Grace's3boys
New User
First of all I'm new to the forum and would like to say a warm hello to everyone. Secondly I apologize in advance for the long-winded post.
I have recently moved to a new area, and fulfilled a life-long dream of keeping horses at home (very happy, though after 12 year break, things have kind of changed, quite radically!)
I have had an absolute nightmare finding a consistent supply of forage and have ended up using different bales (both large round and small) of both hay and haylage over the last 2 months.
I know this is less than ideal for the horses digestive systems, but sadly it's been a matter of what I could get hold of due to vehicle issues and lack of local knowledge!
We now finally have a tow bar and trailer and can collect from a local supplier, though I'm a bit confused about which option is best for my boys.
Basically I've decided on haylage, but have noticed many different types in both the small and large I've been getting.
One appears to be more green and drier and has shorter stems and seems easier to chew, another is yellower and long and stemy, some are wetter, others are drier.
2 will eat anything, but my old fella with a missing tooth has been struggling a bit with some of the bales.Some he will wolf down and others he will act as if it were poison and go on hunger strike!
I know he's getting on now and a lot has to do with his aging dentition, (and this I'm also trying to tackle and find a dentist, if not vet will be coming in the next 2 weeks.) but sometimes it seems the smell is whats causing him to eat it or not, as he spends ages sniffing different patches.
I feel generally the shorter version is better, as he can chew it without problems, but I'm a tad clueless as to the possible nutritional difference or type of grass, etc. I'm guessing one is rye grass and the other meadow? Or are they just cut differently and at later stages? Also 2 of my chaps (including oldie) are poor doers and one (sec A) survives practically off air and water! So if I can find a balance that would be good. It all seems a bit of a minefield.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. And sorry for rambling on
I have recently moved to a new area, and fulfilled a life-long dream of keeping horses at home (very happy, though after 12 year break, things have kind of changed, quite radically!)
I have had an absolute nightmare finding a consistent supply of forage and have ended up using different bales (both large round and small) of both hay and haylage over the last 2 months.
I know this is less than ideal for the horses digestive systems, but sadly it's been a matter of what I could get hold of due to vehicle issues and lack of local knowledge!
We now finally have a tow bar and trailer and can collect from a local supplier, though I'm a bit confused about which option is best for my boys.
Basically I've decided on haylage, but have noticed many different types in both the small and large I've been getting.
One appears to be more green and drier and has shorter stems and seems easier to chew, another is yellower and long and stemy, some are wetter, others are drier.
2 will eat anything, but my old fella with a missing tooth has been struggling a bit with some of the bales.Some he will wolf down and others he will act as if it were poison and go on hunger strike!
I know he's getting on now and a lot has to do with his aging dentition, (and this I'm also trying to tackle and find a dentist, if not vet will be coming in the next 2 weeks.) but sometimes it seems the smell is whats causing him to eat it or not, as he spends ages sniffing different patches.
I feel generally the shorter version is better, as he can chew it without problems, but I'm a tad clueless as to the possible nutritional difference or type of grass, etc. I'm guessing one is rye grass and the other meadow? Or are they just cut differently and at later stages? Also 2 of my chaps (including oldie) are poor doers and one (sec A) survives practically off air and water! So if I can find a balance that would be good. It all seems a bit of a minefield.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. And sorry for rambling on