Dry hay causing a cough - what to do

[Gorgeous George]

George tends to be a bit sensitive when it comes to dust, so he is bedded on woodchips and has soaked hay in his haybar - all fine But the horses are now having hay when they are turned out and it is dry hay and it is making him cough

He got a cough at the end of last winter, but was ok as soon as the grass came through, but it seems this year he isn't going to tolerate dry hay at all

I am a total worrier and I don't know what to do, logistics mean that it isn't possible for him to have soaked hay when turned out and obviously I don't want him to go without turnout. I don't know what to do, and I'm just hoping someone might have an idea that would help (please don't say move yards or I will start crying at my desk )

 

[Miss L Toe]

Make sure he get loads of haylage at night and a feed before he goes out, he won't want to fill up with hay.

 

[Ibblebibble]

is he out with others or on his own? if he's on his own you could put soaked hay in a large trug. If he's with others i would think it would be almost impossible to make sure he doesn't eat their dry hay

 

[stencilface]

Do you have different hay piles in the field? Maybe see which one he picks and water it? We feed my sisters horse hay from the floor in the stable, and we use a watering can to water it - seems to work quite well

 

[emma.is]

don't worry to much, knowing English weather it'll chuck it down soon enough and the hay will get wet

 

[Nocturnal]

I would speak to the yo about this, as it's a matter affecting your horse's health. Could a section of the field be fenced off for your horse so you can feed soaked hay?

 

[OWLIE185]

The issue with dust are the particles of micro-dust which the body is unable to filter out. Microdust is of low density and therefore remains airbourne and does not settle.
I would try to get a small turnout paddock or create one with electric fencing so that George can have his own soaked hay.
To have any real effect on the dust in the hay you will nead to soak it for at least 20 minutes in fresh water.
Also make sure that you thoroughly clean George's stable walls and ceiling at least once a week to remove any dust (also best to do adjoining stables as well so as to reduce any airbourn dust).