Stall Grazer Horse Feeders...The Choice of Champions by Pat McCarty
I
n order to understand how to best feed our horses, it’s important to understand how a horse is naturally programmed to eat. Horses are grazing animals. Their composition and digestion are based on being able to eat with their head closer to ground level. Similarly, they are intended to graze for approximately 17 hours per day. Being able to eat low to the ground and graze over most of the day is something that is natural to the species. These days, most horses will spend a much more significant part of their lives in stalls or in paddocks and pastures that do not resemble the grazing lifestyle
intended by nature. Many designs of feeders attached higher on the wall, do not take into account that the horses teeth will not come into alignment until their head is down. That being the case, much hay is wasted when it is placed too high up because the horse will pull it down and then eat it off the ground. Another issue with an eating program that doesn’t consider that horses are supposed to graze a large part of the day is colic potential. Horses are intended to have food in the gut most of the day, but when feeding is done only twice a day with a high amount of concentrates versus forages, they will gorge themselves. This means that they will spend a good part of the day
without food working through their system which leaves them at risk to colic. When a horse eats so quickly, the hay and its nutrients are passed through the stomach with a very low degree of efficiency. If the acids in his stomach are not working on the digestion of forage for a significant amount of the day, it poses a risk for developing ulcers. The Stall Grazer 3 in 1 Horse Feeder serves as a grazing station for your horses. It is designed to allow the horse to eat at ground level, putting the horses head in the natural grazing position. The feeder has a capacity to hold a full day’s worth of the feed and will virtually eliminate wasted
hay. Keeping forage in the feeder at all times, most horses will soon learn how to self-regulate their hay consumption and return to a more natural way of eating. A natural slow feeder! Start feeding your horse the way nature intended with the Stall Grazer 3 in 1 horse feeder. Stall Grazer horse feeders are in stock and available at Cashmans Horse Equipment located at 1646 US Hwy 42 in Delaware, Ohio, or online anytime at www. cashmans.com. Cashmans Horse Equipment is celebrating 40 years serving and educating the equine community. Bringing you the best quality products at the best prices since 1979.
Dusty Boots Riding Club
Celebrating our Successful 2019 Show Season PRESIDENT, Billy Jo Brown; 1ST VICE PRESIDENT, Jason Brown; TREASURER, Donna Rohrer; SECRETARY, Tonya Wilson; EMAIL, dustyboots@dustybootsridingclub.com WEBSITE, www. dustybootsridingclub.com
by Tonya Wilson The Dusty Boots officers, directors, and trustees would like
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to thank each and every exhibitor that showed with us this year! 2019 was a great year—entries were up and the support of our sponsors allowed us to give away great prizes. With show season ending, there are still a lot of exciting events happening for the Dusty Boots members! On Nov. 2 the Dusty Boots Youth Club, ‘Boot Dusters,’ will be having a youth meeting at Brants Apple Orchard starting at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will definitely include time to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery and a sweet treat! The next meeting held Nov. 6 will include election of officers and the royalty competition interviews and tests. The royalty festivities will begin at 6 p.m. and the general meeting will follow at 7 p.m. The officers, directors and trustees will be busy this fall and winter planning the annual awards banquet that will take place March 21, 2020 as well as the 2020 show season. Again and again, we are thankful for the people who make our shows successful! From the office workers to the ring crew, our generous sponsors, and all the individuals who choose to compete at Dusty Boots shows. Without all of you, this year would not have been a success! We would like to extend a special thank you to both Big D’s and Schneider’s Saddlery for their continued support of our organization. Are you interested in joining Dusty Boots Riding Club? Are you a current member looking to
HORSEMEN’S CORRAL
get more involved? We welcome everyone to our monthly meetings! The meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus (A-Tech) in the B Building. 1565 State Route 307, Jefferson, Ohio. The December meeting will be canceled. Monthly meetings will resume in January. Check out our Facebook page or our website at www.dustybootsridingclub.com. November 2019