How much hay to feed...?..

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AWBrooke

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Evening everyone... quick question, my 20 year old mare is on 3rd week of box rest due to 1st ever bout of laminitis, and a cushings diagnosis, having MAJOR problems with getting her to take bute...all attempts bar the 1st one have failed miserably... but that's another story. Just wondering how much hay to feed her while on box rest as I would not like her to put on any weight as she could do with losing some, which is hard when no exercise. She is just fed 2 handfuls of Happy Hoof Molasses Free to incorporate her vitamins and minerals...Any help most appreciated...
 
She currently weighs 550kg and is a 15.2 Hanoverian. I would ideally like to get her back to 500kg. She is only really used now for hacking although she has a good pop on her but gets way over excited jumping..😀..
 
AWBrooke said:
She currently weighs 550kg and is a 15.2 Hanoverian. I would ideally like to get her back to 500kg. She is only really used now for hacking although she has a good pop on her but gets way over excited jumping..😀..
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About 9kg of soaked hay, assuming the only other feed she gets in a day is the two handfuls of happy hoof. :)
 
9kg but if you soak and double net it will last longer. Its tricky on box rest. 2 handfulls of Happy Hoof will not even be close to her vitamin needs, they recommend 3kg which is 5 stubbs scoops (taken from their website and my calculator). You really need to consult a nutrition person as its tricky getting the right essentials without calories. Personally I would give Science Supplemenst Wellhorse for veterans if she will eat powderesd supplement mixed with Dengie Hi-fi light but providing she will eat in a small volume Happy Hoof would be fine. Soaking hay will reduce sugar/starch but also remove goodness. Short term getting the weight oof addressing laminitis & Cushings is your priority. I don't think a lack of viatmins etc short term will do any harm, that's a question for your vet.
I'm sure lots of people will have different views but I'm sure 1.5% of body weight is the minimum forage you should feed for weight loss which I'm guessing is why @JenJ stated the smae figure
 
Thanks JenJ.... makes me feel better as that's what she is about on. I'm using small holed haynets to make it last longer... she's not impressed though..😀
 
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