Haylage = Rocket Fuel?

Persephone

Persephone

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Is this normal? My mare has always been on steamed hay. She dropped off a lot recently due to a recurrent infection so to help her airways and get some weight on I am now feeding haylage.

She has gone bananas lol, it's a bit difficult to know why though as she has had the virus and infection/loss of appetite hanging around for ages.

She has not gone stressy, quite the obvious she seems extremely boisterous, happy and wants to play all the time. Lot's of galloping around and squealing in fun.

Due to weather and Christmas I haven't been able to ride her yet, although she now has the go ahead to come back in to work. I do think in all seriousness I should wait until I have an escort for safety's sake, before getting back on!

She is getting no hard feed bar Alfa A and Speedibeet.

Is it most likely to be the haylage that has set her off?
 
Sorry I probably wont be much help but it may be the type of haylage you are feeding. Some are cut specifically for high energy and some for low energy suitable for lamanitics etc.

Also, some horses just do go nuts on haylage - it doesn't suit all horses. Considering you are only feeding Alfa and Speedibeet and the haylage is a new addition, I think its most likely the haylage.
 
I agree with Pete - if the haylage is the ONLY new thing in your mare's diet or routine, then its the most likely cause. Haylage doesnt have any effect on my mare's temperament, but all horses are really different.
 
My mare can not have it due to health reasons, but yes, I have heard, not experienced that it can act as rocket fuel
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Yes the haylage is the only new thing, but she has been very depressed for a good few months as she has been quite ill.

So her getting better and the haylage have coincided lol.

I must admit my gut feeling is that it's the haylage. She hasn't got skittish or anything, just rather Tiggerish!

This is supposed to be a general working horse haylage, midway through the scale. She won't eat the hi fibre stuff and she was still coughing with the steamed hay.

Sounds like she needs to get in work then really.

ETS she is a mare who can be difficult to get going, might this be the answer then? Rather than stuffing her full of high energy feed?

I need to keep the cereals down as she has had gastric ulcers, this could mean that forage is giving her enough energy, or wouldn't that be sustainable?

 
It could possibly be that the haylage has resulted in an improvement in her breathing which is making her feel much better and therefore livelier.
 
Agree with TGM. Also the being in more and the cold weather may have contributed to her "mad moments", mine is full of them at the moment!!
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