AboutSarah Lothmann Expertise Professional trainer for 10+ years. I happily offer you my expertise, techniques, and advice covering: Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation, Showing, Training, Sales, Behavior, Stabling, Grooming, Tack, Barn Management, Rider Psychology, & Effective Communication.
Experience I have been riding for over 23 years. As a kid I participated in 4H and Pony Club. I then worked as a groom and catch rode to pay my entry fees in the A Circuit. As a teenager I competed nationally in the Junior Hunters, USETs, and Medal classes. I've learned from and worked with some of the nations' best trainers. During college I began training professionally. I have prepared my students for both local and national shows. Recently I have organized two local equestrian groups for expanding general knowledge of horsemanship and for ensuring the welfare of horses. I continue my dedication in this industry by offering visual design services for equine businesses including, graphic design, web development, and photography.
Organizations ASPCA, Desert Valley Equestrians, Arizona Equestrian Network, The Equestrian Paddock, & Equine Photographers Network
Publications The Equestrian Paddock & Soon I will be announce another online publication featuring my monthly articles.
Education/Credentials AAS Degree, Veterinary Assistant, Professional Trainer
Awards and Honors Graduated High School with High Honors, College GPA 4.0, OHJA & KHJA Year End Equitation Championships as a junior rider, & ASPCA Maclay Class & USET Class wins.
Past/Present Clients In the past I have worked for and with Laurie Story, Mindy Darst & Lochmoor Stables, Chris & Matt Payne, Scott Taylor, Camargo Stables, Marianne Murphy, the Lindner family, Brigette Carlson, Bobbi Theis, Cincinnati Theraputic Riding, Sweetwater Stables, Lucy Alibaster, Los Cedros, and Leslie Stohlgren. Currently I am working with private clients.
Question If this isn't of interest to answer, I fully understand. I'm new to the horse stabling/ownership. Is there a approximate correlation between amount of time grazing in a paddock/pasture to number of flakes of hay? For example, if my horse grazes for 4 hours, is that equivalent to feeding him 3 flakes of hay in his stall?
Answer This is an excellent question Andy! There may be an equation out there for figuring out hay verses grazing, although I have never used one. There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of feeding. There are also many factors to consider when feeding.
Horses are naturally grazers. They tend to cover nearly 20miles a day when roaming free in the wild. What this means to us horse owners, is that they need a variety of nutrients as well as to be mobile. A horse who is kept in his stall too much is often destined to a path of nervous behavior and various side effects such as stomach ulcers. So when determining your maintenance program, keep in mind the horse ideally would be best suited with 6-12 hours of turn out each day.
When selecting how much your horse should eat, you will have to keep in mind the quality of both the hay and the grass in the paddock. Different seasons produce different nutrients in the grass and hay. A good rule of thumb is to try continuing feeding your horse as much as the previous owner has. Then keep an eye on your horse's coat condition, skin turgor, and muscle tone, or easily said as over all condition. If you see him dropping weight then you know to increase either his food or the actual quality of his food. If ever you have any questions about feeding your horse, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. He/she will be happy to help answer your questions as well as help you plan a feeding program best suited for your horse's individual needs.
