Feeding...

From Jim: We feed 14 bales of hay a day. Each bale runs about 135 lbs. We feed twice a day, morning and late afternoon. There is always hay laying on the ground when we go out to feed. That's good. Means we're giving everyone enough. There's all manner of formulae and ratios for the correct amount of feed. Experience tells us, feed till they won't/can't clean it all up. After awhile, there's surprisingly little waste. The other big issue we pay real attention to at feeding time is how's everyone doing. Some of our older guys need to be in a pretty non-aggressive bunch or they get driven off the feed. It's a cruel reality that occurs with herd animals. In a natural setting, it helps to insure the survival of the herd. At our place, and for domesticated critters, it's not at all necessary. We are responsible for the survival of the herd, not Darwinian nature. The behavior is hard wired into the DNA of equines, and it has to be managed. Feeding time is also a time to check on our "watch-list" critters. We always have some that are at or nearing the end of their life cycle and we want to insure that their passing is peaceful and kind. There's also time to pet an old friend and share a quiet moment or two with our animals. Sometimes we have a few minutes to work on trust building and overcoming an abused animial's fear. It's really important to see these guys frequently and regularly. The work is constant and not subject to being called 0ff on account of weather. The logistics of having sufficient quantities of good quality food never end. We need to have backup plans for the times when a machine won't start or there's a flat tire or.... The point is, feeding time regulates our days. We plan everything around those hours when the herd will get fed. We have a few trained volunteers who have taken the time to learn the feeding routine. We try to not take advantage of these good folks unless we really have to. Illness? Sore Back? Conflict in Schedule? Well, those things and any others just don't get to be in the way. It's the way of it. Our critters know we'll be there when feeding time comes around. So do we.