Trail Riding In Early Morning

onehorse · 08-17-2008, 03:47 PM

I'm new to trail riding and have a question about riding in the early morning, do you feed your horse before going out to ride?

Val · 08-17-2008, 03:49 PM

I do.....Cruiser would be really pissed if I took him out on a empty stomache.

jtfer1968 · 08-17-2008, 03:59 PM

I do, I just get up early so their food can digest a bit before the ride.

Horselessnomore · 08-17-2008, 04:02 PM

Mine has access to hay 24/7 so I don't usually feed him before I go on a trail ride. I will give him some alfalfa cubes to keep him occupied while I groom & tack him up though . . . . . . . He would get a bit of grain after the ride.

walkerfarms · 08-17-2008, 04:09 PM

Feed and then ride if riding in the morning(keep on schedule for feeding time)

BarnBum · 08-17-2008, 04:20 PM

Feed, wait 2-3 hrs then ride, otherwise you risk gas colic. Speaking thru experience from a camping trip when campers rode right after they fed. Both their horses were colicy, vet called, said it was gas colic from riding too soon. Wait 2-3 hrs minimum b/4 riding before feeding.

BklynCwgrl · 08-17-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnBum

Feed, wait 2-3 hrs then ride, otherwise you risk gas colic. Speaking thru experience from a camping trip when campers rode right after they fed. Both their horses were colicy, vet called, said it was gas colic from riding too soon. Wait 2-3 hrs minimum b/4 riding before feeding.

I wouldn't say that NEVER happens, but I ride right after I feed...and sometimes I don't have time to let them finish eating. When it's very hot in the summer, I like to go out very early.

cook1745 · 08-17-2008, 06:16 PM

Maybe Hay ..Not Grain. I agree about waiting a couple hours.

redboy · 08-17-2008, 07:46 PM

Sometimes I give a little handful to give them energy before a ride. If I were going to be gone out riding all day, then I would wait and allow them proper time to digest, but a little morning jaunt, I;m not overly concerned about any potential problem there. Just make sure they get their dinner the night before so they have energy in reserve for the AM ride. RB

BarnBum · 08-17-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BklynCwgrl

I wouldn't say that NEVER happens, but I ride right after I feed...and sometimes I don't have time to let them finish eating. When it's very hot in the summer, I like to go out very early.

But it DID happen and I was just letting the OP know the risk.

BarnBum · 08-17-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cook1745

Maybe Hay ..Not Grain. I agree about waiting a couple hours.

sandy42345 · 08-17-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnBum

Feed, wait 2-3 hrs then ride, otherwise you risk gas colic. Speaking thru experience from a camping trip when campers rode right after they fed. Both their horses were colicy, vet called, said it was gas colic from riding too soon. Wait 2-3 hrs minimum b/4 riding before feeding.

I tottaly agree. I wait at least 2 hrs

Carri · 08-17-2008, 07:54 PM

When we show early in the morning, we feed hay only, and just one flake, and a small handful of feed so they are not mad, then they get their actual breakfast when they get done.

Knightrider · 08-18-2008, 02:46 AM

I feed at 5:30, ride at 6:45. We don't ride long or hard. Been doing it for 40 years. I do worry a little about riding so soon after feeding, but we just usually meander along and enjoy the mornings. It's a wonderful time to ride.

grannycowgirl · 08-18-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redboy

Sometimes I give a little handful to give them energy before a ride. If I were going to be gone out riding all day, then I would wait and allow them proper time to digest, but a little morning jaunt, I;m not overly concerned about any potential problem there. Just make sure they get their dinner the night before so they have energy in reserve for the AM ride. RB

Trailriding is such good therapy, for both horse and rider.

oveywon · 08-18-2008, 08:08 AM

If it's going to be a long day, I will feed grain in the morning and wait only 1 hour before trailering. I always start out slow with a long warm up.

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08-17-2008, 03:47 PM
onehorse Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 21	Trail Riding In Early Morning I'm new to trail riding and have a question about riding in the early morning, do you feed your horse before going out to ride?

08-17-2008, 03:49 PM
Val Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 277	I do.....Cruiser would be really pissed if I took him out on a empty stomache.

08-17-2008, 03:59 PM
jtfer1968 Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,000	I do, I just get up early so their food can digest a bit before the ride. __________________

08-17-2008, 04:02 PM
Horselessnomore Long Yearling Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,343	Mine has access to hay 24/7 so I don't usually feed him before I go on a trail ride. I will give him some alfalfa cubes to keep him occupied while I groom & tack him up though . . . . . . . He would get a bit of grain after the ride.

08-17-2008, 04:09 PM
walkerfarms Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TY TY Georgia Posts: 347	Feed and then ride if riding in the morning(keep on schedule for feeding time)

08-17-2008, 04:20 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,609	Feed, wait 2-3 hrs then ride, otherwise you risk gas colic. Speaking thru experience from a camping trip when campers rode right after they fed. Both their horses were colicy, vet called, said it was gas colic from riding too soon. Wait 2-3 hrs minimum b/4 riding before feeding. __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !! Last edited by BarnBum : 08-17-2008 at 04:25 PM.

08-17-2008, 06:16 PM
cook1745 Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 3,510	Maybe Hay ..Not Grain. I agree about waiting a couple hours. __________________ Home of my sweet girl Cinnamon. Not fancy but she is mine!!!

08-17-2008, 07:46 PM
redboy Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland Posts: 943	Sometimes I give a little handful to give them energy before a ride. If I were going to be gone out riding all day, then I would wait and allow them proper time to digest, but a little morning jaunt, I;m not overly concerned about any potential problem there. Just make sure they get their dinner the night before so they have energy in reserve for the AM ride. RB

08-17-2008, 07:54 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	When we show early in the morning, we feed hay only, and just one flake, and a small handful of feed so they are not mad, then they get their actual breakfast when they get done. __________________

08-18-2008, 02:46 AM
Knightrider Weanling Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hildreth, Florida Posts: 347	I feed at 5:30, ride at 6:45. We don't ride long or hard. Been doing it for 40 years. I do worry a little about riding so soon after feeding, but we just usually meander along and enjoy the mornings. It's a wonderful time to ride. __________________ Before each ride, I think to myself, "I hope no one tells me I am 'a heck of a rider.'."

08-18-2008, 08:08 AM
oveywon Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,035	If it's going to be a long day, I will feed grain in the morning and wait only 1 hour before trailering. I always start out slow with a long warm up.