Amount of hay over night 😳

[Hormonal Filly]

My mare has been in over night for a month and has put some weight on. She isn’t obese, I can feel her ribs but definitely chunky. Shes in a herd with long grass.

I always give her 2 haynets emptied out on the floor over night.

I weighed the amount of hay I’m giving her today just out of interest.. 20kg! She eats it all every night and is out by 7am.

A friend was saying hers (15.1 and 15.3) get 6-9kg a night of hay and don’t always eat it all.

I’ve reduced it down to 15kg, but might have to use a net to slow her down a bit.

How much do you feed over night? And how do you work out the amount of hay they should have?

 

[Barton Bounty]

BB used to have 3 x 9.5kg haynets usually weighing about 7kg each and ate two anyway at least.

Orbi is finishing a 15kg and one 9.5kg net probably weighing 7kg.

So shes not far off really. Orbi also gets two haynets in the field a day.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

BB used to have 3 x 9.5kg haynets usually weighing about 7kg each and ate two anyway at least.

Orbi is finishing a 15kg and one 9.5kg net probably weighing 7kg.

So shes not far off really. Orbi also gets two haynets in the field a day.

Is Orbi a good weight?

I definitely don’t want her putting anymore on. She’s a good doer so won’t loose much over winter

 

[Barton Bounty]

Is Orbi a good weight?

I definitely don’t want her putting anymore on. She’s a good doer so won’t loose much over winter

Orbis a good weight right now, if he puts on, Ill cut his hard feed down. Try her with slightly less or nets so it takes her longer

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I loathe Haynets. When my mare needed to lose weight I gave her a .measured amount of hay and also gave her plain oat straw chaff. She got through 2 big trugs of chaff at first but eventually learned to self-regulate.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I loathe Haynets. When my mare needed to lose weight I gave her a .measured amount of hay and also gave her plain oat straw chaff. She got through 2 big trugs of chaff at first but eventually learned to self-regulate.

I really don’t want to use nets either, she is an awful haynet yanker not sure which is worse. Stood with nothing to eat (ulcers) or a bad neck, I’ve had one with a neck malformation so well aware it’s best to feed from the floor.

Am I right in thinking if she’s really hungry she’ll eat the straw?

 

[Barton Bounty]

She possibly will eat the straw

 

[First Frost]

I do use hay nets because mine would be huge if i didn't control their intake at least a bit.
They are both 15.1 (just over 500kg) and a pure Connie and a Connie X TB. They are out on long old grass during the day and have approx 7 kg overnight.

 

[Kirstd33]

I have a 14.1 LW cob is currently perfect body condition (according to the saddler and physio last week) and he’s out in long, old grass 9-4pm, then in with 2 small holes nets weighing a combined 8kg, he also has a very small handful of speedibeet and happy hoof for his supplement, in light work hacking 4-5xweek and hoping this suits him through to the spring

 

[scats]

Two 15hh good doers get 3kg in a greedy feeder and whatever is left from 2 kg brekkie that goes in hay bar (probably about 1kg left) so around 4kg.

Also a snack ball of a small cup of fibre cubes.

Out from around 8am until 4/4.30pm on well grazed but still green paddocks.

 

[SEL]

If I didn't use nets with two of mine it would be gone before I turned the lights out. I do soak for one of them if she's stabled but my friend mixes with straw for her cob.

20kg is a huge amount!! That's draft horse portions

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I roughly feed 500g an hour in the stable….less any soaked grass weight if they ve had any. I do feed in nets and weigh them as hay varies in weight..well mass really…so some long stalky hay might fill a net and weigh 5kg whereas with a shorter softer hay in the same net might weigh 6 or 7 kg...if that makes sense.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m so lucky, mines not piggy, none of them are actually.
Little Welshie is 30 and I give him as much as he will eat. He is fairly easy to weight manage.
Ziggy, my riding horse I think I’d like to eat more really! There’s always loads on the floor and some in his net which has massive holes. He only has one net and it’s big but not full.
Shetland needs to loose weight. He gets a very small holed net and can eat his bed if he’s starving.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Mine gets 5-6kg of soaked hay in a super small holed net.

Ad-lib straw loose in a hay bar and a big straw bed to eat, if the fancy takes him.

Mine would be the size of not just a house but a country estate with 20kg of hay overnight! I think some horses don't have an 'off' button and although forage should be available all/a large proportion of the time, it doesn't need to be super easy to get to or their first choice of food for a good doer.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

My little angel weighs around 850kg and is a good condition (he'll be around 900kg when fully grown). He is on a grazed down paddock for approx 6hrs per day. He gets only a minimal hard feed (powder balancer in fibre beet). He's in light work of 2 to 3 hacks a week of up to 45mins each.

His night net is around 14kg and he gets extra nets for breakfast or at bring in if necessary. Usually there's the perfect small amount left each morning.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I really don’t want to use nets either, she is an awful haynet yanker not sure which is worse. Stood with nothing to eat (ulcers) or a bad neck, I’ve had one with a neck malformation so well aware it’s best to feed from the floor.

Am I right in thinking if she’s really hungry she’ll eat the straw?

Mine ate long straw and got colic, which is why I opted for chaff.

 

[Wishfilly]

I don't weigh my hay overnight, but I do feed in haynets, and I give two generously sized ones, but they are easy for me to lift- I would guess no more than 5kg each. In the morning, there is usually a fair amount of hay left, and my pony is maintaining his weight with grass during the day and one small hard feed in the evening to give vitamins/minerals in. I don't think he is eating more than 7kg a night (probably less some nights as sometimes he will leave nearly a full net's worth of hay). If he was eating about 20kg, I think he would be obese!

I agree with the suggestions to bulk out forage with straw or low cal chaff, but I will be slightly controversial, and say it's not the end of the world for greedy horses to run out of forage at say midnight-2am sort of time. Whilst I would always give adlib hay, if you think about how "wild" horses actually live, they don't spend 24 hours a day foraging, on average about 18 hours is more normal. They need periods of time to rest/move around, and if they don't eat for say 4-5 hours late at night/very early morning, personally I don't think this is a high ulcer risk, although others may disagree.

If you want her to lose weight and she is really greedy, then you may have to accept a haynet or a period of time without much forage is needed. If she gets less hay, she may also slow her eating to match what is given!

I'm assuming there's no option to up her workload either?

Don't forget that obesity is a health risk too- if she is gaining weight now, what will she be like by May? The thing with obesity is it's bad for them systemically, but also bad mechanically, as it puts additional pressure on their joints. I'd personally prioritise keeping a horse a healthy weight over other health risks but accept that is a personal choice!

 

[SilverLinings]

The feeding guideline of 2.5% of bodyweight per 24hrs (for horses that don't need to lose weight) means if they are brought in for the day/night (12hrs) they getting 5kg of hay (dry weight, weighed pre-soaking); they are grazing for the other 12hrs. I also put in a bucket of straw chaff to keep them busy if they scoff the hay. They are 14.2hh-15hh and 430kgs-480kgs. Iif they are spending time in and need to lose weight then I drop the % to 2% (over 24hrs) and make it up to 2.5% with straw chaff.

20kgs if fed over 24hrs would be enough food for an 800kg horse. If being fed over just 12hrs whilst being in overnight then that would be enough for a theoretical 1600kg horse. The 2.5% guideline obviously depends on variables such as age, feed type and quality, workload etc, but I can't imagine there can be many horses who wouldn't gain a substantial amount of weight if they were managing to eat 20kgs of hay a night for a prolonged period of time.

If an apparently healthy horse is needing significantly over 2.5% of their BW per day in order to maintain weight then the feed quality needs to be improved, and if the problem persists then a vet should be consulted.

I have owned a few horses who unfortunately could not be fed ad lib hay (or grass) as they wouldn't stop eating until it was all gone, however much there was. I couldn't give them enough to ensure they had enough hay all night as they would have quickly ended up obese and laminitic. Their hay had to be rationed and the bulk made up with straw, and I used grass nuts in feed balls to keep them entertained and slow down the hay consumption.

 

[Mrs B]

Like PaCS, I feed mine a nets-worth of haylage PLUS a bowl of chopped straw - I buy TopSpec TopChop Zero.

Obviously, weights of forage will vary hugely between horse type and work, but I aim to find a few tiny whisps of haylage left, and his chopped straw nuzzled around a bit, but not really eaten.
So, I experiment a bit until I get the right balance. This tells me he hasn't gone hungry enough to eat the TopChop.

However, if the night is colder than predicted, I find the TopChop mostly eaten.
Win/win as it keeps his gut and internal combustion engine going until I arrive first thing without too many extra calories.

 

[Sossigpoker]

20kg over night is likely to be more than she should be eating in 24 hours.
You should weigh all her feed , assume that she's eating about a pound of grass per hour if she's on long grass
And for weight loss feed at around 1.5% of her body weight . This includes grass as well as hay

Also the type of hay makes a big difference. I've got second cut meadow hay , both cob and pony can have it in good amounts
My cob eats it lose from a manger and doesn't gorge like he used to with small holed haynets
He gets about 13 pounds over night plus a bucket of Mollichaff lite .

 

[Widgeon]

I gave her a .measured amount of hay and also gave her plain oat straw chaff.

Meanie over here....mine is out 24/7 but there's only a bit of old stalky grass left. He gets 4kg of hay per day and ad lib straw and he's still managing to plump up a bit with no work

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

My Shetlands get a good armful of haylage morning and evening along with hard feed. The old boy gets less haylage and more hard feed as his teeth aren't great so he finds it hard to eat the haylage. I don't weigh it but I'd say they get 4-5kg of haylage each at each end of the day, the Welsh cob more. And now I'm not going to admit what I feed them as I will probably be shot down for the haylage anyway

The racehorses get 7-8kg 3x a day. 6.30am, 12pm, 8.30pm and about 2kg at 3pm. Along with hard feed and a shovelful of carrots and parsnips (sometimes turnips and sprouts too at this time of year but we take out the potatoes and onions that sneak into the crates. Xmas Dinner is sorted!).

Oh and my 3 shetland mares get a big round bale of haylage put into them from mid-jan onwards to eat as they please a d get it renewed whenever it runs out.

 

[criso]

I have to use haynets as he doesn't like to eat off the floor and will even poo on it to indicate his displeasure.

He gets 8kg haylage and 6kg hay overnight. This is just his overnight amount and he has a bit of hay left in the morning, he always finishes the haylage He's out till about 2/3pm and also has a net to come in to. This will go up as the grass gets more scarce or if they come in earlier.

16.2 tb, weighs about 530kg and is about right weight wise.

 

[criso]

If an apparently healthy horse is needing significantly over 2.5% of their BW per day in order to maintain weight then the feed quality needs to be improved, and if the problem persists then a vet should be consulted

The tb's I've had seem to need a bit more than that and that includes when I've used bagged haylage which is consistent quality.

I notice Elf said the racehorses get up to 24kg a day and they'd weigh about 500/550kg?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Orbi looks spot on for what he is getting and what we are doing … Id definitely rather he had some left than standing hungry.

 

[exracehorse]

I’ve never weighed my nets. All four have huge small haynets each night. I get them in at 4pm. Earlier if weather foul. And turned out at 8am. Luckily they only eat what they require.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

If I didn't use nets with two of mine it would be gone before I turned the lights out. I do soak for one of them if she's stabled but my friend mixes with straw for her cob.

20kg is a huge amount!! That's draft horse portions

It is tons! She clearly just can’t limit herself.. and will eat whatever she has.

I’ve always fed ad-lib so 2 big haynets to all of my horses, the others always have left some by morning but she never does.

If you want her to lose weight and she is really greedy, then you may have to accept a haynet or a period of time without much forage is needed. If she gets less hay, she may also slow her eating to match what is given!

I'm assuming there's no option to up her workload either?

Yes you’re right, I think I’ll have to go back to haynets. She’s in a good amount of work, ridden 4-5 times a week.

20kgs if fed over 24hrs would be enough food for an 800kg horse. If being fed over just 12hrs whilst being in overnight then that would be enough for a theoretical 1600kg horse.

I have owned a few horses who unfortunately could not be fed ad lib hay (or grass) as they wouldn't stop eating until it was all gone, however much there was.

She is like that with grass, muzzled in summer or restricted so assuming she is like it with everything. I’ve never weighed her hay, until today and was gob smacked. I feel guilty she eats it all by 1am and stands hungry. The way she yanks haynets isn’t any good for her neck and she’s had a tight neck before (which went when putting hay on the floor) but it seems it’s either that or ulcers.

20kg over night is likely to be more than she should be eating in 24 hours.
You should weigh all her feed , assume that she's eating about a pound of grass per hour if she's on long grass
And for weight loss feed at around 1.5% of her body weight . This includes grass as well as hay

Also the type of hay makes a big difference. I've got second cut meadow hay , both cob and pony can have it in good amounts
My cob eats it lose from a manger and doesn't gorge like he used to with small holed haynets
He gets about 13 pounds over night plus a bucket of Mollichaff lite .

She doesn’t get much hard food at all, but yes you’re right. She is on really good June cut hay.. so probably why she scoffs it.

Thanks all, I’ll go back to netting it and give her 10kg a night. That’s half what she was getting and see how things go. I mean considering she’s been eating so much she isn’t that fat, she’s very fit but about 530kg on a tape now and should be 500kg.

 

[criso]

She is on really good June cut hay.. so probably why she scoffs it.

The haylage I feed is really good and Tigger probably wouldn't stop if I just fed that. That's why he gets hay as well so after the rich stuff, he has something less tasty to pick at overnight.

Could you soak part of the hay ration and put just that in a haynet so after she finishes the good stuff, there's something boring to keep her occupied.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

The haylage I feed is really good and Tigger probably wouldn't stop if I just fed that. That's why he gets hay as well so after the rich stuff, he has something less tasty to pick at overnight.

Could you soak part of the hay ration and put just that in a haynet so after she finishes the good stuff, there's something boring to keep her occupied.

Yeah I could soak half of the hay ration. We do have hay available from the YO that’s included in the rent but it’s very dusty and not great, which is why a lot of us buy our own hay in.

Funnily enough if I give her a bit of that she doesn’t bother eating it so she obviously eats my hay because it’s so tasty

 

[Surbie]

My tubby 15.3hh horse is approximately 750kg and gets 8-9kg of damp hay each night. He's out 5-6am to 5pm on short grass in very big field. I have to used small hole nets or it would be gone too fast, but I do put about 2-3kg of that on the floor to eat first so he is less attacking when he gets to the net.

Those of you who feed straw chaff, how much do you give and do you damp it?
And how long do you leave it before chucking and refreshing?

My horse coughs on dry hay. I used to feed dry chaff, but got a bit confused about how long it could stay there if it was left, and just ended up chucking, which was a waste of money.