Horse won't eat hay in stable

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Ahrena

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So I've had my mare for over 3 years since she was a four year old. First 2 and a half years she was stables half the time I.e night or day depending on time of year.

She was always fine. Towards the end of last winter she suddenly stopped eating hay in the stable. I tried loads of varieties, different types of haylage, stuff like ultra grass ect. Nada. Forage replacers, nada.

She was diagnosed with ulcers end of last winter and in the end I turned her out 24/7 over the summer. She did super well on it, looked great ect.

As off Monday she's been coming in st night and she still barely eats.

I was feeding hay in the field the last week or so that was fine she was totally happy about eating that.

I don't understand what's changed to make her not eat in the stable. Same yard, same routine ect.

Basically I don't know what to do. She picks at it; she has a hay bar and I can see a hole where she's put her nose but I havnt had to top it up all week.

To complicate stuff; right now she's tied up outside her stable and she's eating a Haynet. I don't really know what to do.

She's on fairly large feeds and a lot of grass so maybe she just isn't hungry?

24/7 all year round turnout is tricky. On my current yard to get to the 24/7 grazing you have to cross a busy road on a bend and it's just too dangerous in the dark. Moving yards is a very last resort right now because I have 3 horses I look after as full livery which is a big chunk of my income and would be difficult to do if we aren't on the same yard.

I also put her on a calmer as I do think her eating relates to anxiety as she does go off her feed when stressed. She's only been on it a few days though so may not be kicking in yet. Thinking of getting a stable mirror?
My other option is to chuck a big fibre mash type feed in with her to see if she'll eat that but she's not keen on wet feed plus it doesn't really resolve the problem - it's not that she doesn't like the hay/haylage, I need to find a way of making her happy in the stable.

I'm going out my mind!!!
 
Does she spend her time looking out, if so I know it is messy but try hanging a net so she can eat while looking out or even several so she has options, a mirror may help if she is looking outside a lot, maybe even see if a change of box, if it is possible, makes any difference, mares can be extremely sensitive and finding the key to what makes them happy is not always easy or obvious.
 
having carefully read your thread it seems like the horse just doesn't like the stable. Can you get someone to help you with the road crossing? It sounds like she needs as much turn out as possible.
 
Could you try mixing something into the hay that might tempt her. I would try some horsehage, just mix a few handfuls in with the hay and introduce gradually, or pick some grass. when one of mine was on box rest he wouldn't eat much hay so I would pick a few bucketfuls of grass and sprinkle them through the hay, this was quite successful. I know how worrying it can be when they are standing in for hours and not eating especially if prone to ulcers.
 
Have you tried just putting the hay loose on the floor.

I know it's wasteful but might encourage her.

Otherwise I would try a stable mirror or a different stable if possible.

Will she eat other things in the stable? Have yoh tried adding a few carrots to a haynet or tried pony nuts in a treat ball as a few other ideas?
 
Spray it with a little watered down peppermint essence or even apple juice?
I bought hay appetiser spray for a horse I needed to put weight on but wouldn't eat and it worked quite well. I've never seen it since thought and suspect it was simply nice tasting water expensively packaged!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions; even with help the road crossing is pretty lethal. It's a main 60mph road and people just don't expect to see a horse on the bend there. I also want o try and find something that works because if not life is going to be tricky with her; if she needs extended box rest or something. If she still won't eat when there's less grass and nothing else works I'll just have to move I think.

She does just stand there and watch me when I'm still on the yard. It's a very good point actually as she was eating when tied with it infront of her so I'm going to try a net at the front - that also makes sense as we went to a stay away show in April and she ate fine which was surprising as it was new place and very busy but her net was right by the door, so I'm trying that tonight.

Mirrors and apple juice spritz (she hates mint) are next on the list I think.

She hasn't actually dropped off so she might not be that hungry either but it's driving me mad!
 
Try a net - mine is fed from the floor, and a few weeks ago suddenly stopped eating her hay. She ate fine from a net. We've since moved boxes and she'll eat from the floor again. Random, but at least you aren't the only one!
 
My mare won't eat in the stable unless she's in a box with another horse, it's andiety related.
However, putting the food so she can eat whilst looking out the door doesntempt her to eat a bit
 
be positive said:
Does she spend her time looking out, if so I know it is messy but try hanging a net so she can eat while looking out or even several so she has options, a mirror may help if she is looking outside a lot, maybe even see if a change of box, if it is possible, makes any difference, mares can be extremely sensitive and finding the key to what makes them happy is not always easy or obvious.
Click to expand...

This has worked for me. My TB started coming in at night 3 weeks ago, and eats hardly any hay during the night. I've found by hanging a net from the door frame, he can eat, and look out, which suits him much better.
 
Have you scrubbed out the hay bar? Some horses cannot abide the smell of any rodents - if you have a rat using the edge as a through route, this could be an issue.
If you haven't already, then scrub it out - take it off the wall and thoroughly disinfect.
.
Hope you get to the bottom of it x
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Have you scrubbed out the hay bar? Some horses cannot abide the smell of any rodents - if you have a rat using the edge as a through route, this could be an issue.
If you haven't already, then scrub it out - take it off the wall and thoroughly disinfect.
.
Hope you get to the bottom of it x
Click to expand...

I second this. Especially if the stable hasnt been used much over the summer

another option may be to try some high fibre nuggets in a treat ball for her to push around, it wouldnt meet all of the forage needs but could be a start
 
I had a weird one the other night. My mare had an extreme reaction to her hay she wouldn't stop sniffing it, she was burrowing her nose right in and smelling it so much she made herself cough. She isn't that bothered about eating hay in her stable either. I would try some haylege (thats what we did in the last few weeks before 24/7 summer turnout when she stopped eating hay), but I don't want her upset that she is not getting haylege all winter. Bloody mares!
 
Another good point. I've cleaned it but not disinfected it. Will do that too!

She's fussy enough for a smell or location of the hay to make a difference I think.

Thanks, fingers crossed!!
 
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