Eating less hay in the cold?

Lynds

Lynds

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 December 2009
Messages
417
Visit site

Hi, this is my first post on here, so hello all you regulars. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this strange situation....

My friend and I both keep our horses out 24/7. (in two seperate paddocks, 2 horse each)We have been feeding ad lib hay, but have both noticed that as soon as it snows our horses eat less... has anyone else had this with their horses?

I would have thought they would want more! Confused.
 
Ours are definitely eating tons more hay at the moment. But it could be that yours are digging through the snow for what grass they can get and are partially filling themselves up with moisture at the same time possibly?
 
Ours are out 24/7 and don't seem that interested in hay despite all the snow. My boy in particular seems to prefer nuzzling throught the snow to get to the grass. Seems like such an effort when the hay is just sat there...but then they aren't drinking much either so maybe the hay is too dry?! Two sloppy warm feeds a day of apples, chaff and unmolassed sugarbeet seems to keep them going. These hardy ho ponies that can live of nothing amaze me!
 
My TB x Con seems to have lost interest in his hay as well allthough he will scoff the small amount of haylage I give him in the field. My mare is pigging out for england though!

All I concern myself with is that I offer him plenty of hay, which is good quality. If he eats it that's fine, if not he's obviously not that hungry. He is eating 2 very generous feeds per day of high fibre nuts and safe and sound chaff, and he seems to be holding his own weight wise.
 
Hello and welcome! I`ve noticed that my boy is eating less hay too. He seems to prefer to dig through the snow to get at the frozen grass. And he`s not losing weight!
 
Try offering him a bucket of warmer water. Some horses don't drink enough when the waters very cold. My boy loves his grub but will often wait until he's had a drink of warm water before he chomps the hay.
(Yes he is spoilt)
 
I had a big bale of hayledge delivered to my field for mine who're in overnight with ad lib hayledge, however they weren't eating much of it at all and I spent more time trying to collect up what they'd left!

Thankfully a neighbour brought it off me and now I don't give them any in the field but as much as they want when in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top