Feeding ad lib hay

monkeybum13

monkeybum13

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Following on from a previous thread about feeding.

A lot of the replies were that hay was not weighed as you fed ad lib.

I weigh my hay but I would also say it is ad lib as there is always a little left over. I know how much she is likely to eat so weigh the hay to prevent wastage (especially with the price rise and I don't like leaving hay in the stable for several days) but she does not go without as there's always a small amount left.

So those that do not weigh and feed ad lib what do you do? Put 3 bales in and see how much they eat? If you just chuck in x number of slices surely this is the same principle as weighing it?

Apologies if this makes no sense, I am just intrigued.
 
I feed ad lib hay so I put in say 1 wedge from a large bale if there is none left the next day then I would put in 1 and half wedges and so on. It would only take a few days to work out how much a horse eats. If he started leaving loads then I would reduce it slightly until there was only a little left every day and so on
 
Horses won't always eat all the hay as some is not tasty enough. but if feeding twice a day you should go on condition, and work, in hard work less hay more hard feed and vice versa. The tummy of a hay fed horse doing little work will be big and vice versa. Make sure the water is changed regularly as some horses are very fussy. There will be more waste if fed on the ground.
 
MrsD123 said:
Horses won't always eat all the hay as some is not tasty enough. but if feeding twice a day you should go on condition, and work, in hard work less hay more hard feed and vice versa. The tummy of a hay fed horse doing little work will be big and vice versa. Make sure the water is changed regularly as some horses are very fussy. There will be more waste if fed on the ground.
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I don't agree. No matter the work load horses should have ad lib hay IMO and only if they cannot get enough from ad lib hay/grass/forage should they be given hard feed. I see horse all the time that have 1 pitiful slice of hay so they are finished it by 7pm but are also given a scoop of nuts/mix when (again IMO) they should just be given enough hay to last the night and no hard feed
 
No way would I feed my fat native ad lib hay....that would be asking for trouble! They get their hay rationed out and fed in double nets mixed with some straw....never had one down with Lammi yet and don't intend to by grossly overfeedin animals on good rich hay, when they've evolved to live off scrub, not all equines are the same you know.
 
SJcrazee said:
No way would I feed my fat native ad lib hay....that would be asking for trouble! They get their hay rationed out and fed in double nets mixed with some straw....never had one down with Lammi yet and don't intend to by grossly overfeedin animals on good rich hay, when they've evolved to live off scrub, not all equines are the same you know.
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Well obviously! I thought it was clear from what I wrote that I was talking about feeding hay rather than hard feed. Presumably you do not feed your fatties any hard feed?

They should have forage available all the time even if it is rationed by putting in double nets
 
I stuff as much hay as possible into my haybar. There's always some left over, and that goes in the field so its not wasted. We don't have very good grazing atm, though. If we did I might be more circumspect about how much hay I put in. If I didn't have a haybar I'd be putting in a heaped (small) wheelbarrow full, and using trial and error to see how much is left over.
 
I feed enough to last the night, based on giving too much then cutting it down gradually until it is all hoovered up. Now, she's not finishing her net as the grass has come through so I'm cutting it down gradually again tonight.
 
horsegirl said:
I don't agree. No matter the work load horses should have ad lib hay IMO and only if they cannot get enough from ad lib hay/grass/forage should they be given hard feed. I see horse all the time that have 1 pitiful slice of hay so they are finished it by 7pm but are also given a scoop of nuts/mix when (again IMO) they should just be given enough hay to last the night and no hard feed
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If only that were possible. None of mine are feed hardfeed yet there's no way they could have adlib hay when stabled: they'd be the size of whales in no time!

Ours get adlib haylege over the winter as they have a bale feeder and a full bale rolled in. They eat as much as they want and keep a reasonable weight as they are unrugged in all weathers 24/7.

However, when they're stabled they only get a much hay as their waistline will allow (not very much :o ) and I have to try to make it last as long as poss (small holed net, straw mixed in etc)

In answer to the OP's question, they'd initially get slightly over the amount I think they'd manage, based on experience, then adjust it until they had about half a net left in the morning.
 
I dont feed ad lib as have a Laminitis/cushings sufferer, i dont weigh either, i do it purely by what i know he needs, at the moment he is out during day - bare paddock and gets maybe a small haynet out there (emptied on floor) then a larger haynet in evening with a handful of dengie good doer to get his meds down him.
 
Horse evolved to live on scrub. This is the crux of the matter. The horses digestive system is do different from cattle and sheep and this is where most people run into problems feeding their horse.

To avoid the risk of colic or twisted gut, or ulcers, the horses digestive tract should be full most of the time.

Imagine a vacuum cleaner hose stuffed with hay, how difficult it is to twist or knot, dead easy when empty.

Most hay and haylage is made from rich rye grass, designed for cows and sheep.

The horse should get its maintenance from hay, ie enough to maintain life without putting on or losing weight, with enough energy to walk all day. It can do this from low feed value, not crappy, hay, which should be available most of the time.

Then feed for work, though most horses don't need additional hard feed.

Soaking hay or mixing good quality straw can lower the feed value of good quality hay.
 
Mine have ad-lib hay throughout winter in so much as I know how much they'll eat and then give them that many sections plus a tiny bit extra. I have it so there's a few scraps left by the time I give them their next lot so i know they've not been left without. They live out all year round and I only feed hay over winter. At the moment I'm giving them a bit of straw for something to pick at but now the grass is coming through they'll be off it completely soon.

I understand that some horses need their hay restricted but in that case I think it's really important to make sure it lasts the night. Double small holed haynets, mixing with straw, soaking to remove some calories etc. I know it can be hard but I can't stand horses standing around in a stable with nothing.

I also think it's mad when people are restricting hay but then feeding a bucket of hard feed. (Unless it's just to get supplements etc into them in a tiny bit of chaff). Also when they're heavily rugged. Let them use some of that chub to keep warm and then there'll be less need to restict the hay!
 
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Hi,

I have always looked for advice on this as I really don't know what is the best thing to do!! I used to feed my boy ad lib hayledge (we only have hayledge on our yard) but the YO and other livery's feed their horse according to weight.

I was advised to cut down my horses hayledge as I was giving him way too much. He weights about 500, and so I was told to give him 2.5% his body weight.

I've always felt a bit harsh only giving him 12.5lb, so actually give him more like 16-20lb per day (10lb in the night net and about 8lb in the morning net).

So not sure what to do now as he is in good shape, not fat, and not underweight. But am pretty sure that by 10pm he'll have no hayledge left, and by 11am he'll have eaten his morning net. So am I doing wrong?? Should I change this?

Thanks for your help :)
 
BorgRae said:
Hi,

I have always looked for advice on this as I really don't know what is the best thing to do!! I used to feed my boy ad lib hayledge (we only have hayledge on our yard) but the YO and other livery's feed their horse according to weight.

I was advised to cut down my horses hayledge as I was giving him way too much. He weights about 500, and so I was told to give him 2.5% his body weight.

I've always felt a bit harsh only giving him 12.5lb, so actually give him more like 16-20lb per day (10lb in the night net and about 8lb in the morning net).

So not sure what to do now as he is in good shape, not fat, and not underweight. But am pretty sure that by 10pm he'll have no hayledge left, and by 11am he'll have eaten his morning net. So am I doing wrong?? Should I change this?

Thanks for your help :)
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Is he on any hard feed? What's his workload? When is he in/out? What bedding is he on?
 
Equinimity said:
Is he on any hard feed? What's his workload? When is he in/out? What bedding is he on?
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He is on a handful of chaff and a scoop of nuts morning and night. He gets schooled 4-5 times a week (maybe twice being lunged) and hacked 1-2 times per week (depends on weather!). Generally has one sometimes two days off a week. The schooling sessions are genarally between half an hour to 45 mins a time.

He's on a straw bed, and never eats it.

He goes out in summer, but stays in in winter. In summer thay are out from 8am to around 4ish, and the grass is ok. They only go out though if the weather is ok. If it's raining, they stay in.

Thanks :)
 
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i'm a big beliver in ad lib forage - but i wouldn't feed a fatty ad lib hay - i'd feed half hay and half good quality straw - or even half soaked hay and half straw - but i'd def make sure that they have a constant supply of fibre (and i am all for making that supply difficult to get to too - ie double netting etc)

my horse lives out 24/7 365 with ad lib hay - i go purely on trial and error - i like there to be scraps left in the morning - not piles - but not grazed right down where i've put it out to get every last whisp. i also go on what they are like the next day etc - if they come running and calling for their morning rations i know i've fed too little - if they ignore me i've prob fed too much.

saying that i'd rather them stand the odd hour without hay than waste any - but thats when there is stuff to nibble on too - when we had snow covering i stuffed hay rakcks full and made sure they were never without - that's also the only time i use hay racks to stop the hay getting covered in snow and lost - the rest of the time its scattered over their 7acre winter field

NB - i also advocate leaving smalls piles of hay about so they have to move to eat it - not just one pile in once place - and for real fatties i like the fatty track system to keep them moving even more
 
BorgRae said:
He is on a handful of chaff and a scoop of nuts morning and night. He gets schooled 4/5 times a week (includidng lunging) and hacked 1/2 per week (depends on weather!). Generally has one sometimes two days off a week. (schooling sessions are genarally between half and hour to 45 mins a time)

He's on a straw bed, and never eats it.

He goes out in summer, grass is ok, but not winter, from 8am to around 4ish. But only if the weather is ok. If it's raining, they stay in.

Thanks :)
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I'd class that as pretty light work so I wouldn't bother with the hard feed and would just increase the haylage. It's more beneficial to him to have something to occupy him when he's in the stable. Give him a balancer with a handful of your chaff and/or a lick so he's getting all that he needs (Dengie do a "Lite Lick" which is not molassed).

Mind you the fact he has a straw bed means if he is absolutely starving/bored he can always pick at that so less of an issue than a horse on shavings etc.

Just keep a close eye on his condition - I use a weghtape to monitor it my lot.

:-)
 
posie_honey said:
i'm a big beliver in ad lib forage - but i wouldn't feed a fatty ad lib hay - i'd feed half hay and half good quality straw - or even half soaked hay and half straw - but i'd def make sure that they have a constant supply of fibre (and i am all for making that supply difficult to get to too - ie double netting etc)

my horse lives out 24/7 365 with ad lib hay - i go purely on trial and error - i like there to be scraps left in the morning - not piles - but not grazed right down where i've put it out to get every last whisp. i also go on what they are like the next day etc - if they come running and calling for their morning rations i know i've fed too little - if they ignore me i've prob fed too much.

saying that i'd rather them stand the odd hour without hay than waste any - but thats when there is stuff to nibble on too - when we had snow covering i stuffed hay rakcks full and made sure they were never without - that's also the only time i use hay racks to stop the hay getting covered in snow and lost - the rest of the time its scattered over their 7acre winter field

NB - i also advocate leaving smalls piles of hay about so they have to move to eat it - not just one pile in once place - and for real fatties i like the fatty track system to keep them moving even more
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spot on.
 
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