How Much Hay?

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sbsmiths

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I have a 17.2hh 5 yr old Irish Draft X who comes in around 4pm and out at around 0830am. Still plenty of grass and he's on a SMALL amount of hard feed. He's on straw (can't afford shavings and rubber matting) and he has been seen NIBBLING his bed when no hay. I give him about half a bale per night because I'm worried he'll eat his bed if I don't give him enough. Am I being over-cautious and giving him too much?
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i hav a 17.2 IDx who used to eat just under a bale/night comin in & going out about the same times as you. he was being fed ad lib as he wasnt overweight. i always feed ad lib to my horses, id rather work them a little more than risk them being stood without food.
 
There may be plenty of grass but there's almost no nutrition in it at this time of year. No wonder he's eating his bed! Take care with a horse eating a straw bed as it can cause impaction colic.
 
I have two shetlands.... and they have a bale of hay a night between them (at the mo). If he's eating his bed then he needs more hay....
 
Good grief I must have been blessed with good doers over the years. A bale of hay between two shetlands sounds far too much! Half a bale a night for your horse sbsmiths sounds fine. How does his weight look as that is probably a good indicator.
 
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