Ad lib Hay...

Empy&Treacle

Empy&Treacle

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Apart from the obvious that the horse needs a constant supply of forage; how do you feed hay ad lib?

My new horse will only be turned out for 2/3 hours a day, ground permitting, the rest will be spent in his stable (and exercising). His owner currently feeds ad lib hay and I am just wondering what's the best way to go about it? Would you use nets or put it loose in a manger? Also would you work out exactly how much forage he should have in 24 hours and divide that in to 4 lots (morning, lunch, afternoon, bedtime (9pm))? He is 15.1, approx 475kg in weight, so going by my faithful (and very old) pony club manual he would on around 26lb's a day.

I am just not sure the best way to go about it and manage it so any advice would be fab! :)
 
When i give my horses hay in the field, i put a few piles around the field, and they walk from one to the other, so they are constently on the move, very helpful for an older horse.
 
Four lots a day sounds good if you can fit it into your day, I would always feed from the floor myself wether in the field or stable. I think the guide is 2% of the horses weight in forage if you want to keep the weight the same. So it would take a bit of guess work for what he eats in the field, then just make up the difference with hay. No reason to think your pony club manual is anything less than right! Mine is from the 60's and is sensibly correct for pretty much everything!
 
hmm, i'd only feed it on the floor in the field if you don't mind him wasting some of it, most do. i tend to put mine in feeders, or nets, once the ground's wet and muddy.
tbh i'd go by trial and error, see how much he eats, give him say 2 flaps of hay out there (if using small bales) and see whether he finishes them, if he does, up it to 3.
It doesn't hurt for them to have to 'hoover up' what's there every once in a while imho. they don't eat 24/7 anyway, he'll want a doze here and there! at night if you check him late, i'd give him say 4 flaps at dinner time (evening, whenever that is for you) and then if he's finished that when you check him at say 10pm or whatever, I'd give him say 3 more, if not then either no more (if he has lots left) or just 1 or 2 more. Basically play it by ear, depending on his appetite and his condition level.
That's how I do it, unless they're on a diet, then it's a bit different.
 
Well horses, as prey animals, tend to stay awake for most of the night and will eat for most of that time if they can. We provide just slightly more hay than the horse will eat in the time available. Inside we feed from haybars. I wouldn't use a haynet with an unsupervised horse if you paid me. I've heard of far too many who have been injured/killed by them. If we find that the horses are putting too much weight on with ad-lib hay we cut back and supplement with good quality oat straw. Bear in mind that horses eat (although not continuously) for about 16 hrs a day.
 
Thank you so much for all the tips and advice :)
We always feed from a manger on the floor so that will not change - I'm not the biggest fan of nets either, just wasn't sure if they helped in an ad lib hay situation. And between my mum and I and juggled with work we do manage to get back home to feed hay four times a day so that too will work well with the current routine we are in.

We have a lot of grass here at the moment so I won't be planning on feeding him hay in the field until the grass stops growing. During the winter though he is likely to be in nearly all of the time as our fields don't hold up well in the winter; if this is the case we'll manage it accordingly within the same routine! As you have all said, it'll be a case of trial and error and he'll be managed according to work and any weight gain too. We'll just have to see how he settles in here.

I lost both my mares this summer so it's time to start a fresh. I'm very excited and just want to have things as right as possible for Bertie. :)
 
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