We've reached the point in the grazing season where all the blind horses on pasture are getting grain served twice a day ... and some of the very old ones are getting served three times a day. This summer became way too hot, way too soon, and the grasses browned out much earlier than usual. This lowered not just the protein level but also the overall nutritional value of the grass as forage.
Our local power co-op's monthly bill lists the average temperature at our meter for both the current billing month and the same period a year ago. On our bill for this August, the average temperature was 90 degrees vs. 68 degrees a year ago (32 degrees C vs. 20 degrees C). That heat took a huge toll on the grass.
So for several weeks now we've been loading up buckets of equine senior grain and delivering them to the horses scattered in various pastures across the ranch. We usually do this with the ranch ATV. I took the photo this evening after giving blind Domino (on the left) and his girlfriend, blind Guadalupe, their grain.
Next to the water tank is their salt block, their mineral block, and in the green tub is their protein block. The dried grass is fine for roughage, but the protein block helps give them the additional protein the grass lacks. The grain makes sure they get enough of everything they need to maintain their weight.
You'll recall that Pavlov's dog salivated at the sound of a bell ringing. Our dog with the fused jaw, Travis, salivates at the sound of the blender whirring up his liquid food. For the horses, it's the sound of the ATV coming that really gets their juices flowing!
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A note about yesterday's post on Blanca in the chair: Some folks wondered how Blanca knew I had left the chair, since she is blind and deaf. Sorry, I should have mentioned that she had been lying on a dog bed right in front of the chair at my feet, so she could feel me get up and move.
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Such a beautiful shot of the changing season.
The horses sure know how to graze in style!
Posted by: Boundforglory | September 20, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Bon Appetite!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | September 18, 2007 at 12:01 AM