How is your horse on haylage?

Puppy

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 February 2006
Messages
31,648
Visit site
I am rather annoyed to realise that I don't think I can feed Be haylage this winter, now that she is out of work. She'll get far too fat and full of energy on the sutff. On the other hand, there's no way I would put Star on normal hay - which means faffing about with my fencing and putting them separately.... grrrr!

Anyway, I have always liked feeding haylage, and am a bit gutted to think of ordering plain hay, so I was wondering how many people have horses on haylage, or how many can't stand the stuff without it blowing their brain? And as an extra thought, what breed/type is your horse?

I'm already wondering what I shall do if in the future I add another horse to my field/this equation....
confused.gif
confused.gif
Last time I had 2 on haylage and a TB whom I only allowed hay he was a PITA about it....
 
I thought haylage would send Totes loopy but he was absolutely fine! It did help him keep weight on. He's a 14.1hh irish cobby pony
smile.gif
Who goes crazy on mixes, hence why I thoguht the sugar in haylage would send him mad
tongue.gif
 
Never known hayalge to blow anything's brains.......

If Be is going to be out 24/7 throughout the winter, then the higher calorie level of the haylage will help support her nutritionally - so I wouldn't give it a second thought.
 
Really? I had a TB who went nuts on the stuff!!
ooo.gif
grin.gif


Be is always out 24/7, and I can guarantee she will get fat if I feed it to her on no work
smile.gif
She is not even slim atm, is out 24/7, limited grazing, no rug, and no feed other than balancer and good dooer chaff - oh and a few carrots/pears
grin.gif
She's like feeding a native!!
 
So stop feeding her. There's still plenty of great grazing around - so don't feed anything additional until it's really needed, which it's not at the moment.
 
I have a Welsh who is unrideable on haylage. Now he is a field ornament I don't really have any qualms about giving it to him though.

Everything else seems to be fine on it - including the other Welshies.
 
She is on stuff I was recommended for her arthritis (blue chip dynamic) Which as I say, is mixed with some chaff. Most of my grazing is unusable atm as it was sprayed 9 days ago.

Anyway, I'm quite happy with her diet and condition atm,
smile.gif
but I know I won't be feeding her haylage this winter, hence the pondering post
smile.gif
 
It gives my grey horse the sh!ts, so she has to have soaked hay.

My 13.2 doesn't have it either because she tied up once and has had laminitis.

The chestnuts have it usually, but they're pretty mad anyway.
wink.gif


ETA, I don't think it normally influences temperament.
 
I feed mine with it, not realy seemed to have problems so far!! I have however found it can vary greaty from make to make or even batchs and some of the stuff farmers make as a sideline can be real rubbish ie wet smelly and wispy like medow hay.. mine turn their noses up at that
smile.gif

I think the stalky first cut stuff is best ( Italian rye grass) if you can get it....
 
I feed my arab x welsh haylage but the marksway blue one...only as it's full of fibre and not going to do her any harm, being as she's off work due to injury, she had a nasty reaction from some haylage last xmas which resulted in her face swelling, lumps on her body and all her lady bits blew up, very stange indeed...had to get her on anti inflamatories to reduce this, usually she has dry hay so long as it's not too dusty, if it is it's soaked for her.
I personally think it's individual for haylage and horses
 
Mine's a native cob x. Depends on the type of haylage, one sort of bales we have (not sure if rye or alfalfa, as I don't know my grasses/crops that well) makes him a little bit pushy and little bit spooky but nothing too bad. However, whatever type of haylage we have, it makes him fat. He just doesn't need haylage as he's such a good do-er but it's all we're allowed at the yard. I would much prefer to have him on hay.
 
Top