When I had 12 horses on the property I had a 2-hour window in the morning and in the evening during which they were fed. They were in overnight and out during the day. Nobody was ever pacing, kicking doors, etc at feed time but they were all well-fed and content. They had a pretty good life and showed very few signs of stress.
My horses are out 24/7, and their “schedule” varies a lot. Often it revolves around the dietary needs of Rony the Pony, who has Cushing’s. Right now he gets his pergolide and gets turned out with his grazing muzzle on before I go to bed at night, then he comes in sometimes in the afternoon, depending on the weather. Bright sunny days he’ll come in at 1-2 pm, pouring rain he gets to stay out until 5pm or so. Everyone gets a snack and a very basic health check when the pony comes in.
No schedule with mine either. Sometime between 4-9am and 5-9 pm. If we go somewhere they may get half fed at 2 in the afternoon and the rest at 1-2 am when we get home. The outside horses that get grain once a day- sometimes it’s morning, sometimes it’s night. Nobody’s died yet and they don’t fuss when we’re on the late side until they hear us. Count me as one of the “no schedule on purpose” crowd.
Mine live outside with access to shelter. My work schedule varies so they get fed between 4-7am and 4-7pm. They have access to a round bale so their feedings are only concentrate.
Well, I guess my question about feeding late in the morning got solved. I went out of town and had a qualified friend feed and I paid her. She said she would feed on my morning schedule because she worked in the morning. I’m pretty positive that did not happen either day I was gone. She was later, but it worked out ok…they survived. lol
I’ve always fed on a schedule and never vary it by more than 1/2 hour either way. Can’t help it, I guess - the importance of a schedule was hammered into me during my days as a professional groom. 
I don’t go on vacation. Haven’t been anywhere overnight since the horses came home in 1994.
I feed once a day (24/7 turnout with free in/out access to the barn - grass pasture in summer and free choice hay all winter). Mostly just ration balancer, but in winter one hard keeper gets more feed. I work 12 hr shifts and have an hour commute on each end, so when I work dayshift I am gone before 5am and not home until 7pm. I go feed right after work on dayshift. On nightshift and days off I feed anywhere between 3 and 5 pm. The farm is 1 km from my house, so the horses don’t expect feed until they hear my car come down the driveway. When I am away on vacation, the farm owners feed, but they have to call the horses in because the horses are used to the coming and goings of their trucks not being associated with feed.
[QUOTE=maunder;8702558]
I’ve always fed on a schedule and never vary it by more than 1/2 hour either way. Can’t help it, I guess - the importance of a schedule was hammered into me during my days as a professional groom.
I don’t go on vacation. Haven’t been anywhere overnight since the horses came home in 1994.[/QUOTE]
Sister*! :eek: Give yourself a break!
*assuming you are a sister, not brother 
When I worked at barns the same rigid schedule was beaten into me - and for stalled horses it makes a modicum of sense.
But if your horses are keeping you prisoner on your own farm, time for a Revolution!
Trust me - they will adapt - especially if they are not stall-kept & have access to some sort of pasture/turnout.
But even if they are, varying feed times will only make your life easier.
Hang slowfeed haybags if they don’t get out of stalls, but feeding grain on a rigid schedule is not required.
I travel a lot - anywhere from weekend trips to 10 days in Europe - at least a couple trips a year. For all of the 12yrs I’ve had horses at home.
I don’t even tell my farmsitters what time to get there - just AM & PM.
[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;8704922]
Sister*! :eek: Give yourself a break!
*assuming you are a sister, not brother
When I worked at barns the same rigid schedule was beaten into me - and for stalled horses it makes a modicum of sense.
But if your horses are keeping you prisoner on your own farm, time for a Revolution!
Trust me - they will adapt - especially if they are not stall-kept & have access to some sort of pasture/turnout.
But even if they are, varying feed times will only make your life easier.
Hang slowfeed haybags if they don’t get out of stalls, but feeding grain on a rigid schedule is not required.
I travel a lot - anywhere from weekend trips to 10 days in Europe - at least a couple trips a year. For all of the 12yrs I’ve had horses at home.
I don’t even tell my farmsitters what time to get there - just AM & PM.[/QUOTE]
Nope. Can’t do it. No money for travel in any case but I don’t regret what I have to do for my pet horses, goats, sheep, dogs and chickens. I don’t feel like a prisoner…it’s all I have.
Me too - chickens, pond fish, cats & horses - and Just Me here on the farmette.
But you owe it to yourself to take a break - even if that just means dinner with friends at MickeyD.
Trust me, horses will not perish if noms come a couple hours late.
And keep in mind, in an emergency someone caring for them might not be able to keep to your schedule.
P.S.
I have wanted a goat since I moved here :yes:
But MY budget does not have room for goat-proofing my fences :no:
Some day…
