Feeding

Q

Quartz

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Hi, just a silly question but I feed my horse early morning with his granules (don't know what it is in English), then about an hour later his hay. Then repeat in the evening. So basically feeding 4 times a day. Who gives there hay at the same time as there hard feed? What are the risks of colic with feeding all at the same time?

Also put some straw down in a sheltered corner of his field today, just for some added comfort, but he just ate it! Is this ok? Thanks
 
I'm not feeding hay just now but when I do, I give the horse their grain and then give them the hay immediately.

I would do this twice a day. Because hay is forage, there isn't a risk of colic. It's like feeding your horse and then putting them out to graze.

It can depend on the type of straw as I think some types are more palatable than others (but I cna't for the life of thing which ones).
 
We tend to feed hay (soaked) and feed (wet) together, but in different areas of the stable. One of our mares chokes v easily so we do this to reduce the possibility as much as poss (in the past she has taken a big mouthful of hay and then before chewing it she has got a big mouthful of feed too which made her choke - she is a big greedy pig!). I wouldn't have thought there was a colic risk. If I put straw anywhere near ours they would eat it too! No worries tbh, if you have a good doer then mixing hay with straw is a good way to reduce calories while still keeping enough forage going through.
 
Thats very interesting thanks. I really believed that as he eats his food, including hay really quickly that he could get colic. Well that will save a lot of time. Thanks
 
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