Alternatives to soaking hay

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dkwp

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My haflinger is the ultimate good doer so he's prone to overweight and I'm keen to keep him free of laminitis. The vet has suggested soaking his hay to drop the feed value and giving it in a small holed net to make him eat slower. But this is proving difficult - mainly because the wet haynets are so heavy and I've had back problems. I'm also worried with winter approaching that freezing cold hay won't do him any good and that the water I spill will turn the yard into a skating rink. Has anyone any other suggestions for greedy fatties? Would it be okay to feed him a mixture of good hay and wheat straw? (He's on shavings at the moment but, when he was bedded on straw, he ate loads and it never seemed to do him any harm.)
 
Yes you can, but not wheat straw. Try oat or barley straw. I have to split my hay into 3 nets with a slice in each so that I can lift and manouvre them. As for the water, try getting either a purpose designed unit, or getting a bin and putting in a tap at the bottom so you can let the water out over drain, then tip the last little bit out.
 
I drain the hay before lifting out of the soaking water and if I'm using nets use more with smaller amounts of hay in each. Move the nets in a barrow. High fibre Horsehage or a hay supply that tests low in sugars.
 
Rubbish hay - not dusty tho - I didn't bother soaking last year as my hay was so bad. Religiously weigh his hay - I have a chart on the wall that says how much he's allowed depending on how long he's in for based on feeding 1.5% body weight. At the moment I give him a trickle net of however much hay he's allowed then a small holed net of barley straw for when he's desperate. I asked the vet about feeding straw and she said just make sure he's got plenty of water to avoid impaction.
 
Put some hay in the wheelbarrow, soak it and get rid of the water - I find it easier than soaking nets. You can always put hay on the floor or put wet hay in the haynets afterwards.
Put less hay in the nets - use two or three haynets - this will also give your horse more to do!
 
I think wheat is less easily digested so more likely to lead to impactions. It's usually not as palatable either - although some horses will eat anything!
 
You could steam the hay. Provided you have a kettle at your yard. We used to have a mare with COPD and lami at our yard so had to have hay religiously soaked - or steamed in the winter when it wasnt possible to soak due to the ice. You just put the haynet in a bucket pour over the the hot water and put a lid on top.

Worked for us but not sure if would affect the calorie intake.
 
celia said:
I think wheat is less easily digested so more likely to lead to impactions. It's usually not as palatable either - although some horses will eat anything!
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Mine are out 24/7 and are fed wheat straw all year round, it is generally netted so they have to take their time, they all have hay and there are still a few grass pickings to be had. I tried mine on barley straw and they didn't like it, I ended up chucking a load of it. They seem to enjoy the wheat as they will often move from hay to straw for a while then back again. I wouldn't recommend it but it works for mine.
 
I have to soak my horses hay, due to how bad her coughing got when she was on dry, but its winter now and the hay nets have started to freeze, as I have to soak them with a hose and hang them up on hay racks outside, to make it worse one of them is on box rest for weeks, meaning all the others have to come in or she'll kick off. so I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions?
 
Wheat straw would be best for your overweight haffy, especially if he likes it anyway!
Which type of straw makes no difference at all, it is just that some horses do not like wheat as much (it also has the least calories!)
I feed oat or barley purely because mine are bedded on wheat and for some reason don't eat it!
I mix 1.5% desired bodyweight haylage with an equal amount of straw in double nets-works really well, and no backache!
eg if your haffy should be 450kg then he should get no more than 6.75kg of total food per day (includes, hay, grass, hard feed-everything!)
I would give him (assuming he is not turned out at all) 1.5kg (with 1kg straw) hay am and pm and 3.75kg (with 2 kg straw) at night.
 
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