Hay Replacers

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Lonesome_Dove

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Does anyone have any recipes for hay replacers that would suit a 29 year old that is starting to struggle with his hay? He can still eat grass and does eat his hay but drops alot too. I tried haylage and had the same problem.

He also turns his nose up when you put chaff in his feed - it seems to take him ages to eat when he does, so he has alfa-beet and 16+ which is soaked for 8 - 12 hours.
 
Dodson and Horrell did an interesting thing about feeding the veteran on Horse & Country TV a couple of weeks ago.

It involved feeding chop and i think Sugar beat as a replacer. Why not give them a buzz and see what they advise.
 
soaked grass nuts, sugar beet, allen page quick fibre (this new one they've brought out), fibre pencils, alfabeet etc..

another thing to try would be graze-on or readigrass, he might find dried grass more appealing than chaff...
 
I have the same problem and have done some research. A lot depends on how much grazing is still available. Readigrass might be a bit rich as a sole replacement. If he is still managing to chew, you might try simply soaking his hay. If this doesn't help, I think the most straightforward option is Dengie Hi Fi Senior, which is alfalfa and rye grass, lightly mollassed, and short and soft. It may be used as a complete replacer.

If he cannot manage this, you need to use soaked cubes. Alfa beet may be used for up to 40% of his dietary requirements. This might be sufficient if there is enough grass, though he will probably need an alternative when it is frosty. Most feed companies do a high fibre/ low ish protein/energy nut which may be soaked and fed ad lib: Badminton do High Fibre Nuggets; Allen and Page have fibre pencils; Spillers do one and Topspec brought one out last month which has the highest amount of fibre of any of them. There is a variety of options and feed companies will help you if you want further information.
 
I know you say he won't eat chaff but have you tried Spiller's Happy Hoof, which is a much softer texture than most chaffs. We fed our old pony on this as a hay replacer when she could not eat hay any longer.

If he can't even manage Happy Hoof then try soaked high fibre cubes.
 
Have a look on the veteran horse society web page. i am sure they have a hay replacer on there that they recommend and use very successfully.
 
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