Have I done the right thing?

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bumblelion

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Moved my horses a couple of weeks ago and ever since then one of my horses hasn't touched his hay! I perservered but he wouldn't go near it. Same stuff he's always had! He's an id x wb, 17hh, 8yo, but is chilling out for a month due to arthritis, will be a light hack hopefully otherwise companion to my other! He's a good doer but I'm happy with his weight at the moment. He's stabled at night and out during the day, 8-2.30.

Now my problem is because he hadn't been touching his hay I gave in after 12 days of thinking he'll soon give in! and mixed haylage in with his hay! Well he's scoffed the haylage but leaves the hay! Should I just give in and feed haylage? It's very sweet smelling and moist. How much? He's being fed twice a day, each feed is half scoop fast fibre and a scoop of hifi lite plus supplements. Do I need to cut this down?

I just worry bout him piling the pounds on and becoming a bit too full of it! He can be a little git at the best of times, very bargy and knows own strength. However I am slowly installing manners! His previous owner just used to let him tank off and he was spoilt rotten with treats!

Please help!
 
What's the grass like at the new place?
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If theres loads of the stuff you might find he's scoffing it during the day and only eating a little bit of hay during the night.
 
as above, but if there's not much grass, i'd prob give him haylage (better than wasting hay) and maybe halve feed size until you know whether he's 1 of those that thinks haylage is rocket fuel - they're few and far between, but not fun...!
 
Thanks for the replies. The grass hasn't been grazed on for a year, they're out on about 1.5 acres at mo, quite long but brown at top. Yeah I did think it was coz he was gorging in the day but coz he's only out for about 6 hours and he's a gannet I think he would possibly have gone onto his hay. Even a couple of months ago when on livery they changed fields onto lush green grass and he still ate his net at night! Since he's been here he hasn't had a mouthful! Thats why I was worried! Iv been mixing the haylage and hay together but he's got the art of getting every last bit of haylage out n leaving all the hay!
 
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