Does Haylage make horses fizzy or is it a myth?

kinnygirl1

kinnygirl1

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As title really.. My YO is switching to supplying haylage over winter. Its my first year there and first year with my pony. I have always fed him hay though I know he was on haylage at the dealers yard I got him from. I could still order in my own hay from outside but it will cost more once delivery added on. Opinion on the yard is very divided. Some like the haylage, others are saying it turns them into nutters. Some say the sugar is not that much higher than in hay... I am confused! Help!
 
Hyalage has a higher protein level than hay. The sugars ferment which is why it 'keeps'. There is some energy difference but not usually enough to create 'fizzy' horses.Lots of competition yards use it as there is no dust.
 
My horse is less fizzy/sharp on hay than haylage, definitely. I think it depends on the individual horse and it's type.
But I would think it also depends on the quality of the hay/haylage.
 
Our old horse doesnt like it, he lost such alot of weight when we moved him to a yard where they had to have haylage it was shocking. Both hubbys mare and my eldest daughters horse were quite a bit more fizzy on it.
 
Thanks guys - feel like I have talked about nothing but this all weekend. I am so boring! but think I am going to stick with what I know and order myself some hay. He is perfect(in my eyes anyway) as he is. :)
 
it used to set my old lad off his rocker... so soaked hay all the way for him, however I would like to feed it to my boy now.
Hay quality isn't too great this year and he's starting to leave it too.
 
dafthoss said:
Some it does some it doesnt. I would try it first before getting some hay of your own.
Click to expand...

He had a couple of handfuls tonight and yesterday to try and he liked but i guess that's not enough to see how it affects his "fizziness". Just worried about breaking something that isn't broken I suppose. I am a worrier, me!
 
we have had our tb ex racehorse on haylage for most of the time we have had him (9years ) and most of the time he has been fine. But some haylage does seem to affect him and we have had to put him on hay or a mix of hay and haylage until he calms down again. So it will probably be a case of wait and see. Also watch the spring and autumn grass flushes as you may think it is the haylage but in fact it is grass.
Best of luck - it is amazing that if you have a horse who is fizzed up by sugar feed content how quickly it can happen and how quickly they get over it. We find magnesium calmers very effective so you always try that as well.
 
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