Is your equine ready for freezing temperatures?

When the leaves start to change color on the neighborhood trees, that is when most horse owners begin to think about horse feed. Horse feed is in the form of hay and sometimes grain. However, some lucky horse owners already have their horse feed at their place. However, those of us that are not that lucky begin the "great hay" search at the signs of change.

Hay comes in several sizes, however, the most popular sizes of hay are, big square bales (can weigh up to 900lbs), big round bales (can weigh up to 1,000lbs), and small square bales (normally ranges 55 - 95lbs). The size of the hay bale determines how many pounds of feed you have. For example, a small square bale weighs any where from 55 - 95lbs. This means you have 55 to 95lbs of horse feed.

The best policy when figuring out how much hay you will need to purchase to make it through out the winter is to ask the farmer how much each bale of hay weighs. Yes, this may seem over bearing to the new equine owner. But, this qustion is the question that leads to a happy, healthy horse or a starving horse.

Hay bales also come in a few colors choices too. The colors of the hay that may show up from time to time are, really green, somewhat green and a straw looking light tan.

Really green hay bales means that the hay was freshly cut recently. Really green hay bales also would be a better choice of hay, this is because of the higher nutritional value. Somewhat green hay bales have been cut within the last four months. Yet, it has been setting out somewhere and has lost some of its nutritional value. Lastly, straw looking light tan hay bales have been setting out somewhere and the elements have been working on them for a while (over 6 months). Most, if not all nutritional value is gone. The straw looking hay would be great for bedding horses down at night.

However, the hay you are searching for depends on what is available in your area. The easiest way to find out what you have available in your local area is to grab your local newspaper and search for the heading livestock, hay, or feed supplies. Yes, when searching for this information you will be surprised at the wide range of hay prices. This is the time when farmers will raise the cost of hay to cover farming equipment expenses, seed expenses, and hauling hay expenses.

Many new horse owners have numerous concerns and questions when it comes to feeding their equine through out the winter. Furthermore, doing a google search may lead these concerned horse owners in to the right direction or confuse them even more. If you are confused even more, here are some questions that new horse owners seem to ask over and over again.

*What type of hay should I buy my horse?

The type of hay to buy for your horse depends on you local farmers and your equines nutritional needs. Horses need 1.5% - 2% of their body weight during cold winter months. When breaking 2% down in to hay thinking, you would need 20 - 30 pounds of hay a day, broken up into 3 feeds a day. For example, 2 flakes in the morning, 1 flake for breakfast, and 2 flakes at night. However, check your horse on a regular bases to see if he/she may need more hay. When checking your horse to if he/she may need more hay at feeding times, you are looking for ribs that can be easily felt by pushing on the side of the horse's rib cage. However, most horse owners know their horse very well and can see ribs protruding out. This protruding of ribs would mean that the horse needs more hay at feeding times.

*I can't find good hay in my local area. Can't I just buy my hay from another town?

Yes, you may buy hay from another town or state. But, are you really saving money in the long run? Can you see the hay bale to tell if you are really getting a good deal? Again, grab your local newspaper and see what the farmers have to offer. Some farmers only sale pure alfalfa, while others only sell pure native grass. A good rule of thumb is buy hay that is 50% alfalfa and 50% native grass.

*Can't I just feed my horse pure alfalfa?

Their has been numerous debates about feeding pure alfalfa, however, not one study has prove that pure alfalfa does any damage to a horse liver. Yet, other studies have shown that alfalfa could of caused colic, extreme weight gain, high-strung horses, and protein build up in the liver. The rule of thumb would be, use alfalfa with caution and very little if any.

*Got more hay related questions?

I found this web article, http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/all-about-hay-23205.aspx and to be most up-to-date and unbiased information on what types of hay are produced in America. This web article also gives you an easy way of choosing which hay is the best for your horse. Additionally, I found this article http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-nutrition-questions.shtmlthat has even more information on, graining horses, horses that eat dirt, mineral/salt blocks, supplements, treats, oats, adding oil to horse feeds, and a lot more good wholesome information for new horse owners.

Not quite yet, but we are getting closer. We still need to talk about other "fun" stuff that could happen in the winter months, like, frozen water troughs, element breakers, horse blankets, and how to warm up a stiff equine.

Let's begin with frozen water troughs. As we all know, once the temperature drops below 32*f water freezes and it is hard to unthaw. You could take a hammer and beat the ice until an opening forms up. But, you would still have to beat the frozen water until the opening is big enough for a horse to put it's mouth in to drink. This could take hours if the water trough is really frozen.

Or you could buy a water trough heater! A water trough heater keeps the water temperature at a constant temperature above freezing but below a temperature that will not burn the horse while it's drinking. Their are two forms of water trough haters, the floating water trough heater and the drain plug water trough heater. Both water trough heaters work well and both heaters cost about the same price. Of course, your equine may prefer the drain plug heater. Some horses don't like something floating near them while they are drinking and may become freaked out over the floating water trough heater.

Element breakers, or wind breakers some like to call them, are just that, they block out wind, snow, rain, slit, and hail. Their are numerous wind breakers out on the market now days and one could type up a whole enter Hubpage on wind breakers. However, the just of a wind breaker is to give your equine a place to be protected from the elements. Wind breakers do not have to be high tech or fancy, just an area for your horse to hide from the elements. One could even use a horse trailer, a row of trees, a home made lean-to, the side of your home, as a temporary wind breaker.

If by chance you cannot afford a element breaker (wind breaker) and your horse trailer isn't that big, you still have another option to help protect your horse from the harsh winter temperatures. You could provide your equine with a horse blanket. A horse blanket is another form of protection you can give your horse during those bitterly winter temperatures. Horse blankets come in a verity of sizes, colors, grams of installation filler, buckles, velcro, designs of the outer shell, and price range. However, in order to purchase the right size horse blanket you will need to measure your horse. If you have a fidgety horse that doesn't want to be measure, ask a friend for some assistants. When your ready to measure your horse you will want to measure from the middle of the horse's chest all the way around the horse's body (across the rib cage) until you reach the middle of the horse's tail. This is the size of your horse's blanket.

*Warning!* Horse blankets only come in even numbers. For example, my Appy is 79 1/2" long, but they only make horse blankets in sizes 78", 80", 82". I will have to go up a size to make sure she is comfortable. I will have to order a 80", however, I could go up to 82". But, the bigger size may chaff her in the withers. The decision is up to the horse owner on going up 2 blanket sizes or not.

Lastly, some horses become stiff (specially the older horses) during the winter months. This stiffness does not hurt them, it just looks uncomfortable to the horse owner. Because horses are standing still most of the winter months, their bones become stiff due to lack of movement. To help your equine unstick itself throw one flake of hay in one area and throw another flake of hay in another area. Your horse will have to walk to different areas to reach it's food. This mini exercise program will, make the equine think, pump blood through out the horse body (juices flowing in the body of the equine), keep him/her warm by movement, and keep him/her from being bored.

We covered a lot of information on how to prepare your equine before winter hits. Let's run through the major points one last time. (You may copy this section as a guide to prepare your equine and yourself before winter hits.)

1. Buy enough hay to last through out the winter.

2. Buy a water trough heater.

3. If you don't have enough funds to buy a water trough heater, figure out a way to keep the ice opened enough for your horse can get a drink.

4. Provide some form of element breaker (wind breaker).

5. If you cannot afford an element breaker, move your horse trailer to the area where your horse is located.

6. If your horse trailer is to small, find a row of trees and move your horse to that area.

7. If you have no row of trees, move your horse as close as you can to your home. The horse will use your home as a wind breaker.

8. All else fails, buy your horse a horse blanket. Make sure to measure your horse before purchasing a horse blanket. Remember! Horse blanket sizes are in even numbers.

9. If your horse is stiffing up, place hay flakes through out the horse's location. Placing hay flakes randomly will make your horse move around to warm up, get the heart pumping, lube up the leg muscles, and make your horse think.

And a final note from me to you~I hope the information that was provided will bring warmness to many equines this winter season.~