Just wondering how many people actually adjust their horses feed to what work they're doing, whether they're in or out, fat or thin.
I've realised that I do it automatically. As I'm putting the feeds together I'm thinking of what that horse is or isn't doing and adjust the amounts accordingly.
From reading some other forums it seems that some peeps don't, then wonder why they have a snorting dragon on the end of the leadrope/rein
On a day to day basis no, they get fed the same regardless of what ridden exercise they do. If I noticed one was dropping weight/putting too much on/lacking energy in work etc I would alter it accordingly. If they were going to be on prolonged periods of box rest I would also alter it to suit.
I guess that as ours are a moveable feast at the moment, i.e. totally weather dependent (we now have an all-weather area, but me being able to use it depends on the weather's effect on the travelling), then who knows what work there will be. Added to which, the Dizz can drop weight alarmingly quickly, whereas Grey Mare can put it on equally quickly, so I'm in the habit of mentally reviewing at all times lol
I always keep an eye on it, but Red seems to self regulate. He's at his fattest again and not eating quite as much haylage as when he was under weight. His hard feed has stayed the same recently and even when he is back in work he's on the same. I almost pondered about a higher energy feed with him at one point when he was in a medium work a long time ago, no need atm!
Harry only gets a handful of speedibeet so he can have his vits & mins so not much to keep an eye on with him either!
To the extent I will up GH's if he loses weight or reduce Gs if she's fat then I do, but other than that I don't.
I wouldn't feed less if they had a day off, or if they had a period off work. G I wouldn't even for box rest as she has nothing basically, and GH well he wouldn't "do" box rest so its possibly not relevant lol
But then even GH is on totally fibre based feeds so nothing which would turn him physco.