dust allergy

[Dizzydancer]

Hi my 25yo horse has both an allergy to pollen and dust...a nightmare!!
I have got a couple of hay bales to get through before the haylage bales are bought in from the fields, I want to soak the hay to get the dust out but dont want it to loose all its nutrition as he takes alot of work to have a good weight.
Is this possible or will I not be able to get rid of the dust without loosing the nutrients? In which case il up his feed to counteract and try to rush the haylage coming in!! Iv only ever soaked hay to get fat pony to loose weight

 

[domane]

I have a cob yearling who gets snotty from dry dusty hay and a TB who needs to keep weight on so I'm also caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I've been told that soaking for about 20 mins is enough to dampen down the dust/mould spores, but not long enough to remove all the nutrients and at the moment both of them seem to be doing well on this compromise.....

 

[QueenDee_]

You could try steaming the hay, where soaking removes the nutrients and dampens pollen and dust spores etc, steaming leaves the nutrients in the hay, but combats the dust and pollen Although hay steamers are quite expensive to buy, apparently they are worth it [I soak my hay as I need all the sugars etc out for my fatty] but I read an article somewhere about how to make a hay steamer for a lot less, so i'm sure if you Googled it you'd find some inventions

 

[zoelouisem]

We use hay steamers at work they are absolutly brillient, ive got a horse we a severe dust allergy and they really work it doesnt cough at all so they were well worth the invesment. Before we had them we used to steam his hay by putting the net into a dustbin pouring 2 kettle full of boiling water covering with a shavings bag then putting the dustbin lid on and leaving for 30-45 mins worked well and a bit kinder to the purse!!!

 

[Dizzydancer]

Thanks for the ideas, i didnt fancy forking out for a steamer as it will only be for 2 weeks at the most until he can have his haylage... we will both be happy then!! I will try steaming it although he did pull his nose up at steamed hay that a friends horse had when he visited! Or may just stick to simple quick soak!xx