How much hay? Field ideas?

GrassChop

GrassChop

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I'm sure I'm not the only one with crispy beige fields and feeding the same if not more hay than I would be during winter. It's like any amount I put out is being completely polished off over 24 hours. I would say they're probably getting between 6-8kg of hay each, the gelding is 350kg and the mare is 400kg. That's a complete guess though as it's haylage and I work it as slices so it could be more. They're large bales so they're getting about a slice and a half for the mare and a slice and a quarter for the gelding. Both also having reasonably sized feeds and they're maintaining weight well as I'd hope they would with the amount I'm getting through.

I've asked around to see if there is some spare summer grazing somewhere but I haven't had any luck. I don't mind feeding hay and I know I'd essentially be paying the same for a spare field but I'm more concerned about going into winter with the fields looking like they do. Having said that, it might not grow anyway.

Should I embrace it? What does everyone else do in this situation?
 
I too am feedings lots of hay. There is a bit of grass in their summer fields but not much. Their winter fields are currently looking great, goid length of grass and lovely and green. Trying to hold off moving them over for as long as possible!
 
It's a tricky one- I'm feeding hay and trying to give them a bit of fresh grass everyday but that will run out soon. My winter fields are ok and will grow up when the Autumn rain arrives (which surely it must?!)
My horses are all in 'good' condition and I'm not feeding them ad-lib hay so they are still getting something from the grass.
 
Same. 5 living out on 5(ish) acres. Desert conditions currently. We were spreading a small hay bale out morning and night between them, but this was causing fighting and was devoured immediately. All looked lean and well for time of year. No ribs visible, but no crests either.

Earlier this week we put 2 round hay bales out with the hope of preventing guarding behaviours and to keep their guts moving.

4 days in and all 5 horses are waddling around, stuffed and sedated. No more fighting, but they all look pregnant.
I'm yet to find the happy medium. Every year brings a new problem. I bet we'll be flooded come October.
Sending solidarity 🙏
 
I'm strip grazing through standing hay but only a thin strip and there isn't much grass under the brown stemmy seedheads.

Hay wise its about 2 big bale slices over 3 days which is about 1/2 winter but double normal summer rations (which is a bit in the stable & none in field).

They've been off the winter field since March and it's horrific. The furrows did have decent regrowth but its all gone brown & died back. The flat bit is just thistles & plantain.
 
Three out on a field that is completely bare now.

Two youngsters and a 30yo.

Going through a big round bale between them within about 8 days.

Have never had to feed hay in spring/summer. It's madness.
 
I always restrict in summer and feed hay. Then open fields in winter and use less hay. Currently using a big round bale a week between 5. Also feed twice a day. All looking well. Still a pick of grass about.
 
I weigh taped mine this morning. Given how little grass there is (they get 1 large hay net of hay between them overnight, split into 3 piles) their weight is somewhere between ‘spot on’ and ‘well’.
I’m surprised.
I admit they are having slightly bigger breakfasts than they normally would in summer, but a couple of mugs of speedibeet / grass nuts is not exactly a conditioning feed.
 
I had so much grass even though its dry on 5 acres, with five under 14.2, they are on a track strip grazed and they had a round bale of straw which they demolished, as they are mainly over weight I have stopped the straw. Judging on the amount of poo they are producing they are getting enough to eat.
I think you have to judge how much on are they losing weight, because ATM they are not needing calories to keep warm.
 
SEL said:
I'm strip grazing through standing hay but only a thin strip and there isn't much grass under the brown stemmy seedheads.

Hay wise its about 2 big bale slices over 3 days which is about 1/2 winter but double normal summer rations (which is a bit in the stable & none in field).

They've been off the winter field since March and it's horrific. The furrows did have decent regrowth but its all gone brown & died back. The flat bit is just thistles & plantain.
Click to expand...

Same. I normally feed hay in summer, but move the fence instead at one end of the day. This year I'm moving the fence and also feeding hay as there's just no good grass there.
 
Mine are out overnight on the track around my 2.5 acre field, and it has very little grass in. I don't hay it. However, there is enough for them to pick at overnight, which keeps both them and their gut moving.

Based on bodyweight, they should both get between 4-5kg total feed a day.

During the day, they get about 2.8kg soaked hay and about a kilo of Honeychop chopped oat straw mixed with Honeychop Lite and Healthy. At breakfast time they have a cup of speedy mash fibre supplemented with herbs. That would add up to just over 4kg total, so that's already 'enough' given their daily guidelines, with space still for sparse overnight grazing.

Most people (DIY and part liveries) at my yard are putting out masses of hay overnight, but most of those horses have squarish fields with most sides electric fencing, whilst my field is a long triangle, hedged all around, with the middle section fenced off leaving the track around the outside. There is plenty for mine to do rather than just stand in one spot munching hay.

Mine are maintaining weight and looking and feeling good.
 
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