Importance of feeding routine?

[Weezer]

For the last 10 years or so, my horses have been casual backyard ponies. No regular training schedule, but adventures on the trails a few times a week. They have 24/7 hay, 24/7 turnout with access to the barn and they are fed grain or a ration balancer twice a day. For as long as I can remember, my feeding schedule has been pretty casual. They tend to get fed within the same 2 hour window most mornings and nights, but if my afternoon schedule gets complicated, they might get dinner really early or really late. They always seem fine with this.

Now all three horses are fully retired - ranging in age from 24 to 28. We live in an area where climate change is really hammering us during the winters and the weather is all over the place. Historically we are around -25C during the winter but this year we are bouncing all over the place. A few years ago, my “old boy” vet said that the colic rate goes way up when the weather bounces around and the best way to combat that is to blanket them carefully so that their core temp doesn’t vary much. So now I have every possible thickness of blanket and everyone seems happy.

I recently read an article (maybe on COTH?) that research suggests the biggest factor to cause colic in bad weather is a change in routine. That got me wondering if my relaxed approach to dinner might be a risk factor for my old herd?

Life on the farm is basically zero stress for these horses. Every now and then the TB goes for a rip, but I think that is more to stretch her legs than because she is spooking. The others may or may not join in, depending on how enticing the grass/hay is. I’m thinking that because they always have hay to munch on, and they are never called into action, their digestive systems are probably ticking along pretty regularly, regardless of what time dinner arrives. But I would love to hear some COTH expertise on this.

For reference, my herd includes a hard keeper TB who gets a lot of grain and beet pulp, and two easy keepers who get a bit of grain and ration balancer. Everyone gets supplements and medications tailored to their ailments.

[SMF11]

I board retirees who are out in big pastures, with hay in front of them 24/7. I feed in a 2 hour window (that is, I might feed at 8 am one day and 10 am the next, though I usually feed at 9 am). In my opinion, that is actually a safer way to feed, as the horses a) are never very hungry as they have forage all the time and b) aren’t trained to expect a meal at a precise time. I think where changes in routine are problematic are when horses have empty stomachs and they are always fed at one time – that’s when they will really feel any deviation.

[FjordBCRF]

My understanding with the weather fluxes is that it can discourage them from drinking normally, which can then in turn lead to colic. Echoing @SMF11 on the empty stomach piece, since yours have 24/7 hay access I should think that makes a big difference with not having the empty stomach element to worry about too.

[Angela_Freda]

According to the vet treating A horse at present barn, keeping the stomach from “being empty” can be as little as, literally, three alfalfa cubes. This is on top of pretty much 24/7 hay.
That’s what this horse gets at night feed (10pm) to ward of ulcer issues.

One thing I like about a regular ish feeding time is that one becomes familiar with how they act at that time, so that if behavior changes, one isn’t trying to figure out if they are upset cause dinner is late or because there’s something else brewing.

[trubandloki]

I think the system you describe in the OP is perfect.

I have always thought grain feeding either needs to be spot on regular or not regular at all (not saying totally erratic, I am saying like you do).

With hay available all the time they can eat when they want to and keep their bellies full. You are doing a great job.

[Obsidian_Fire]

Based on everything you described, I think you are just fine. Your horses have forage. They aren’t “half starved” waiting for doled-out rations like you might see at a boarding/training barn.
You have them at home, I’m going to assume you have eyes on them frequently enough that you’d know if something seemed amiss.
I am in your camp regarding feeding times. A little loosey-goosey is a lot less stressful than everything being ‘down to the minute’. Said with the caveat that you provide 24/7 forage. If you did not, then yes I’d think you’re setting yourself up for problems.
You’re doing fine. You know your herd. They know you. It’s all good!

[Weezer]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! The horses never seemed bothered by this approach, so I figured it was fine. Just wanted to check with experts!

[2DogsFarm]

I’m gonna call myself an Expert now

I feed pretty much like you describe & my Herd of 3 has the same access to pastures & stalls 24/7/365.
I feed hay 3X daily, sometimes 4, if I’m at the barn midday. Grain 2X, AM & PM, but times can vary depending on my schedule.
I’ve fed as early as 3A, as late as 11P.
In the Frigid temps we had I overfed hay at my late barncheck - 10Pish.
I’d rather waste some hay than have them with nothing overnight.
I have heated buckets in the stalls & a 50gal barrel trough (with sinking de-icer) outside.
Easy to monitor drinking & with eyes on them at least 3X daily I can see NQR & assess what might need doing.

[JB]

@Weezer

I recently read an article (maybe on COTH?) that research suggests the biggest factor to cause colic in bad weather is a change in routine.

The antidote to this is to not have a routine It is very valid that horses who are in pretty strict routines get (more) upset when that routine is varied. But if timing is varied to start, there’s nothing to get upset about. It’s harder to vary the routine when horses are stalled, in most places at least, because hay in stalls may only last so long before you have to get out there to put more out, and typically that’s also when people feed meals.

I would keep doing what you’re doing. I’ve been doing the same thing for 20 years. The horses may go down to the barn in the general timeframe in which they’re usually fed (which is usually within about a 2 hour window in the mornings) and if they don’t see results, they quietly go about their business until they see me go down there, or I have to call them in.

The only time they might get a little miffed is if I have to go to the barn for something other than to feed, they expected that behavior meant they’d get fed, but they don’t. They might throw a little tantrum which, ironically, usually means just blasting off to the far side of the pasture to sulk out there And even that doesn’t happen often.

Mine are out full time, like yours. This means they always have forage, so there’s no rush to get out and feed them

[lenapesadie]

I’m also in the loose routine camp with horses given free access to barn, turn out and forage. I will say my retiree TB is sensitive to changes whereas my younger horse doesn’t give a flying rodent’s tush as long as he has hay lol.

[SMF11]

But if you feed at varying times, the horses are never upset/agitated due to the feeding time. It’s just important to know what a horse’s normal behavior is at feeding time, to know if there’s a problem. But you also need to know what’s normal for that horse generally-- you should be able to look in the field and determine at a glance if something isn’t right.

[Bogie]

I am in the no routine camp. Our horses are out 24/7 with access to pasture. We feed a ton of hay when the pasture is low and extra hay when it’s cold. My mare is pretty sure that every time I come to the barn it must be time to be fed, but when I’ve fed late, they are usually out grazing. When she’s been at a full service barn with a routine, I’ve noted that all the horses start to anticipate their meals and can get quite upset when not fed on schedule.

[tabula_rashah]

I am also big in the no routine camp. My guys are out 24/7 with access to either hay or pasture year round. They get fed whenever I can during the day. They seem to know not to bother coming to the fence line to eat until I actually get there lol

[clanter]

routine… the horses listen for the commuter train whistle in the morning, noon is the church bell, evening is the setting sun

[StormyDay]

I have (knock on wood) never had issues with any of mine having a somewhat varied routine. I have about a 3 hour variation depending on the schedule that day. But they all live outside with hay and shelter.

You know what is crazy to me? Growing up, the barn I boarded at didn’t feed grain, pick stalls, or turnout on the weekends or holidays. The horses got hay. This was considered normal in the area and several barns did this. Me and several other boarders formed a co-op to turn them out and feed dinner grain, but many of the other boarders just didn’t bother.

[Angela_Freda]

@SMF11

But if you feed at varying times, the horses are never upset/agitated due to the feeding time.

That’s harder to do in a boarding/lesson barn where schedules for training and lessons and arrival of owners after work expecting to ride can dictate feeding times, as can staffing.

And I’ve known horses who get worked up regardless. shrug

But maybe I’m misunderstanding what some mean by “varying times”.
It seems it could mean: Within an hour-ish at one end of the spectrum and completely unreliably random on the other end.

[beowulf]

@Weezer

I recently read an article (maybe on COTH?) that research suggests the biggest factor to cause colic in bad weather is a change in routine. That got me wondering if my relaxed approach to dinner might be a risk factor for my old herd?

That seems incredibly reductive and gives people an unfair sense of alarm when real life, reasonable delays or hardship prevent routines from being adhered to. Where was this posted?

I think routine only matters when you are keeping a horse in industry-standard boarding management, which we have all learned is not ideal for the horse. That’s limited hay intake, 2-3 large concentrate feedings a day, isolated and stalled the typical 16 hours, only seeing 8 or fewer hours of turnout, etc. In those cases, I think it’s valid that horses in controlled and confined management can get extremely stressed by inconsistencies or changes in routine, because they don’t have hay or herdmates to keep them occupied the other 16 hours of the day they’re in a stall.

Some days my horses get grained at 4 PM. Sometimes they don’t get grained until I get home at 10 PM. On late days I might get the stinkeye from my food-motivated Fatty, but the rest don’t care. They have access to 24/7 hay, so I don’t think they rely on routine the way a horse deprived of turnout/friends and full access to hay do. They don’t need that exciting dinner to break the monotony of their day because they’re out 24/7 with herdmates and stuffing their face with hay all day.

What that excerpt probably should mention is that these colics are caused by management, not disruption of routine.

I really would like to know more about the science behind big weather fluctuations and colic scares. I know this was a very real thing in every boarding barn I’ve ever been part of: I even took care of one gelding who would gas colic like clockwork every time there was a big drop (30F+) in temps. But I don’t see this replicated in barns where 24/7 turnout is the norm and there is no stalling.

[SLW]

I feed like you do- forage always available and the meager daily rations are fed within a 2 hour window morning and night with 24/7 turnout.

Stalled horses probably get the dormitory effect- one horse starts banging the walls for grain and it spreads through the barn until you have 15 or 20 bored horses anxiously waiting for their grain rations.

A rapid drop in the barometric pressure or temperature in a short span of time seems to be a trigger for some colics.

[beowulf]

@SLW

Stalled horses probably get the dormitory effect- one horse starts banging the walls for grain and it spreads through the barn until you have 15 or 20 bored horses anxiously waiting for their grain rations.

“Dormitory effect”. I love that. Perfect description for the early-morning shenanigans that is opening the barn door and being greeted with the equine equivalent of “F#%$ YOU, where’s my breakfast?!”.

[Weezer]

My horses are very similar. They come to the barn anytime they see me there, and are confused if no food is offered. I generally give at least a treat or two to encourage them to always come to the barn so I can be lazy when I need to change a blanket or do something with them. They start lingering around the barn at typical feeding times and I’m convinced that one of the horses watches me through the house windows when he wants to be fed because he always seems to be looking into the window I’m looking out of.