feeding hay in the field

coffeeandabagel

coffeeandabagel

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Hi

At the yard I use the YO wont allow hay / haylage to be fed in the fields. Haylage is included in the livery price but only fed in nets in the stable. The grass runs out early in the winter since there a quite a few horses in each paddock so any horse out for the full time allowed (6.00 - 6.00) will come in very hungry.

So I have to pay the person offering services to get my horse in so he can nosh haylage all afternoon. Horse has arthritis so I a) want to keep him mobile but 2) want to keep him warm.

Moving yard is not an option since its the best DIY yard for miles. YO does not take well to complaints / suggestions so need to handle this nicely. I think the reason they give is that it will lead to fighting but to be honest mine has to come in first since he is bottom of the order and gets picked on as soon as they all start to get cold and hungry anyway.

Suggestions of how I could play this please....
 
I would move, if it doesn't suit your horse, and tbh, I don't see that standing in through the day and overnight is good for an arthritic.
 
Can he not come in for an hour for haylage and then go back out? My friends mare had to do this over summer as she was losing weight (over grazed field.) x
 
I've never been able to feed hay in the field. Horses may come in hungry, but not starving. They've gone out at around 7.00am, and brought in anywhere between 3.00 and 4.00pm to hay.

My horses are never underweight, quite the opposite.
 
Love the idea about the electric fence, it would stop him being bullied. He is currently underweight in spite of being fed all the usual things to add weight so Vet has recommended a worm count and even more oil. At the moment he is getting 3 feeds a day.

If he came in and went out again I would have to pay an extra £6 a day! Gulp! Fencing would be cheaper so will be my first thing to try.
 
If electric fencing is a no-no is there a round pen or menage he can go into with a haynet for a few hours so he's got food and movement?

Its a tough situation, hope you sort it :(
 
sophiebailey said:
If electric fencing is a no-no is there a round pen or menage he can go into with a haynet for a few hours so he's got food and movement?
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Hi, nowhere else he can go - there are 2 really good menages that they dont allow to be used like to save the surfaces - one was only redone 3 months ago and the other is always in use. As I said its not an option to move because it does have really good facilities and I like lots about it.
 
coffeeandabagel said:
Hi, nowhere else he can go - there are 2 really good menages that they dont allow to be used like to save the surfaces - one was only redone 3 months ago and the other is always in use. As I said its not an option to move because it does have really good facilities and I like lots about it.
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sorry but i would still move my horses needs are more important than my own and being underweight is a big no no sorry but i would move my horse being fed and happy is more important.
 
amymay said:
I've never been able to feed hay in the field. Horses may come in hungry, but not starving. They've gone out at around 7.00am, and brought in anywhere between 3.00 and 4.00pm to hay.

My horses are never underweight, quite the opposite.
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We're not allowed to feed hay/haylage in the field either......I have problems getting weight off my horses too!
 
i'd be moving if there was no way of the horse having something to eat through the day and it was underweight,horses health and happiness comes before facilities. I personally think yard owners dont like the mess of hay in the fields. Big piles of hay make a mess, lots of small piles are better or round bales but you get mud round the bale unlesss something is put down.
 
As I see things the field has too many on it so nothing for them to eat, it costs £3 per time to just bring a horse in which seems excessive when there is no grass in the fields for them.
If you did put haylage out the others in the field would eat more than yours if he is bottom of the order so they get fatter he stays the same, it sounds far from ideal for your horse, if there is no where else could he go in a better field where he can have hay and does not get bullied, otherwise I would look for somewhere that is not so overstocked and has some grazing.
 
I will ask about my own mini field before I give up! And if I have to go where there are no evening schooling facilities that won't do him any good either.
It's creative answers I need please.
Think I could see how much it wiz cost to bring him out of the the field just to feed him and then shove him back. (once we are on normal turnout after the rain)
 
Is he getting a Hay net before he goes out? I have one that needs more and a couple of fatties that need less, so I put the others out, feed the thinnie:) then put her out. (When im working from home and can come and go easily) Then at night thinnie gets absolutely loads to munch overnight (the others get average nets) I worry about putting her in a separate section with hay. She'd be fine there but the others may go mad if she's freely eating there in the section next to them :D
Ask about price to bring in, hay and put back out as you've said and/ or how much to hay before going out? And more at night?
If a morning Hay net is already given then ignore me:D
 
Anyway here are pics of him - I really dont think he is too bad really but vet said get more weight.
I know he needs more muscle but thats a result of his arthritis and should be resolved over the next few months now he has had it treated


picture.php


There are more in my album. He looks skinnier in the summer pic.
 
I wouldn't be too concerned with him coming in early if he is ridden in the evening. Mine has arthritis and often comes in early. I agree with you if you like everyone else about the yard I wouldn't move, many yards don't allow hay in the field and/or have no or very limited winter turnout. Otherwise the electric fenced paddock sounds a good solution if allowed :)
 
Unlimited haylage.

Three feeds a day. Comprising of Top Spec balancer at recommended level, double handful micronized linseed, unmollassed chaff, carrots, and Top Spec conditioning cubes – cant remember how much but what it says on the bag!.

Because his workload stopped dead once he was diagnosed with the neck and SI arthritis I was worried about him having too much hard feed. He was previously on Top Spec competition cubes instead of the conditioning ones.

He has never been well covered, even in the summer. Have had his teeth checked. Has been wormed in line with the yard program but suspect my poor technique means he hasn’t had the full dose. Vet has suggested worm count and I think I will worm with Equest Pramox Gel since I might be better at getting that down him.
 
I don't think he looks too bad, it is natural to be skinnier now and put it on in March, it is us humans who think they should looks the same all year round.
Agree with him having haylage before he goes out and if you can't have a seperate paddock then the coming in at lunchtime sounds fine, as you ride him in the evenings. He gets to spend plenty of time munching then.
I recommend linseed and oil for weight gain.
 
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