Had an old cowboy say to me once. "You know what the secret is to growing good colts and horses is"? I was all ears thinking I was going to get in on a big secret. "Just good alfalfa". Looking back gotta laugh.
That was a terrible thing that happened to that yearling. I’m glad someone else has the same outlook on feeding. Being a diabetic for 47 years now, I understand exactly what you are saying about carbs. Shoot, I might need to look into the cost of alfalfa if groceries keep going up. Lol
Until here recently, all I’ve ever fed was a third or fourth cut alfalfa. But where I’m at its hard to find. Heck I’ll even feed an orchard blend. So alfalfa cube is my go to, wet or dry.
We used to feed them at elk camp because they were easier to pack then hay but the dang Grizzly bears got to where they would run the horses off and eat the cubes themselves.
I haven’t done a whole lot of packing, but hauling animals in and out of cow camps. Carried a lot in, bales seem to be half of what you left with or soaked and to heavy.
I have come a ways, and doubt I've arrived yet...I probably made most of the classic mistakes...one was jumping into a breeding program...a stud and 3 mares... I bought good alfalfa thinking whatever it was at the time... Some of the hay got wet with time and I fed that to the stud thinking he'd just pick around the bad. He ended up getting heaves. The better hay I fed to yhe mares, and their foal crop. Epiphysitis was the result in one of the fillies. My vet advised I lay off the alfalfa and feed (orchard) grass hay. Mistakes like this are the makings of multiple cussing phrases. If in doubt about how to feed a horse, feed them Total Feed. It's pretty simple, and produces good results. As always, thankS for sharing Brett. -Homey
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt lol...in response to one of my comments a month or so ago, you called me Homey....aybe it was in jest or maybe you're getting used yo yhe 2 cent comments I throw out there...either way it doesn't hurt even a freckle...you didn't call me late to supper, so... 👍
Not my opinion just the way it is. Oat hay is low protein and high carbohydrate. Lots of slow burning energy. Keeps them warm in the winter. They will need some supplement .
I love oats as a feed for horses (don't care for them myself). They are somewhat inefficient in the terms of cost vs caloric value, on the other hand horses look and feel good when they are on oats and you can not founder them. They can have free choice oats and be fine ( not sure why you would but you could).
Thats all i feed is alfalfa tired some grass one time to supplement as a filler to fed less alfalfa and my all my horses wouldnt touch the grass so i just gave it to the cows and when it was gone everything the horses and the cows went back to alfalfa and i have never had any problems if it got a little wet from the little rain we get i just gave that stuff to the cows and the rest to the horses
I guess in my mind i relate it to cattle. When i first started in the feedyard part of the cattle industry a really good mentor of mine told me that thae fat cattle have "high calorie intake and low brain function"
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt Ha. I'm guessing dannonya 'loves you' because you don't know if comments make you more money. You're in it to share your knowledge and horsemanship. I have a youtube channel and have no clue even how to make money via youtube. But evidently, all of y'all do make something! ha. Keep up the good work. I feed alfalfa because of the higher protein. Funny thing is, it is cheaper here in the PNW because most people demand grass hay because they think alfalfa is bad for their horses. So quit telling people the truth! ha ha
I believe you are spot on. Common sense with in depth study and knowledge.
Common sense isn't very common.
Had an old cowboy say to me once. "You know what the secret is to growing good colts and horses is"? I was all ears thinking I was going to get in on a big secret. "Just good alfalfa". Looking back gotta laugh.
he was right
Alfalfa is one of the best forage choices for horses. I would agree to stop over feeding horses, regardless of what you’re feeding.
most folks don't know any better
That was a terrible thing that happened to that yearling. I’m glad someone else has the same outlook on feeding. Being a diabetic for 47 years now, I understand exactly what you are saying about carbs. Shoot, I might need to look into the cost of alfalfa if groceries keep going up. Lol
lol
Until here recently, all I’ve ever fed was a third or fourth cut alfalfa. But where I’m at its hard to find. Heck I’ll even feed an orchard blend. So alfalfa cube is my go to, wet or dry.
Those cubes are a good way to go. I prefer the pellets for no particular reason but either work well.
We used to feed them at elk camp because they were easier to pack then hay but the dang Grizzly bears got to where they would run the horses off and eat the cubes themselves.
I haven’t done a whole lot of packing, but hauling animals in and out of cow camps. Carried a lot in, bales seem to be half of what you left with or soaked and to heavy.
@@davodeden2714 Im not sure I ever packed hay but I have heard some horror stories about it.
I have come a ways, and doubt I've arrived yet...I probably made most of the classic mistakes...one was jumping into a breeding program...a stud and 3 mares...
I bought good alfalfa thinking whatever it was at the time...
Some of the hay got wet with time and I fed that to the stud thinking he'd just pick around the bad. He ended up getting heaves.
The better hay I fed to yhe mares, and their foal crop.
Epiphysitis was the result in one of the fillies.
My vet advised I lay off the alfalfa and feed (orchard) grass hay.
Mistakes like this are the makings of multiple cussing phrases.
If in doubt about how to feed a horse, feed them Total Feed. It's pretty simple, and produces good results.
As always, thankS for sharing Brett. -Homey
I misread the word homey and it caused me to choke lol.
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt lol...in response to one of my comments a month or so ago, you called me Homey....aybe it was in jest or maybe you're getting used yo yhe 2 cent comments I throw out there...either way it doesn't hurt even a freckle...you didn't call me late to supper, so... 👍
@@ropinlightning I use homey a lot
Excellent 👍
Thank you
Hank Wiescamp said one time the only time alfalfa hurts a horse is when he doesn’t get it.
I agree
Whats your opinion on oat hay, out of curiosity. Been wondering how it would effect working horses in feedyard during winter
Not my opinion just the way it is. Oat hay is low protein and high carbohydrate. Lots of slow burning energy. Keeps them warm in the winter. They will need some supplement .
Did you decide to move to the ranch in Texas?
yep
Did you move to Texas?
Sure did. Sweating my tail off lol.
What part of Texas did you land? I am in Bowie.
Can you speak to whole oats? I mix whole organic oats in with alfalfa pellets.
I love oats as a feed for horses (don't care for them myself). They are somewhat inefficient in the terms of cost vs caloric value, on the other hand horses look and feel good when they are on oats and you can not founder them. They can have free choice oats and be fine ( not sure why you would but you could).
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArtthank you very much for your input. Much appreciated.
@@kgrey7 no worries
Thats all i feed is alfalfa tired some grass one time to supplement as a filler to fed less alfalfa and my all my horses wouldnt touch the grass so i just gave it to the cows and when it was gone everything the horses and the cows went back to alfalfa and i have never had any problems if it got a little wet from the little rain we get i just gave that stuff to the cows and the rest to the horses
its good stuff
I guess in my mind i relate it to cattle. When i first started in the feedyard part of the cattle industry a really good mentor of mine told me that thae fat cattle have "high calorie intake and low brain function"
You can't relate it to cattle man, totally different gastro intestinal system. You would be better off to relate to your own body.
Does commenting on your videos help your revenue from TH-cam?
I don't know.
And thats why I fricken love you man. Lmao
@@dannonya8783 Because I don't know stuff?
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt Ha. I'm guessing dannonya 'loves you' because you don't know if comments make you more money. You're in it to share your knowledge and horsemanship. I have a youtube channel and have no clue even how to make money via youtube. But evidently, all of y'all do make something! ha. Keep up the good work. I feed alfalfa because of the higher protein. Funny thing is, it is cheaper here in the PNW because most people demand grass hay because they think alfalfa is bad for their horses. So quit telling people the truth! ha ha
@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt Well yes. Lol
It's not to more energy for a horse, or you mixed it with normaly grashay
lost a little in translation my friend. Im not sure what you mean.
1/2 alfalfa and 1/2 normal hay@@HorsemanshipAsAnArtfor one ration
@@wolfgangknoll-ev6gl yes that is a good ration in my opinion
👍@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt