answer me this please....

Buds_mum

Buds_mum

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If a horse was eating his over night hay in 3 hours wwyd? Ie in at 4pm, all gone by 7pm and breakfast given at 7am.

Said haylege is in double small hole net and horse is a good doer of good weight.

Havent weighed net but it is an average sized net stuffed full.
 
I think there was a thread a few months back about a special type of hay net that was pretty much a sack with just the one hole at the bottom? If I recall correctly everyone that had used them spoke highly of them :)
 
Thanks polos mum. Atm no hay available so would have to buy in from elsewhere (not prob if only option and would actually save this argument ;))
Is already double netted.
He is bedded on straw which he tends too eat too much of anyway so have had to spray it with Jeyes...
 
If he's in good condition and you don't want him to pick up more weight, could you maybe feed hay instead of haylage? You could then give him loads more, which would last him longer through the night. If necessary, you could also soak the hay to get rid of some of the nutrients. He should get through it more slowly if it's soaked.
 
If he is eating his straw bed I might not worry about it too much, he will have straw going through his system all night to avoid ulcers/ stress etc.
If you're going to buy hay specially in look out for older hay ie last summer not this summer, hay looses a lot of nutrition over time as it is stored so if you can get old hay you could given him even more without effecting his weight. (also it's commonly cheaper because it's worthless to sheep/cattle farmers)
 
I am thinking of buying in hay.

The issue is yo's see no issue of horses standing without forage overnight if they eat their ration fast, I do. I like him to have plenty and trickle feed at natured intended.

When I have been giving more, or splitting his ration I have been accusedof taking the p and feeding more than I pay for (i don't think it is a huge amount) he is a big horse, weighs nearly 700kg and I can easily feel ribs, pelvis ect.
Ad lib hay is provided in the field but would have to buy it to feed him in the stable....
 
Could you arrange for ome one to give him his hay later? I'm lucky as I keep my horses at home so I go out at 10pm and give them their main portion of hay then.

I know horse's are 'meant' to have ad lib hay but I know mine have finished theirs well before their breakfast at 6.45 am but they all survive. If you watch horses that are out 24/7 they don't spend all their time eating.
 
Could you give him his night net later? Or could someone else do it for you? Better to have a couple of shorter breaks without hay than one really long one.
 
Buds mum I have a similar issue, gave my horse 2lbs today in a trickle net, took him 20 mins to eat it, he only gets 7lbs at 7pm ish and does have a history of ulcers, he is on shavings, I similarly don't know what to do!
 
Hi eggs, no I am only other livery and as I say yo's aren't bothered re horses standing without as they provided with forage all day...
It's just 12 odd hours seems quite a long time for him to not have anything going through his system...
 
I would stop spraying the jeyes fluid if hes still eating the bed as it's not working and it is actually toxic to horses so you don't want him getting a build up.

Nothing wrong with him eating the straw bed, will help keep him going overnight and bugger all in it. Might be worth mixing a slice in with the haylage and spreading over 2 nets as well. Just make sure he has plenty of water.
 
I have this problem with mine, and I do a few things -

Give the last net as late as possible.

Give him his normal ration on the floor, as well as an extra haynet with tiny holes to make him work for it a bit more.

Leave him with other sources of fibre as well, e.g. Readigrass in a bucket in the corner, a treat ball filled with grass pellets/Alfa pellets. Again, it just means it takes longer to eat and he can 'graze' a bit more.
 
I agree with you - I would also hate leaving my horse in the stable for hours on end without forage.

Discuss it with the YO to come up with a solution.

If your livery already includes hay/haylage, could you pay less per week, and then buy it yourself and feed whatever amount you want?
 
mjcssjw2 said:
Buds mum I have a similar issue, gave my horse 2lbs today in a trickle net, took him 20 mins to eat it, he only gets 7lbs at 7pm ish and does have a history of ulcers, he is on shavings, I similarly don't know what to do!
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I'm not surprised, that's a ludicrously small amount, only fit for a small pony - or did you mean KGs but even then, it's not a lot? How big/ heavy is he?
Something with ulcers surely needs almost ad lib forage so could you give him more later or else let him have more chaff with his feed which might fill him more or at least make him take longer?
 
mjcssjw2 said:
Buds mum I have a similar issue, gave my horse 2lbs today in a trickle net, took him 20 mins to eat it, he only gets 7lbs at 7pm ish and does have a history of ulcers, he is on shavings, I similarly don't know what to do!
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Glad i'm not the only worrier. Honestly y/o's look at me like an idiot!!

Nugget La Poneh said:
I would stop spraying the jeyes fluid if hes still eating the bed as it's not working and it is actually toxic to horses so you don't want him getting a build up.

Nothing wrong with him eating the straw bed, will help keep him going overnight and bugger all in it. Might be worth mixing a slice in with the haylage and spreading over 2 nets as well. Just make sure he has plenty of water.
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He has a big tub trug of water usually dring 3/4 of it.

The only prob he was eating so much bed that I had to keep topping it up to which I was told by y/o's I was using too much once again. He doesn't touch it now I spray it lightly every few days...

I 100% can not win :(
 
mjcssjw2 said:
Buds mum I have a similar issue, gave my horse 2lbs today in a trickle net, took him 20 mins to eat it, he only gets 7lbs at 7pm ish and does have a history of ulcers, he is on shavings, I similarly don't know what to do!
Click to expand...

I don't know how big your horse is, but if there is a history of ulcers then you need to keep the gut moving and I would be surprised 7lb's is enough unless out on good grazing grass for 12+ hours.
 
Polos Mum said:
If he is eating his straw bed I might not worry about it too much, he will have straw going through his system all night to avoid ulcers/ stress etc.
If you're going to buy hay specially in look out for older hay ie last summer not this summer, hay looses a lot of nutrition over time as it is stored so if you can get old hay you could given him even more without effecting his weight. (also it's commonly cheaper because it's worthless to sheep/cattle farmers)
Click to expand...

^^^^^
this
 
Buds_mum said:
He has a big tub trug of water usually dring 3/4 of it.

The only prob he was eating so much bed that I had to keep topping it up to which I was told by y/o's I was using too much once again. He doesn't touch it now I spray it lightly every few days...

I 100% can not win :(
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Is the bedding included then? In which case add the straw to the haylage in the nets. Look to buy extra bales off the YO specifically for his culinary pleasure!

If you pay for your bedding on top of livery then can't see why the YO would mind!
 
Holding said:
I have this problem with mine, and I do a few things -

Give the last net as late as possible.

Give him his normal ration on the floor, as well as an extra haynet with tiny holes to make him work for it a bit more.

Leave him with other sources of fibre as well, e.g. Readigrass in a bucket in the corner, a treat ball filled with grass pellets/Alfa pellets. Again, it just means it takes longer to eat and he can 'graze' a bit more.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of a separate fibre source is redi grass very high in calories?
He already gets hi fi molasses free in his feed... I could maybe up this ration and feed seperatley...


npage123 said:
I agree with you - I would also hate leaving my horse in the stable for hours on end without forage.

Discuss it with the YO to come up with a solution.

If your livery already includes hay/haylage, could you pay less per week, and then buy it yourself and feed whatever amount you want?
Click to expand...

I think this may be a solution, but may also add tension as they are of the opinion that he doesn't 'need' anymore...
 
Thanks for all the replies :o Its nice to discuss. OH is sick of hearing me waffle on and his solution was leaving him a pack of weetabix to chew on throughout the night.... :rolleyes:


I think I need to buy in another forage source, y/o is unhappy with me using more of the forage (be it hay/straw) provided, even if I paid more as he seems to be being abit tight with it this year...

I just don't want him gaining weight really as he is looking well!! I just worry about the standing with nothing thing...

Is double netting the same as a trickle net does anyone know?!
 
Wagtail said:
Trickle net and mix with straw.

Can someone else put the net in later?
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Are trickle nets better than double netting wagtail?

No I am only livery and y/os don't understand my issue, controversy started when I asked them to do this for me... Latest I can go is 6pm as otherwise disturb y/os dogs :rolleyes:
 
trickle nets have quite small holes, smallet than my doubled up nets, but if he's greedy not sure thats your answer, doesn't seem to slow my horse down enough.
 
Polos Mum said:
If he's eating the straw then that will be going through his system over night. If his weight is ok, let him eat as much straw as he likes. straw is forrage
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This. Mine picks at her bed when she has run out of haylage. I prefer that to her being without anything over night. She is on oat straw which is supposed to be fairly palatable.
 
Buds_mum said:
Are trickle nets better than double netting wagtail?

No I am only livery and y/os don't understand my issue, controversy started when I asked them to do this for me... Latest I can go is 6pm as otherwise disturb y/os dogs :rolleyes:
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Yes, believe me I have tried every net going as well as double netting. The trickle nets are by far the best. They not only have smaller holes, but the strands are much thicker and so they are stronger and less maluable, which makes it more difficult for the horse to get the hay. A full trickle net last at least five hours for the three horses that I need them for on my yard. I've timed them.
 
Buds_mum said:
No I am only livery and y/os don't understand my issue, controversy started when I asked them to do this for me... Latest I can go is 6pm as otherwise disturb y/os dogs :rolleyes:
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I would be looking for a new yard. I would hate to not be allowed to go to the yard after 6pm, that is so early to have to be off the yard.

I would buy some straw and mix that into his haynet as it wont add any feed value but will keep something going through him for the night.
 
feed straw. Both my highlands get very small hay / haylage rations and plenty of straw to eat when they finish that. Low cal but forage ad lib, and no standing around with nothing to eat.
 
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