Daily Routine for Working Horses?

As John said, it all depends on the job. When I farmed full time, I fed every morning about five, then went to work as soon as it was light enough to see. Depending on the weather and the work, I would rest them, still hitched, in the shade. For dinner I would un hook and either drive them to the creek or the barn for water and a little hay. They rested while I ate. Then back to work until near-dark. We went home, I turned them out, and fed after they drank. I found that this worked well for me, and that it still does, even though I only work on weekends now. I learned early on that resting in the shade was nice, not only for the horses, but for me as well, as the Arkansas heat is hard on man and beast. And finally, like John said, to feed a hot horse before watering him could easily kill him. Good luck and have fun,
Mac

Jeremy:

My routine changes in the summer and winter and has changed as I have gained experience with my horses. We started out with horses in what sounds like a similar situation to you (i.e not a lot of folks around the area who work horses regularly). When we got our team 3 years ago, my wife Kristan and I did everything together with the horses. We did this for safety reasons and also to hone our skills as best we could given the circumstances (bouncing ideas off each other etc.). A lot of our early work was moving wood in a wagon – one person holding the lines the other loading wood. We slowly added jobs as our confidence grew (basic field work, spreading manure, light logging and finally on to haying). The short answer to our early routine was there was none. We got out together with the horses as much as we could which was difficult given the demands of the farm and we took our lumps in the process.

These days we work the horses alone. My summer routine is similar to Mac’s. In the winter, I generally take my team out after I finish chores in the morning. I alternate cutting and skidding out in the woods and bring them back for lunch. I have last year’s firewood piled tree length and I return from the woods with a load. I take off their bridles, loosen the pole strap, hay and water them while they are attached to the logging arch. After lunch, it is quick to get them going and we are back to the woods.

George

Yes Geoff, parking brake is on. There is a round bale about 15′ infront of them, but out of the picture. The brake keeps them honest. This is how I secure them in the woods while I am cutting as well.

George

Jean, I was wondering if someone would notice that. That is a new mare we purchased this fall to team with our halflinger. She is a 5 year old draft / paint cross. My other bay gelding was out with 2 abscessed feet :(and I have been working her in the woods. She is coming along nicely – learning to start a large load, pacing with her teammate, dealing with the chainsaw, etc. This size horse seems ideally suited for moderate loads over a long period of time – I imagine a good mowing horse which is the main reason we got her. However, I notice the lack of power when things are dug in.

George

Jeremy:
Mine don’t go in the barn unless we’re loading the wagon. I feed mine in a trough twice a day and they get all the hay they want. They stay in a lot about an acre in size. Not much grazing, but like I say, they get all they want to eat. Big water trough too. Some of my friends take a bit of grain to the woods with them, when they go, but often they just wait. And most of the time there is a pond or creek you can water in.
Now, as far as grain goes, you’re gonna love this. I feed mine five ears of whole, unshelled corn twice daily, along with two or three hands of cane fodder, all raised on my ground. And contrary to popular belief, you can feed whole corn to horses. I’ve done it for years, as has my grandfather and his father before him. However, mine get worked almost every day of the week. So they need the energy.
As far as wormer goes, I use Ivermec. And every spring each one gets a Kentucky twist cut up in some sweet feed. It works quite well I think.
Mac

The way I have done if is give them the bulk of their hay ration at night. Over much hay for a hard working horse can lead to excess sweating and blowing. I feed chopped hay and mix the grain ration with soaked beet pulp..this way the ration can be adjusted more easily to suit the work load. I not only cut the ration on rest days but cut it the day before and resume full ration after a day at work. Feed for actual work and not anticipated work. Regards the grazing we let them out at night and in the barn during the heat of the day if the grass is in abundance when they arnt working…as I always say… it works for me.. good luck and enjoy those horses..
John

I’m a little late to the fray, but I’ll give you an idea of our routine. We do more fieldwork then woodwork (although I try to do more of that now). They’re brought in from pasture about 7:00 in the morning where they’ve had full access to grass and water all night. I give them half their grain ration when they come in and they have a manger full of hay. After I eat my breakfast we head out to the field. About noon I drive them back up to the barn. Leave them in harness, offer them a drink, put them in their stalls to eat hay while I eat lunch, offer them a drink after I get done. Hook them back p, work until 5:00 or so, bring them back up, offer them a drink, pull ther harnesses and tie them back in their stalls while I eat dinner. Give them the other half of their grain after I eat dinner then cut them loose to pasture until the next morning when we do it all over again (schedules permitting). I didn’t notice on your profile where you’re from. If you are ever in the area on a when we are working them you’re more than welcome to stop by and see in person!