Haylage only diet for poor doer/veteran

[SmartieBean09]

Hi,

Just wondering how many of you feed little or no feed with your horses on haylage?

Jamin would never touch haylage but again this winter she seems to be losing interest in her hay (teeth checked and all ok). So I bought some High Fibre haylage as this was all feed merchants had in stock and she seems to be tucking into it quite happily. I am thrilled because the last thing I needed was to spend lots of money on hay replacers like last year. Just wondering now that if her conditions holds/improves whether I could cut out her No4 cubes and keep her on a fibre only diet (Haylage, Fast Fibre, sugarbeet and chaff).

Does anyone do this and what improvements have you found?

Thank you - Mulled wine, mince pies and shortbread for all

 

[AmyMay]

I think you can only wait and see.

 

[TGM]

The crux of the matter is whether she will eat enough haylage to fulfill her calorie requirements - if that is the case she will need minimal hard feed. Our pony has always wintered on a diet of haylage and a token handful of high fibre cubes, and that was in a decent amount of work including hunting, competing and Pony Club.

If you feel she is in the correct condition now, then monitor her with a weight tape once a week and if she is starting to gain then gradually reduce her hard feed accordingly.

 

[SmartieBean09]

Brilliant, Thank you.

 

[Maiziemouse]

I have found haylege a really good and cost effective way of feeding all my horses. Although it seems expensive to buy, I have 4 on it so am able to buy the large bales which works out far cheaper. Since switching from hay all 4 horses (who are very different in type) have cut been cut down to minimal hard feed but have as much haylege as they can eat in their stables at night, they are all looking well on this diet (carrying enough weight and nice coats) and have as much energy as they need to be ridden.

The only exception is my old pony (aged 37). Unforunately he no longner has any teeth so cannot manage any haylege, redigrass etc and is on a forced diet of fast fibre and boiled hard feed to prevent choke.