Feeding a fatty with allergies through the winter

[Sophstar]

My cob suffers with dust and pollen allergies so has to have his hay soaked, however I am trying to decide what to feed him this winter since our farmer decided he wants £7 a bale and we aren't allowed to buy in from elsewhere. My boy can also be incredibly fussy when it comes to soaked hay especially when it has been soaked for 24 hours, when he stays in during the summer days and just needs something to keep him trickle fed. He lives off fresh air and lives out permenantly in the winter and have considered buying in haylage instead as it will be cheaper than our hay and then mixing it with straw which he happily munches through but don't want him becoming a fatty and getting a lot of sugar. Any ideas?! I'm planning ahead!

 

[be positive]

You could use a mix of haylage,soaked if required and straw in double nets to slow eating. Allen and Page Fast Fibre can also be used as a partial hay replacer and is not too expensive, they tend to eat it fairly slowly if mixed with a small amount of Hi Fi.

 

[sbloom]

If you could find a low energy haylage you'd probably be fine mixing it with straw - a timothy haylage might work, the different types vary a lot. I'd also add a lammi type balancer for the winter (avoid the brands that are cereal based like Blue Chip because they are high in starch).

 

[touchstone]

I feed a high fibre horsehage to my very good doer mare with no problems after getting fed up with poor quality hay and having to soak in freezing temps. I am pleased that I switched, even though it is more expensive.