Haylage or Hay Gain steamer for horse that coughs on hay?

[Rlister89]

I've fed my horse haylage for the last 8 months or so as he developed a cough on dry hay or even when it was soaked. Vet has scoped him etc and thinks he is sensitive to the dust - reason i've been using haylage.

BUT it's turned him into a spooky nightmare, he quite a hot headed tb anyway and the haylage, although its mixed and not the Ryegrass stuff has made him much more jumpy than he was before.

I'm considering investing in a hay gain steamer but don't want to buy one if he coughs again. Unfortunately Haygain only let you trial the massive ones and as i only have him its not ideal.

Has anyone gone from haylage to a hay gain and found it ok or used a hay gain when soaked hay causes the horse to cough as well?

Any experiences on them would be great as they are very expensive so i'm not sure if i'm best sticking to a happy horse that now jumps at his own shadow.

Thanks for reading and for any helps!

 

[Vicky Arabian]

Hiya

I have a horse who get a cough in winter and I HATED soaking his hay - think I always ended up wetter than the hay! So much lovely husband made my own steamer from a big dustbin and a wall paper steamer - its works a treat, and didnt cost the earth, and my horse didnt cough at all last winter so its working!

I steam his hay for about 1 hour, its smell lush and there is something satisfying about giving him warm hay on a winters eve!

 

[Rlister89]

Thanks for the reply, its good to know it works! I'm just worried as he coughed a little when I soaked the hay, all beit maybe once when warming up being ridden, but yes soaking was a nightmare!! I have seen steamers like yours sounds advertised as well so may see if someone near by has one i could borrow to see if it works!

 

[mil1212]

My horse suffers from similar, since he had a long stint of box rest. I got a happy horse hay steamer which are cheaper than the haygain , and it works a treat, stops the coughing. Had great service from them too. I have used homemade hay steamers for years previous but this works better.