Hay from the ground and shavings

[WishfulThinker]

I've just changed Beau onto shavings, BUT he gets his hay from the floor. At them moment, due to lack of storage I have 3 bales off shavings making a wee barrier at the front and his Hay is in behind that - he still gets a good sized bed. I dont want to get a hay bar as I like the idea, but I also dont like the idea of him having to stick his head in a dark hole to eat.

He was a bit grumpy yesterday as when he was on straw he had hay piled up at one side, and so he could lie down and eat (lazy monkey).

Do u think it will jsut be ok to leave the shavings bales there or should I get something else?? My dad has an old cold water tank that he could add padding to the edges of, but I don't want ot go filling his stable with clutter!

 

[Maesfen]

Why don't you just clear a piece of floor and put his hay down on that. Or you could buy a large tub and put it in that but I wouldn't want the old water tank myself, just in case.

 

[WishfulThinker]

I was going to just plonk it down, but I had visions of him dragging it all through his bed.
The water tank was his water tank in the field at home for ages.
I guess just using the bales will have to do for the time being

 

[Baileysno1]

Ryu has hay on the floor at the front of his shavings bed, I darent look after hes been in his stable for like half an hour as its all over the place his stable is like kevin the stroppy teenagers bedroom how ever on a morning hes hoovered it up and any leftover is easy to sive off the bed. I do soak mine though so its stuck together anyway, Bailey has the same but hes perfect and wouldn't dare make a mess in his wildest dreams.

 

[spaniel]

Stick the hay on the floor. Its much more natural for him to spend the night rummging through his shavings hoovering up the hay than it would be to stand in one place all night with a haynet or a haybar.

Mine are on shavings and on hay on the floor and it really doesnt take that long to tidy up the few strands that find their way into the bed by morning.

You will be doing your horse a favour believe me. Your dentist and your equine physio will thank you as well.

 

[pottamus]

I just put mine down on the floor in front of his bed too...it all gets eaten usually.

 

[Sal_E]

Agree with Spans - horses are very good at distinguishing between what they eat & don't eat - put it on a swept bit of floor at the front & anything tha gets mixed up he'll sort through himself... If you are REALLY not happy with that though, use a big flexi-tub type bucket.

 

[tabithakat64]

Get a large plastic skip, Lady eats her hay whilst laying down and this stops her making a mess

 

[merlinsquest]

The last time I left a bale of shavings in the stable Merlin made his own bed with it!!!

good job it wasnt three bales

 

[Bert&Maud]

I'd sweep an area of floor and feed it loose. If he's got loads mixed up in his bed the next day you've given him too much! He'll soon forage about and tidy up after himself!

 

[pocket]

Ralphs been on chippings for years and is fed from a large rubber bucket which I can get three wedges of hay in (soaked) he tends to kick it out, but thats not a drama

 

[Seahorse]

My horse mixes his hay into his shavings bed and it's a nightmare to sort out. I must waste so much hay because I throw it all away once its been in his bed.

It doesn't matter if he only gets a small net or a large one, once its in his bed he won't eat it.

I'm definately going to get him a hay bar