How much hay?

[Dyllymoo]

Maybe because I can only store 4 or 5 bales where I currently am (I would normally buy 20 or 30 in bulk previously) but I seem to be getting through what seems like more hay.

I'm weighing it every day. He currently has 7kg soaked on the floor (some put in a hay ball) (in from 5pm -9am).

He has 1.5kg in the morning (they are fed at 7am and not allowed out until 9am) and then a small amount of hay before I ride (approx 0.5kg).

I've gotten through 3 fairly large bales in 5 days. Is that normal?

He is on the tubby side but I feel like he would be already stood in for a long time without hay.

I can't use haynets due to his arthritis in his neck.

If I go on the 2% rule he should be getting 12.5kg of forage. We have grass but not loads.

Or am I just noticing it more as I'm getting more in frequently?

 

[twiggy2]

I would be mixing the hay with straw and feeding as much as he eats, I prefer to increase work load rather than restrict forage.
My 15.1hh mare was getting 2/3 rds to one small bale a night plus straw, she has grass all year but was strip grazed most of the year to manage it so had some hay all year too, lived out in summer in at night in winter most of the time.

 

[Dyllymoo]

Unfortunately as he is on a rehab plan increasing his exercise isn't possible. I haven't got any oat straw suppliers around I did look into this last year

 

[Carrottom]

If he is fed at 7am could you put some chopped straw chaff in that feed and skip the hay. It may only be 1.5 kg but if he is on the tubby side every little helps.

 

[IrishMilo]

When mine was in for around the same hours as yours, he got three 6.5kg nets of soaked hay in a 24 hour period. One when he was brought in around 4pm, and two more about 8 or 9pm.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

When my horse was on restricted hay I gave big trugs of plain oat straw chaff, so that she was never without forage.

 

[jnb]

My show cob (650Kg) was on 10kg hay when on box rest. 7kg doesn't seem that much, what does he weigh, how big is he? Can you soak it for a bit longer and rinse it off?