Feeding My Horses
It will take time for my new Friesian horses, Hylke and Geert, to fully acclimate to life at my Bedford, New York farm - it's a different country with a different language, a different climate, and of course, different food and water, but so far these handsome steeds are doing excellently.
Hay is an important part of every horse's diet, and my Friesians, Fell pony, and donkeys depend on me to provide them with the best quality hay possible. When I moved here, I designated three separate areas as hayfields and planted them with a mixture of timothy, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and clovers - all great for producing good quality hay. We cut and bale our hay in the summer and it lasts most of the year. I'm happy to report, both Hylke and Geert liked it right away - it's a great start to a smooth transition.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Hay is a harvested plant that’s dried and cured after being cut in the field at various times of its growth cycle. In most cases, hay is cut during the late bud or early bloom stage to maximize its nutritional value.
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- The outdoor grounds crew works hard to cut, ted, windrow, and then bale the hay in my fields. This photo was taken last summer – these are rows of hay ready to bale.
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- We have our own equipment here at the farm that allows us to do the entire process ourselves. It takes several days to complete, but I know the hay I grow is good quality, nutritious hay.
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- I am so proud of the hay we grow here at the farm. Each bale is about 15 by 18 by 40 inches large. The number of flakes in the bale is determined by a setting in the baler. Many balers are set for 10 to 12 flakes per bale. I have two hay trailers. Each one can hold about 150-bales.
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- This is a close up of the hay right after it is cut. Good quality fresh hay should be bright green in color with little fading.
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- After the hay is baled, it is stacked and stored in the hayloft above the stable.
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- In another area, any hay that is no longer suitable for the horses is separated. This hay is used as nest bedding for the geese and peahens, as insulation around my hoop houses, and to direct any water runoff on the carriage roads.
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- As needed, bales are brought down in batches and organized in a spare stall.
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- This is alfalfa – a perennial legume, grown in most regions of the United States for horses and other livestock. it tends to be more nutrient-dense than most grasses and contains more digestible energy, more crude protein and calcium, and fewer nonstructural carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. We give this to my horse, Rinze, the patriarch of my stable.
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- Above the alfalfa is our first cut – the one harvested first in the year from the field before it blooms. This cutting is good for horses. There is a lot of fiber, so it is nutritious, plus it is easy to eat because the stems are flexible and thin. The donkeys and Geert prefer this hay.
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- And then there’s second cut. Second cutting is more substantial, with more leaves and a sweet smell. This hay contains a lot of protein and fat, so it is excellent for active horses. Banchunch and the other horses love this hay best.
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- It is also crucial that we monitor the amount of hay the horses consume, so they don’t become overweight or develop digestion issues. My stable crew is very mindful of the horses’ hay intake. We use these galvanized wall mounted horse feeders from RAMM. Each one holds up to three flakes of hay.
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- Bond likes his hay wet, so we soak his hay for about 30-minutes and then let it drain completely before feeding. Soaking also cuts down on the amount of dust generated by the hay.
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- To help keep eating under control, we use hay nets specially designed to slow feed times, curb boredom, and simulate grazing. This large NibbleNet is for the donkeys. Each one holds a sizable amount of hay, but because the donkeys have to pull the hay out through the webbing, they won’t eat as fast, or as much.
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- A smaller one is used to give Rinze his additional treat of alfalfa.
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- Automatic waterers are in each stall, so my horses always have fresh, clean water.
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- Each horse also gets a salt lick which contains essential mineral nutrients of salt deposits, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and calcium. It also helps to trigger a thirst response, so the horses stay well hydrated.
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- Along with their nutritious hay, my horses are given a variety of other supplements with their meals. We use these stainless steel bowls to mix up each horse’s dose – each bowl is properly labeled, so there is no confusion which supplements go into what bowl. We also label them AM and PM, so it is clear which items are for morning and evening feedings.
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- To make the supplements more appealing, they are mixed with some of their favorite grains and then served. Here’s my stable manager, Helen Peparo, ready to place each bowl into its designated stall.
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- Hylke already knows when it’s feeding time – he is waiting at the paddock gate with anticipation – what a handsome boy.
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- Here are Fernando and Dolma walking Hylke and Geert back indoors for mealtime. These two are currently turned out in the pasture just across from the stable. Now that it is winter, I like the horses out during the day and inside at night.
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- And then it’s feeding time. Because horses have small stomachs relative to their size, they eat little and often. A horse needs food spread out, preferably in two to three feedings a day. I am so glad all my equids are happy and healthy.
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