Ad lib haylage

[Horses_and_ponies]

Hi guys I have a mare with copd (doesn’t usually cause her any issues but has recently had a flare). We’re trying to get it under control again and have been soaking hay and treating with meds from vet which is giving mediocre results. The vet wants to give a bit more time on the meds first before performing a tracheal lavage.
The yard we’re in doesn’t have much grass but provides round bales of hay all summer while they’re living out. I think this could be part of our issue with the flare as she spends most of her day with her face in the bale. They do have the option of having a round bale of haylage instead which I’m thinking of changing to. I was wondering do many people feed as lib haylage? I’ve never had horses have access to a round bale 24/7 so have a slight concern about it being very rich and risking colic or lami. I would change over gradually but just wondering others experience with ad lib?

 

[JenJ]

I used to put round bales of haylage in my field over winter and had no problems at all. In my experience most big bales of haylage don't tend to have as much moisture content as the small, branded ones, so are more like a wrapped hay, and less rich.

As long as you manage the changeover gradually as you said, then I wouldn't expect any issues.

Just as a side note, we've had about half a dozen horses at my yard diagnosed with asthma/COPD in the last month or two, despite never having any breathing issues before - I think the crazy weather is just making the air so dry and dusty that it's causing problems. You may find that this flare settles naturally once the weather changes, without any other intervention. (Caveat - this is my personal theory and I am not a vet!!! )

 

[SpeedyPony]

I feed ad lib haylage in the winter, although not round bale- as long as your horse isn't a particularly good doer I'd imagine she'll be fine if transitioned slowly.
I would check that the round bales get eaten quickly enough to not develop mould/rot though, I no longer buy round bales as I found mine weren't eating it quickly enough for it to stay fresh. Oddly enough, the large square bales seemed to keep better, despite being about the same size. Unfortunately no one nearby seems to make them anymore, so I have to buy small ones!

 

[Horses_and_ponies]

I used to put round bales of haylage in my field over winter and had no problems at all. In my experience most big bales of haylage don't tend to have as much moisture content as the small, branded ones, so are more like a wrapped hay, and less rich.

As long as you manage the changeover gradually as you said, then I wouldn't expect any issues.

Just as a side note, we've had about half a dozen horses at my yard diagnosed with asthma/COPD in the last month or two, despite never having any breathing issues before - I think the crazy weather is just making the air so dry and dusty that it's causing problems. You may find that this flare settles naturally once the weather changes, without any other intervention. (Caveat - this is my personal theory and I am not a vet!!! )

I’ve noticed the same this year. She has had flares many years ago but this year is particularly bad for some reason and so many others seem to be affected. I’m hoping if we just get it under control with haylage and the meds she’s on that she’ll go back to normal soon

Thanks for your thoughts guys!

 

[criso]

In my experience most big bales of haylage don't tend to have as much moisture content as the small, branded ones, so are more like a wrapped hay, and less rich.

I wouldn't assume that. We have a variety of haylage options and the round bale is the richest. I feed it to my tb who can drop weight easily for that reason. The owners who need lower calories have to use the small bales which cost them more and some found they were getting loose stools if they fed too much.

On a previous yard we had access to square bales and that wasn't as rich.

It depends on the field it was cut, when cut etc

OP If you want to know the nutritional profile, have it tested.

 

[still standing]

My yard has some full-time turn out paddocks, with 2 horses in each one, and they put a single large bale of haylage in each as needed (in a round feeder) so the horses have ad lib access. When the new bales are put in, the 2 horses dive at it and seem to eat non-stop, which used to alarm me but in fact after a first feast, they seem to self regulate. I've decided it's because at first they are fed up eating the few left overs from the previous bale and are enjoying the new one, so it only appears they are gorging.
There are several paddocks with this setup at my yard, and I have never heard of any problems of colic or laminitis or COPD, etc. Mind you, they are mostly fit horses in competitive work and maybe ad lib haylage just suits them, but it seems to work well.

Edited to add: My own riding horse has been in one of those paddocks for about 3 years now. She is a 15.2 Warmblood cross and quite chunky, is only in light work, but has had no ill-effects from the ad lib haylage set up.