Little bit old-fashioned
Member
Hi everyone, wondered if anyone could offer some advice.
Got 2 broodmares living out who are currently both a nice healthy weight and enjoyed the autumn flush of grass we had that is now coming to an end.
Due to moving to a new area and the drought this year getting hold of hay was a nightmare. Finally managed to get some hay - and won't be able to get any different stuff for love nor money - but its not the highest quality. Horses will pick through it but dont go in for it with gusto and often look at me like they want something else (which breaks my heart). I don't want them to drop off now the grass has lost its goodness. Still got plenty of it but I know they need a bit extra.
I've been mixing some hayledge in with the hay to encourage them to eat and give them just that bit extra but can't afford to be throwing out ad lib hayledge when I'm forced to buy small bags from mole valley and they could eat 1 between them in an instant so need to try and make this work by bulking out and topping up the ad lib lower quality hay.
Plan is to keep doing this hay hayledge mix but I would like to have some sort of hard feed on hand to help keep them topped up with what they need and give them those extra nutrients to counter balance the hay not being as high-quality as i would like in an ideal world.
Just want a general all round vits, mins, proteins and a bit of fibre (if this all rounder exists). Anyone use anything they really like? I was thinking to even just go for pony nuts as this is an all round feed and they are currently a good healthy weight so it is just keeping the nutrients levels topped up in a basic way.
Any experiences suggestions very appreciated. Thanks in advance! And I hope everyone out there is coping okay with hay shortage - the stress of it here has been awful. Thinking you have sorted it to then find they wont eat what you have is just soul destroying when the options are so limited.
Got 2 broodmares living out who are currently both a nice healthy weight and enjoyed the autumn flush of grass we had that is now coming to an end.
Due to moving to a new area and the drought this year getting hold of hay was a nightmare. Finally managed to get some hay - and won't be able to get any different stuff for love nor money - but its not the highest quality. Horses will pick through it but dont go in for it with gusto and often look at me like they want something else (which breaks my heart). I don't want them to drop off now the grass has lost its goodness. Still got plenty of it but I know they need a bit extra.
I've been mixing some hayledge in with the hay to encourage them to eat and give them just that bit extra but can't afford to be throwing out ad lib hayledge when I'm forced to buy small bags from mole valley and they could eat 1 between them in an instant so need to try and make this work by bulking out and topping up the ad lib lower quality hay.
Plan is to keep doing this hay hayledge mix but I would like to have some sort of hard feed on hand to help keep them topped up with what they need and give them those extra nutrients to counter balance the hay not being as high-quality as i would like in an ideal world.
Just want a general all round vits, mins, proteins and a bit of fibre (if this all rounder exists). Anyone use anything they really like? I was thinking to even just go for pony nuts as this is an all round feed and they are currently a good healthy weight so it is just keeping the nutrients levels topped up in a basic way.
Any experiences suggestions very appreciated. Thanks in advance! And I hope everyone out there is coping okay with hay shortage - the stress of it here has been awful. Thinking you have sorted it to then find they wont eat what you have is just soul destroying when the options are so limited.
