haylage over hay for poor dentition?

[ester]

I've not fed haylage since my RS days when it was home made and given to the oldies once we got about halfway through winter.

But I've been pondering whether some of the versions now available might provide a softer/more chewable long forage for those with compromised teeth. Our current hay crop is pretty soft (was early cut this year) and the hayman has put some to one side for us (sometimes he has ones that have been re-threshed/baled from a big bale which can come out extra soft and he's aware of F's issue since he once did us an emergency delivery when he stopped eating for a bit 3 years ago).

F is eating most of his hay ration but is tending to rifle through it then ask for something else (in that welsh cob way) before going back to it. We have a good quantity of grass (strip grazing it still!) they are out most of the day (until they decide they want to come in) and condition wise he is fine but I'm wondering whether he might find haylage easier and wondered if anyone had experienced that? Or is there not much difference.
Soaking the hay hasn't made much difference and he is free to dunk if he wishes as fed lose, giant water bucket.
He struggles more with hay than chaff (weirdly) and can absolutely have more soaked feeds/forage as he requires them (he gets soaked weisencobs as a supplement/bute carrier currently).

 

[HelenBack]

My horse doesn't have poor teeth so I can't speak from direct experience, but I sometimes use Country Haylage and it's generally very soft so could be worth a try. It's only about six quid a bale so not too much to waste if he doesn't get on with it. The horses seem to like the taste too ?.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Do any of the branded haylage companies do a "senior" version maybe? Don't know if haylage is just an easier chew because of the fermenting or if it is dependent on time of cut too... so late cut haylage actually not as good as early cut hay for example? The only concern I'd have is that the acidity of haylage could aggrevate dental issues?

Lots of question marks because I don't actually know but am interested in answers for Little Dragon as I'm sure she's going to start struggling with hay more soon. But she's so small she can pretty easily just eat soft chaff and grass nut soup if she wants!

 

[Reacher]

I suspect it depends on the individual horse and might just have to try a bale and see.

You’ve probably already considered it but I rather like the garden shredder idea in this thread
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/haylage-for-the-older-horse.723396/#js-post-13182772

 

[ester]

Yup ditto thinking on the time of cut, as fed as metabolic too.
The last time I saw him make the face he did a couple of days ago was on livery when he was basically the barometer of whether there was an issue with a particular delivery of hay. . . basically if he wasn't eating it there was an issue. The girlfriend is eating it though, and the guinea pigs so current batch is fine.

He got haylage once, at the vets for 2 days, and was described as not coming up for air - we took hay for the next visit. So I'm slightly concerned if he does eat the haylage he might just refuse to go anywhere near hay ever again.

Re. shredding it, I think he finds the hay easier than chaff because he is able to hold onto/push back the longer stalks easier than chaff.

He is due a check soon too so will see what that brings.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’ve just started feeding my 25yr old haylage - a brand called Mainbale. He wasn’t eating much of his hay and was mostly mixing it in with his bed. He’s eating up the haylage at the moment. He’s teeth are according to the dentist not bad and he’s none missing but plain hay is obviously too much effort these days.

 

[ester]

We don't have any missing, but we do have one with a big hole and a couple with slightly smaller holes and he's always worn them a bit wonky and has gaps between his incisors. I presume that's Dolly? Definitely helpful to know there's been a difference for someone I'll see what mum thinks (as primary carer!)

 

[Tiddlypom]

Have you tried him on steamed hay? Preferably warm and yummy smelling freshly steamed hay?

ETA Wam hay??? Warm hay!

 

[Winters100]

Have you tried him on steamed hay? Preferably wam and yummy smelling freshly steamed hay?

This is what has worked for mine. She gets steamed hay, a big bucket of senior chaff and 7 small meals a day of soaked grass cubes. She is looking and feeling great on it.

 

[ester]

No I haven't but it does make the entire olympia shopping hall smell!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I was just going to suggest steamed hay but saw that Tp beat me too it!

 

[Goldenstar]

There is veteran haylege which is shorter and easier to eat for horses with dental issues .

 

[ester]

Thanks GS, the ones I can find seem to be all ryegrass though which I'd rather avoid.

 

[honetpot]

My pony has hardly grinding surface on his teeth, he can nibble soft grass, and will attempt to chew very fine hay, haylage is just too chewy. I maintain his weight with Spillers Senior Mash

 

[ester]

I don't think I can describe Frank's grass eating as nibbling, it's a much more serious business ?, he is eating plenty of hay but I guess I just don't want him too uncomfortable doing so whether that be his teeth or his jaw (which had a question mark over it after the non-eating episode).

 

[brighteyes]

What does his dentist say? Also, look at his droppings. Any fibre coming through longer than (and now I need to ask my son as he knows) 'x' cm, and you have chewing issues. Grrr can't remember what the value of 'x' is!

 

[Reacher]

Thanks GS, the ones I can find seem to be all ryegrass though which I'd rather avoid.

You can get Timothy horsehage and haylage
I had Mr H on the horsehage , i think it's less sweet than other haylage so he might not inhale it quite as fast.

PS I don't recall whether F has any lamnitic tendencies but my mum reckons my childhood pony could get it just by hoovering up the other horse's haylage that he had dropped on floor. (However this was 30 odd years ago and we knew nothing about minerals etc)

 

[ester]

Yes I meant the veteran ones seem to be all ryegrass.

Droppings seem to be fine, as is general condition. Though I would love to tell my mum she has to go out and measure the fibre in his droppings, I will google what x might be BE! she will love me even more! Dentist is I think due a visit anyway (I lose track not being there) but has previously said that there hasn't been much change in his caries/when he did stop eating he didn't think they were the cause.

Reacher no he's never had lami even when he was very fat when I bought him aged 12, he's had a few PPID tests over the years and he is fed as if he is metabolic/have the track up in summer as has had a few fat paddy episodes but much better since back on Magnesium.

 

[Shysmum]

My 31 year old shettie has real difficulty with hay. The vet rasped his teeth 6 months ago. I'm not able to get haylage, so am feeding lots of Happy Hoof instead. He's doing brilliantly and has put on weight ?

 

[ester]

As I said he really struggles with chaff, much worse than hay so we stopped using it for feeds a couple of years ago.