Hay

[lolobundo]

Need help with hay and how much to give. How much should a 14.3 cob who is worked 4-5 times a week mostly hacking and the occassional schooling and jumping get? Also a 14 pony who is also ridden 4-5 times a week which includes schooling, jumping, hacking and competing. Both are stabled but get daily turnout from about 8.30ish to 4.30ish depending on the weather

 

[horses13]

I always feed enough to ensure they have some left in the morning - helps prevent ulcers.

 

[lolobundo]

That's what I usually do but yo has just decided that the workers have to do te liveries hay net and they don't seem to give them what they should have so thought about working out how much they need and then getting it weighed to ensure they are getting enough

 

[horses13]

oh i see. Sorry no idea then.

 

[teasle]

How about starting the pony with ten to twelve pounds of hay and the cob witth fourteen pounds of hay,but it depends on how much grass they can eat durung their turnout time.

 

[Cahill]

a good starting point would be 2.5% of the bodyweight.

 

[moses06]

I always feed enough to ensure they have some left in the morning - helps prevent ulcers.

True - BUT if you have native/good doer types this ideal is not possible, due to them getting too fat - and believe me they can do this on add lib average hay alone....weigh the hay at 2% of the horse's bodyweight to maintain condition, and add a balancer or vit/min supplement to the diet....double net the hay or dilute with oat or barley straw if neccessary.