Hay not so tasty - any tips for making them eat it?

[HelsB]

I have just taken delivery of a new mini heston hay bale which should last me a month. The last bale was really sweet smelling but this one isn't as good - not dusty or fusty but horsey not so keen.

I do soak it but this actually seems to make him like it even less, but he coughs on dry hay.

Has anyone tried adding anything to the soaking water like apple juice (or squash - cheaper!!) to tempt them?

 

[Eira]

I have this bizzare hay spray from countrywide that I spray over my hay , IIRC its apple flavoured

 

[HelsB]

ooh tell me more, how much is it and what does it contain?

 

[skye_and_i]

you could add abit of mollases to the water! when ive helped crew for my mate on endurance rides they add abit of soaked sugar beat pulp to the water to help incourage the horse to take the water, really seems to work a treat.

 

[HelsB]

Hmmm....may try sugar beet but will leave the mollasses alone as I avoid this in feeds

 

[Eira]

http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=4665

But I've used it for more than 17 haynets and the bottles still not run out

 

[HelsB]

That's just given me an idea, could add apple juice to a spray bottle - cheaper thatn your stuff as I only want it for taste not the other benifits that that stuff boasts!

 

[Eira]

[ QUOTE ]
That's just given me an idea, could add apple juice to a spray bottle - cheaper thatn your stuff as I only want it for taste not the other benifits that that stuff boasts!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooooh thats a very good plan !!
I will be doing that when this bottle runs out
Sol only got it as an Xmas pressie

 

[nijinsky]

Have you tried steaming hay? I had a few bales that were not very nice & they wouldn't eat it, so steamed it, it worked.

 

[HelsB]

They loved it steamed when it was tasty (when it was snowy/frosty so couldn't soak) but had not thought to do it with this stuff

 

[kerilli]

i'd steam it, and maybe sprinkle a few handfuls of readigrass or similar over it too, they love that.

 

[HelsB]

[ QUOTE ]
That's just given me an idea, could add apple juice to a spray bottle - cheaper thatn your stuff as I only want it for taste not the other benifits that that stuff boasts!

[/ QUOTE ]

It appears to be working

I popped in and got some tesco's value pure apple juice on my way home and put it in a spray bottle - he is munching as we speak!!

 

[gg68]

Your horses are not eating it cos they don't like it. Can you not send it back? or feed it to some bullocks.

 

[richardhallsedt]

From my experience with horses over 50 years I trust the horses judgment but some are more fussy than others. With any feed problem my starting point would be to have horses teeth checked by a BEVA qualified dentist. Ive got some hay the horses wont eat no idea why the farmer wont take it back so I have had to get some more from elsewhere, I would not try to make my horses eat something they dont like.

 

[HelsB]

[ QUOTE ]
From my experience with horses over 50 years I trust the horses judgment but some are more fussy than others. With any feed problem my starting point would be to have horses teeth checked by a BEVA qualified dentist. Ive got some hay the horses wont eat no idea why the farmer wont take it back so I have had to get some more from elsewhere, I would not try to make my horses eat something they dont like.

[/ QUOTE ]

He has been checked by a qualified dentist recently (done every 6 months)so no problem there....this hay is from the same place as last month's one but does not smell as sweet -so knowing my boy he is just stamping his feet like a child not allowed sweets!!

The other horse ets it fine, so if it carries on I will open up a new bale for Mr Fussy, however a few squirts of pure apple juice has tempted him so it can't be all that bad, maybe just a bit tasteless!