understand that your feed program is the base of any good performance and halter horse. You must put good in to get good out of them.
Let me first of all state some background information for all of you. The miniatures that will be hitting the ring next year will be two senior geldings, a yearling colt and a yearling filly. All my horses have their own stall, are kept in during any inclement weather, are fed twice daily and are fed measured hay amounts per horse based on their weight. They are all handled every day and I spend a lot of hands on time with them, and they have great manners and basic training. They are fed a 13% protein and 8% fat pellet along with good quality grass hay. Everyone is good condition, no pot bellies, nice top lines and no ribs or hip bones protruding. They are dewormed via daily dewormer as well. I offer as much free time out of the stall as possible, weather permitting however everyone goes up at night because of the coyotes in our area.
I plan on showing in halter, jumper, hunter and in hand obstacle in AMHR rated shows.
Getting to my main questions....
1) what do you feed your horses through the winter when you know they will be showing in spring and how often?
2) I am wanting to add soaked beet pulp into their diets to aid with water consumption during travel and shows, do you do this as well or would you leave it out? If you do feed it, how much do you feed, and do you weigh it out per horse when it is dry or when it is soaked?
3) for those of you work your show horses through the winter, what exercises to do you do and how long?
4) do you sweat your halter horses through the winter or no, and if so for how long.
5) when it comes to sun bleaching, do you leave your blacks and bays in the stall during the "high sun" times in the winter or just worry about that come spring? I would like to avoid my black pinto getting completely sun bleached as he is very prone to it.
Any other advice, tips, etc would be appreciated and I look forward to hearing from you!
2015 will be my first show season with my miniatures and I am wanting to do right by them. I have shown in English and western events with my qh so I understand that your feed program is the base of any good performance and halter horse. You must put good in to get good out of them.
Let me first of all state some background information for all of you. The miniatures that will be hitting the ring next year will be two senior geldings, a yearling colt and a yearling filly. All my horses have their own stall, are kept in during any inclement weather, are fed twice daily and are fed measured hay amounts per horse based on their weight. They are all handled every day and I spend a lot of hands on time with them, and they have great manners and basic training. They are fed a 13% protein and 8% fat pellet along with good quality grass hay. Everyone is good condition, no pot bellies, nice top lines and no ribs or hip bones protruding. They are dewormed via daily dewormer as well. I offer as much free time out of the stall as possible, weather permitting however everyone goes up at night because of the coyotes in our area.
I plan on showing in halter, jumper, hunter and in hand obstacle in AMHR rated shows.
Getting to my main questions....
1) what do you feed your horses through the winter when you know they will be showing in spring and how often?
2) I am wanting to add soaked beet pulp into their diets to aid with water consumption during travel and shows, do you do this as well or would you leave it out? If you do feed it, how much do you feed, and do you weigh it out per horse when it is dry or when it is soaked?
3) for those of you work your show horses through the winter, what exercises to do you do and how long?
4) do you sweat your halter horses through the winter or no, and if so for how long.
5) when it comes to sun bleaching, do you leave your blacks and bays in the stall during the "high sun" times in the winter or just worry about that come spring? I would like to avoid my black pinto getting completely sun bleached as he is very prone to it.
Any other advice, tips, etc would be appreciated and I look forward to hearing from you!