helencharlie
Well-Known Member
Do horses need hay in a 14 acre field at this time of year? The field has some grazing but not a lot. However, the other owners in the field feel that there is ample grazing for their horses. what do you all think?
Do horses need??
- Thread starter helencharlie
- Start date
SavingGrace
Well-Known Member
Are the horses in at night or out 24/7? If they are in at night I wouldn't supplement them with hay/haylage but if they are out 24/7 I would!
We have 12 horses out on 17 acres in a similar condition and they are out from around 9.30am - 2.30pm without any hay/haylage in the field.
We have 12 horses out on 17 acres in a similar condition and they are out from around 9.30am - 2.30pm without any hay/haylage in the field.
AmyMay
Situation normal
If they are comming in at night - then no, I'd say no hay. (That's also presuming that there are only a few horses on the land, and that they are all in good nick).
Wagtail
Horse servant
Depends on how many horses. If there are up to 4 horses then they probably don't unless the grass is really poor. Any more horses than that, then yes. You can usually tell if horses are hungry (oter than the obvious condition) by how they behave. If they are all wanting to come in, or especially if they are bad tempered and fighting amongst themselves, then they are hungry.
Faro
...
I finally moved my four onto their winter grazing the weekend before last. Approx. 10 acres. There is lots of grass there at the moment (ok, so low nutritional value, but plenty of bulk) as the land hasn't been grazed by horses for several years and is used for a hay crop in the summer. When I moved them, I had 1/3 of a big bale of haylage left, so, as it wouldn't keep, I put that in with them. And, much as they love haylage, they simply haven't touched it!
With the exception of the old mare (30 this year), they are not having any hard feed either.
Being the cruel Mum that I am, I don't plan on feeding any extra for the time being (unless of course we get more snow/severe weather when they'll have haylage again) as mine could genuinely do with losing a bit (a lot) of weight - although with the amount of grass they have, I'm not sure how likely that is to happen!
With the exception of the old mare (30 this year), they are not having any hard feed either.
Being the cruel Mum that I am, I don't plan on feeding any extra for the time being (unless of course we get more snow/severe weather when they'll have haylage again) as mine could genuinely do with losing a bit (a lot) of weight - although with the amount of grass they have, I'm not sure how likely that is to happen!
cm2581
Well-Known Member
The grass on the ground will still have a greater nutritional quality that most hays and haylages!! So watch they don't get fatter!! Even if you get snow, they should be able to dig for the long grass unless the snow is very deep!
maggiesmum
Well-Known Member
How do they look weight wise? Do they look like they need a bit more? Bear in mind that we're on the way into spring so naturally the horse will be losing any extra pounds keeping warm ready for the first flush of grass.
I'd always rather have them on the lean side coming out of winter - no point feeding them up all winter then spending all summer starving them!
I'd always rather have them on the lean side coming out of winter - no point feeding them up all winter then spending all summer starving them!
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
I'm a bit confused by the odd person whos said not to give hay if they come in at night - what and leave the horse with absolutely nothing to eat all night?! Thats horrifically bad for a horse and seriously risks colic as well as a very unhappy, bored horse.
Personally, I would always give hay including when out 24/7 as the nutritional value of grass at this time of year is pants. You can always give it to them, if they eat it then they need it but if they ignore it then they're happy enough without.
Personally, I would always give hay including when out 24/7 as the nutritional value of grass at this time of year is pants. You can always give it to them, if they eat it then they need it but if they ignore it then they're happy enough without.
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
Depends on the type of horses, their weight and the type of grazing, just because there is 14 acres, doesn't mean there is sufficient grazing for every horse that is in the field.
If they are all a healthy weight, then unless it's frosted grass or covered in snow or you don't want it becoming over grazed then no, why give hay for the sake of it.
However some may require the extra fibre.
If they are all a healthy weight, then unless it's frosted grass or covered in snow or you don't want it becoming over grazed then no, why give hay for the sake of it.
However some may require the extra fibre.
TGM
Well-Known Member
I thought the poster meant not to give hay in the field if the horses come in at night, not that the horses wouldn't be getting any hay in their stables!
Going back to the question, then whether to put hay in the field depends on the condition the horses are in and whether they are showing signs of hunger, wood-chewing, standing by the gate etc.
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helencharlie
Well-Known Member
Thank you for all of your replies. I neglected to say that the eight horses are all out in the fields 24/7. From last December, during the heavy snow, they have had ad-lib good quality hay, but now the other three owners have decided they don't want to put hay in the field, as their horses are all looking good and are good doers. (And to save money?)
However Charlie is a thoroughbred and is prone to weight loss. He gets very stressed if on his own, both in the field and in the stables. At the end of January the three 24/7 stabled horses are leaving the yard, so there may be no horses in the stables, and I am worried that then I can only leave Charlie with the herd in the field, but with no hay. He does get two hard-feeds each day, (3kg total per day.) and is hacked or worked in the school on five days each week.
At present I feel I might have to give it a try. The alternative is to try to find another yard, and move him.
However Charlie is a thoroughbred and is prone to weight loss. He gets very stressed if on his own, both in the field and in the stables. At the end of January the three 24/7 stabled horses are leaving the yard, so there may be no horses in the stables, and I am worried that then I can only leave Charlie with the herd in the field, but with no hay. He does get two hard-feeds each day, (3kg total per day.) and is hacked or worked in the school on five days each week.
At present I feel I might have to give it a try. The alternative is to try to find another yard, and move him.
AmyMay
Situation normal
That's certainly what I meant.
OP - if your horse needs hay to maintain his weight then it sounds like he's going to have to come in for several hours to get his ration.
eggs
Well-Known Member
ditto this, couldn't agree more
If the other horses are all doing well on the current grazing I don't blame the owners for not wanting to keep on haying in the field. Agree with AmyMay that if you boy needs additional forage you will probably need to bring him in to hay him.
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competitiondiva
Well-Known Member
If there is grass to graze and the horses are maintaining their weight on what's there, whether out 24/7 or not then no you wouldn't need to supplement hay, unless it snows etc, if any drop weight those individuals will need supplementation of hay/hard feed etc. I would though be topping up on vit and minerals through either a balancer or supplement etc.