This is Robert (and Misty)...
Robert works at Mountain View Trail Rides, a business that takes members of the community out on horse trail rides in the nearby bushland. The business owns 35 horses. However, they rotate these in and out of active service throughout the year. Robert and his colleagues typically look after about 15 horses at any one time. The daily duties involve feeding and watering each horse. Depending on the horse's size, age and activity requirements, their feed portion may differ in ingredients and supplements. The property owned by Moutain View Trail Rides also has a variety of other farm animals that form a petting zoo feature. Animals in this attraction include a donkey, sheep, chickens, pigs and guinea pigs. Roberts assists with the feeding and watering of these animals as well as the horses.
What do you feed the horses?
We combine a grain mix that includes oats and barley with a bit of molasses and soybean meal for protein. This provides them with the necessary energy they need for the day. They are also able to eat grass whilst on their trail rides. Some of the horses get additional supplements because they are older or have a variety of medical conditions. We also provide them with salt, which is important for a horse's digestion. In the evening, they get a portion of hay to munch on.
How often do the horses get fed?
Horses need to eat quite regularly. They get the majority of their feed in the morning because they are about to undertake a full day of exercise. They regularly eat bits of grass whilst on the trail rides. Some of them a really greedy and will overpower the riders to reach for a tasty clump of grass. After they get back from the ride and are settled in their yards or in our stable area, they get their hay portion.
How do you store the food?
In large plastic tubs. It gets delivered in canvas bags but once these are opened the food has to be stored more securely otherwise rats and mice will get to it. We also have to be careful not to allow fruit bat droppings to get into the feeding tubs as this can cause Hendra Virus, a very serious disease that horses and humans can get from contaminated food.
Is there anything that a horse is not allowed to eat?
Tomatoes are one thing that comes to mind. They cause constipation in horses. Garlic and onions are also not great for horse digestion. Horses are herbivores so they don't eat meat or dairy products. We have to watch the clients because they sometimes smuggle in all kinds of 'treats' for the horses, such as chocolate and sugar cubes, which are a big 'no-no'. We do let the riders feed the horses half an apple as a treat though.
What about the other animals on your property? What do they eat?
The donkey eats a similar mix to the horses and the sheep mainly eat grass in their paddock with a bit of extra hay provided for variety. The chickens and guinea pigs eat commercial feed pellets specific to their species and the pigs, well they eat almost anything ... they're very good garbage disposal units.
