Feeding hay while at shows

[mydaddysjag]

I am considering taking both of my horses to a fair to be shown at their miniature show. They have to be stabled at the fair to be allowed to be shown there, and have to be there for 5 days. They would haul in the 30th in the early afternoon, show the 1st, and be released the 3rd.

In the past with the minis I had always just fed normally, hay and grain, morning and night, and ulcergard once a day. When I used to show the big horses we would break up their daily amount of hay in multiple smaller meals throughout the day, however we never worried about feeding them too much hay before a show either. It kept them occupied, and made me worry less about ulcers.

With the minis I cant throw a flake of hay every 2 hours or they would be as big as a house, but have you ever taken their entire daily ration of hay, and split it up throughout the day into smaller portions to be fed throughout the day instead of a larger amount at breakfast and dinner?

Did they act like they were being starved when they didn't get as much hay at one meal?

Do you think this would be beneficial to the horses?

 

[ruffian]

Yes, you can split up their ration, same as a big horse. It will keep them occupied and help them handle the stress of being at the grounds 5 days.

Are you taking fans? I would strongly suggest that if your fair allows. I would also cover the door with a screen or something to prevent idiots from feeding them anything from apples to candy corn to hot dogs.

 

[mydaddysjag]

I'll be taking box fans if i'm allowed. I used to show at this fair when I was younger, but in a different barn for 4H, and I know the rules are different. I'll try to see if I can make some type of screens for the stall tops, they are the portable type of stalls that have the bars across the top of the front and door.

 

[mydaddysjag]

I have been trying to find some sort of stall screens to hang so noone can touch or feed the horses, but not having much luck. The closest thing I can find is the screen Schneiders sells, but its way too large, and $50 each.

Does anyone know a affordable way to do something like this? I want people to be able to see them, but not feed them.

The stalls are the portable type stalls, their either 10' or 12' I cant remember but will find out. They are the portable type with bars on the top portion of the front of the stall and door.

 

[Katiean]

When we went to the Nor-Cal Reno Show I really had a hard time with this hay or even feed thing. At feeding time I would see people giving a very tiny handfull of hay and I very rearly saw anyone feeding grain. Even though I did hear a couple of people talk about giving grain. And then there was me carting the muck bucket out to the trailer where we kept our bail of hay. Well, really it was a box of oat hay and a bail of orchard grass. I was feeding 2 horses in one stall so I used 1/4 of a flake of grass and 1/4 flake of oat hay and both of their feed pans with their grain. Then as an extra boost I would toss in a bit of oat hay. My horses are not fat and I think even at a show they need things as close to normal as you can keep it. To keep them from being boared we took them for walks out in the parking lots so not to bother other exibitors. But then long walks up in the hills is something we do at home.

 

[Fanch]

I know it sounds crazy, but I usually increase the amount of hay I give at a show. I have one gelding who is underweight, and never seems to blow up with hay, and the other gelding gets just a bit less. For shows, I really like to seem that hay bag full almost constantly.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Not strange at all Paige, me too!!

I hang the whole day and nights hay in one net...the net takes half a bale, and has tiny tiny holes in it.

The longest I have been at a show is three days, and the net usually lasts that long, they tend not to over eat as there is so much available.

Had you thought of the wind break screening you can get at garden centres for a top screen??