nuffield
Well-Known Member
i ALSO FEED HAY AD LIB,
How much hay do you give your horses
- Thread starter H1lda
- Start date
nikkiportia
Well-Known Member
I just have to make a point here, because people are ranting on about how one section of hay is not enough etc..
One section of one of my bales of meadow hay is prob the equivalant weight of 2/3 sections of seed hay! So how can people say one section is not enough when they haven't seen the size of the section???
If a horse has left over hay in the morning, then as far as I'm concerned that is ad lib and the horse is getting more than enough and certainly not bored, have messed up guts, or as has been said a 'poor horse'.
One section of one of my bales of meadow hay is prob the equivalant weight of 2/3 sections of seed hay! So how can people say one section is not enough when they haven't seen the size of the section???
If a horse has left over hay in the morning, then as far as I'm concerned that is ad lib and the horse is getting more than enough and certainly not bored, have messed up guts, or as has been said a 'poor horse'.
Tia
Well-Known Member
My horses never run out of hay. I feed ad-lib and although we have good grass in the summer I still have ad-lib hay in every field. You'd be surprised at how much hay horses still like to have during the summer. I have no issues with fighting over food and there are always enough hay feeders in each field so that no horse ever goes without as much as they wish.
DuckToller
Well-Known Member
Agree, my horses have ad lib hay all the time, and I like to see some left over every morning. For my fatties, in the winter I give them one net at 3 when they come in and go back down at 9 to give them more, so they don't go for many hours without.
The HH article about stomach ulcers should be required reading for all horse owners, especially those whose horses finish their hay in the evening and have to wait 12 hours for the next feed. Dreadful management IMO.
The HH article about stomach ulcers should be required reading for all horse owners, especially those whose horses finish their hay in the evening and have to wait 12 hours for the next feed. Dreadful management IMO.
H1lda
New User
Thanks ISH_mad! I don't envy you for having to soak the hay overnight! Luckily i can get away with just dampening it at the moment
Good point Nikkiportia - I totally - agree if the horse/pony has left over hay from just one section in the morning than that's fine. I have no issues with that at all - providing the hay is good quality - but in this instance the horses and ponies can't make the hay last.
I think i will look up the article on stomach ulcers and get some owners to read it as i'm sure none of them are out to intentionally harm their horses. there is just a lack of experiance on the yard (YO's are non horsey, so no real management to speak of)
Good point Nikkiportia - I totally - agree if the horse/pony has left over hay from just one section in the morning than that's fine. I have no issues with that at all - providing the hay is good quality - but in this instance the horses and ponies can't make the hay last.
I think i will look up the article on stomach ulcers and get some owners to read it as i'm sure none of them are out to intentionally harm their horses. there is just a lack of experiance on the yard (YO's are non horsey, so no real management to speak of)
L
lilym
Guest
broodmare and sec d get ad-lib hay, fat coblet gets a slice of hay and a wedge of oat straw......plus a few fibre nuts in a ball to keep her occupied when in