Horses eating less my choice in heat/humidity?

[manyspots]

I mean BY choice... too early, not enough coffee.

This is the first summer my guys have been home in almost 10 years, following years of boarding.

What I have noticed in the past few days as the humidity increases, my guys have consumed WAY LESS hay. I have tried enticing them with different hay, no luck. They nibble a little then resume napping and looking miserable :(.

They are still slobbering up their beet pulp meals, drinking plenty of water, and no one is colicky. Just wondering if this is normal? The humidity has been NASTY for our area.

[Daydream Believer]

Mine are still eating OK but then they are used to it here in SE Virginia. I am eating less and have less appetite though so maybe it can affect horses that way? You can wring out the air practically here...it's like a steam bath. I am trimming all afternoon today and am not looking forward to it...I'll take cold weather over hot/humid any day.

[mellsmom]

I notice also that I have cyclical weight gain and loss. In the spring when the new grass starts to come in, they drop weight because they don't want to eat that hay, but I don't have enough grass early on. Then they pack on teh weight and i have to cut their feed. Then in about Late July/August we experience another weight drop due to the hot weather...but come September or so they pack it back on. Also we have some cool season grasses in my field.
It's also good to think about psyllium and worming when the grass gets really low.

[shakeytails]

In KY in the summer the humidity is awful. Yes, I've noticed that mine eat less enthusiastically when it's extremely hot and humid. I feed dinner late (like 8-9 pm) in the summer (or they'll just pick at it and make me think there's something wrong!).

[BornToRide]

Sure is possible :) Usually less energy is expended during those times too....