Hay replacements

B

Billabongchick

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 October 2012
Messages
722
Visit site
My 5 year old ex racer is just not putting on the weight I was expecting over the summer. She is on Baileys no 4, HiFi and Speedibeet as main rations with added micronised linseed and oil but I am thinking that her ribbiness is due to the lack of decent grazing and somewhat limited haylage allowances at livery. She is healthy, shiny coated and I have got a nice balance of energy without silliness when ridden but I just can't get her ribs covered and her neck looks a bit weedy compared to her backside.

I can't feed any more hard feed (and don't agree with it anyway) and she gets about half to 2/3rds of a (big square bale) section of haylage when in daily. The fields are in a right state after the bad weather/flooding and over-run with buttercups so there is little quality grass out there and in my opinion it is overgrazed but it is the only downside of an otherwise lovely yard.

Short of moving her to somewhere with decent grass for a few weeks (which I don't want to do as she is settled happily where she is now and I'd lose my space at an already oversubscribed yard) is there anything else I can feed like Readigrass or similar to top up her forage intake when stabled? Or do you think I should discuss with YM buying in an extra bale of haylage myself to top up what we are 'allowed'? Livery is expensive as it is and I have spent a fortune on hard feed over winter so a cost effective method would be ideal! I always fed hay previously (10 years ago since last horse) and the one small hole haylage net she gets just looks woefully inadequate to me. She has also started eating her fresh bedding when it is added (elephant grass type stuff) which to me indicates that she needs more dry forage. She lived out 24/7 on good well managed grass before we had her and was a good doer with very little hard feed. Thoughts please?! Thanks
 
I'd have a think about changing the HiFi to something like Alpha A Oil.

I suppose the situation you're describing could be one most of us experience, but through the winter. And so I'm not sure I'd be particularly looking for a hay replacer as if she's getting enough haylage, and you're feeding her twice a day - that should be enough.

Does she have haylage left when she leaves the stable??
 
There is no point in feeding HiFi for weight gain, it contains straw, better imo to feed Readigrass/Graze-on and grassnuts along with the Speedibeet. Or if you and the horse like alfalfa (I don't) why not feed Alfa A?
 
Hi Amymay, thanks for your reply: no she never has any haylage left and because of a skin condition she has I have been advised to avoid alfalfa (although HiFi has a small amount in I am aware). She is having the following hard-feed wise:

AM - Half Stubbs scoop Baileys no 4, 1 scoop Hifi

Lunch - (she doesn't always get this but will be for forseeable future as currently in during day/out overnight and had phases of lunch being added in over winter/spring dependent on turnout routine/weather/YM being about to feed it): Half scoop Baileys, half scoop Hifi

PM - 3/4 scoop Baileys, 3/4 scoop Hifi, 1/2 scoop soaked Speedibeet, 1 mug micronised linseed and a 1/4 mug or so of Sunflower Oil.

She was on Calm and Condition over the winter but I've given up on that hence the swop to Baileys no 4. She is 15.1-2hh and about 450 kilos.
 
Fair enough re. the Alpha.

Simply I'd be looking to feed her as much haylage as she needs and wants. So yes, I'd be asking YO if I could purchase more.

How on earth do the horses manage over the winter???
 
Pearlsasinger said:
There is no point in feeding HiFi for weight gain, it contains straw, better imo to feed Readigrass/Graze-on and grassnuts along with the Speedibeet. Or if you and the horse like alfalfa (I don't) why not feed Alfa A?
Click to expand...

Do you feed the Readigrass as part of a mixed feed or as a separate bucket so to speak? I was hoping for something that would stop her eating the bedding and last a while. Am aware that Hifi is fairly pointless but thought it would make the feed a little more digestible than feeding too much full on concentrate. Do you think I should get rid of the Hifi and up the Speedibeet for hard feeds and then add in the Readigrass or extra haylage as a separate issue? Thanks for help!
 
Whilst you could feed Readigrass in a tub alongside her hay net, it will almost certainly work out more costly than buying your own hay/haylage to up her forage ration.
 
amymay said:
Fair enough re. the Alpha.

Simply I'd be looking to feed her as much haylage as she needs and wants. So yes, I'd be asking YO if I could purchase more.

How on earth do the horses manage over the winter???
Click to expand...

She was stabled pretty much all winter due to her skin condition which (fingers crossed) I have now got on top of hence turnout again but am still careful what to feed. Obviously she got a bit more haylage when in 24/7 as got a morning net too but she has looked poor all winter really not helped by 3-4 months box rest (although we could still ride her). Was hoping the grass would help but it is such poor quality it has made no difference at the moment. Do the hard feed amounts sound appropriate?
 
Should also mention that she was a babyish 4 year old when we got her; she has had a definite growth spurt and evened up from her bum high-ness and matured generally so it is difficult to tell if the ribbiness is partially due to the growth spurt. Thanks all; the input is interesting!
 
Her growing may have something to do with it. But it's more than likely not enough forage.

Wouldn't be the yard for me I'm afraid. I won't have my horses hay ration dictated to - and expect to be able to buy and feed as much as I want.
 
It is a bit difficult as there is limited storage space but I will speak to YM and see what I can do about extra haylage then. That is what was in my head as being the issue but it is nice to get extra opinions. I would love somewhere with better grazing but everywhere has been hit hard locally with the bad winter and in every other way the yard is great. I think if the fields were managed better it would help as I think ours look the worst but it is difficult to know how to approach the matter!
 
Even with limited grazing or poor grazing there's no reason for a horse to look poor, providing you can provide enough forage.
 
I would try alfa beet instead of speedi beet, as it has made a massive difference with mine, although with the skin issues maybe a problem? Equilibra has worked well for me. Did calm and condition not work?
I would also look at ulcers given that she has not got lots of forage. Our vet recomended a mix of hay and haylage to minimse risk. You may also find she is just a light framed horse, I have a couple of those!
 
Definitely avoiding Alfalfa based stuff on vets advice as do not want to experience another period of box rest and neverending bandage laundering! She is never going to be a whopper as polo pony shaped but it sounds like extra haylage or hay is the way to go and I'd be happiest with that approach to avoid ulcers/colicking on bulky feeds etc. Just need to work out how to store it/get it in small quantities without upsetting YM! Nice to catch up yesterday! x
 
Fair enough about the alfa, Top spec do a grass product which is flash dried and coated in soya oil, we use it at work. I used to feed similar in a seperate bucket when mine came in at night. Yes it was good to catch up!
 
If she weighs 450 kg and is poor I'd be wanting her to have 9kg of forage plus her hard feed. If the grass is rubbish then you may have to feed all the forage as haylage, and that's more than one small haynet! I use alfalfa so sorry can't suggest other replacers, but you can safely feed quite a lot of speedibeet in these circumstances. Can u weigh her haylage so u know how much or little she's been getting up to now? Also stating the obvious, are her teeth in the best possible condition, and guts free of worms and ulcers? Imho probiotics are beneficial to poor doers.
 
Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it; HardySoul yes I will weigh it: assume luggage scales will suffice?! I think it isn't enough forage whatever having taken all the advice here on board so will need to address that. Generally her health is good; she does get Brewers Yeast and Biotin as supplements too and is on a worming routine as advised by vets. Teeth have been done 6 months ago (might be due again soon but I think dentist said it was only one front tooth that would need reattention as hadn't quite come through so would be surprised if that was affecting her) and I'd be surprised if she has ulcers as she is generally a calm, happy horse and had a nice break from racing living out with minimal work for a year. She certainly isn't a stressy type; the opposite really. Sounds like I just need to up haylage quantity!
 
I've used trugs of Readigrass & Speedibeet fed along side forage with great success with previous 'poor doers'.
It will also hopefully stop the bed eating.
Just be careful that you soak the beet as you need it & chuck any left when horse goes out as it will ferment if left in hot weather.
Feed any hard feed in a small feed seperately with little/no chaff.
 
Spoke to YM and she said it is fine to up her haylage amounts and see how that goes. Also might be going halves with the other girl who owns her fieldmate (also a TB who has looked a bit on the skinny side recently) on a big bale of hay just to have in the field to top up intake. Fingers crossed this will make a difference!
 
Billabongchick said:
Also might be going halves with the other girl who owns her fieldmate (also a TB who has looked a bit on the skinny side recently) on a big bale of hay just to have in the field to top up intake. Fingers crossed this will make a difference!
Click to expand...

You're better off putting piles in rather the whole bale (which at this time of year may not be eaten totally and simply get wasted).
 
Billabongchick said:
Yes you have a point there; there is a pallet up by the fields so we could store there and add in as and when required.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Put 4 good piles in in the morning - well spaced out so they can't kick - and increase or decrease as you need.

Great that you've managed to find a resolution to the problem.
 
Billabongchick said:
Do you feed the Readigrass as part of a mixed feed or as a separate bucket so to speak? I was hoping for something that would stop her eating the bedding and last a while. Am aware that Hifi is fairly pointless but thought it would make the feed a little more digestible than feeding too much full on concentrate. Do you think I should get rid of the Hifi and up the Speedibeet for hard feeds and then add in the Readigrass or extra haylage as a separate issue? Thanks for help!
Click to expand...
Sorry, only just seen this. We fed our oldie on Graze-on in a trug and used it as chaff with well-soaked grassnuts and speedibeet. Do you now what caused your horse's skin problems? I think I'd avoid alfalfa in case it was that.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Sorry, only just seen this. We fed our oldie on Graze-on in a trug and used it as chaff with well-soaked grassnuts and speedibeet. Do you now what caused your horse's skin problems? I think I'd avoid alfalfa in case it was that.
Click to expand...

Hopefully the newly increased haylage allowance will make all the difference so I will stick with what hard feed she is currently on as energy-wise and general health she is doing well and see how we go with the forage increase to make up for lack of grass.

She has/had UV photosensitivity (Leukocytoclastic Vasculitus) - thought to have been triggered by buttercups in her old owners field but that is a whole other thread! Winter was awful as we treated it as mudfever for so long and her legs were an absolute scab-fest and very swollen at times (snow can cause flare ups) which is why I made the decision to keep her in 24/7 once we had diagnosis. She is very happy living in (and I wanted to make sure we eliminated the problem once and for all before turning out again while she still had open lesions and pink skin that even soft turnout boots would irritate). The downside was the loss of muscle/condition but her legs are (touchwood!) totally recovered now. I still keep them covered at all times to ensure the molecules under the white skin totally dissipate before next year and am still avoiding alfalfa in large amounts (known to trigger episodes) and still feeding zinc (Biotin plus) and sunflower oil as suggested by Professor Knottenbelt at Liverpool University. Consistency seems to be the key to avoiding flare-ups so hence I was searching for ideas to help with getting on that last bit of weight without drastically changing feeds! Thanks for all of your inputs!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top