How much hay?

[MrsHhorses]

Just wanted some advice re putting hay out, how much etc.
I have a 16.1 cob who is at a good weight to maintain.
Chiropractor said not to put any more on.
Her grass is good, not huge amounts but enough to graze 24/7.
Lives out, not clipped (will have blanket clip)
Everyone else puts hay out for their horses each day now.
I haven’t yet because she’s maintaining.
Should I also be putting hay out for her now the temp has dropped?
Or wait until her grazing is reduced or until she looks/measures lost weight?
Bit confused, I don’t want to over or under feed her!
Thank you for any suggestions

 

[magicmoments]

Just wanted some advice re putting hay out, how much etc.
I have a 16.1 cob who is at a good weight to maintain.
Chiropractor said not to put any more on.
Her grass is good, not huge amounts but enough to graze 24/7.
Lives out, not clipped (will have blanket clip)
Everyone else puts hay out for their horses each day now.
I haven’t yet because she’s maintaining.
Should I also be putting hay out for her now the temp has dropped?
Or wait until her grazing is reduced or until she looks/measures lost weight?
Bit confused, I don’t want to over or under feed her!
Thank you for any suggestions

If she's maintaining, I wouldn't yet. It's very easy on a livery yard to get swayed by what other people do. By the sounds of it your chiropractor thinks she is at the top end of ideal, so would be better for her actually to lose some over winter. Keep a close eye on her, allow her to lose some. Hay when necessary, but not before.

 

[Red-1]

As we don't know your grazing or horse, no one can give a definitive answer in kgs. However, if she loses weight other than a gradual decline into the correct weight, I would start to feed some hay, then up it if she is still losing or too thin, lower it if she starts getting too fat.

If she starts to be unhappy in the field I may give hay, then work more to keep the weight off. That is easier than dealing with an unhappy cob, IME!

 

[Carrottom]

As the nights are either colder or wet I would be inclined to put out a small amount, about 1 to 2 kgs so that you can increase it gradually in a few weeks time. To me this is preferable to waiting for visible weight loss and introducing a large amount of hay daily. If the weather stays mild and the grass keeps growing you can keep to a small amount.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I use extra large haynets, I think they are 10kg or 15kg when in winter he gets 3 per night and one or two during the day and just now hes on two per day

 

[MuddyMonster]

Could you put some hay in a small holed hay pillow (or similiar) if they are un shod? So they have the option of eating if they are hungry but it's a bit harder for them than loose hay or in larger holed nets.

 

[meleeka]

I go by when they start to seem hungry. If they don’t need it, most horses will choose grass over hay. You could try a small amount and see how quickly it’s eaten.

 

[ihatework]

If she is carrying sufficient weight, has access to grass and isn’t acting particularly hangry then I wouldn’t give any hay. Save your pennies and use the time of year to your weight advantage!

Later in the year aim for about 10kg hay when the grass has gone and it’s getting cooler and if you have sufficient weight loss/really bitter weather then up to 20kg

 

[JBM]

I use extra large haynets, I think they are 10kg or 15kg when in winter he gets 3 per night and one or two during the day and just now hes on two per day

God he must eat a bale a day! Expensive man!

 

[Barton Bounty]

God he must eat a bale a day! Expensive man!

I go through a large round bale every 3/4 weeks

 

[JBM]

I go through a large round bale every 3/4 weeks

Actually not as bad as I thought

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I dont hay in the field if they are maintainweight and there is still grass.

I wouldn’t bother save yourself money until you actually need to.

 

[Birker2020]

I have an unridden 16.3hh WB and get through a round bale every 2.5 weeks (or did last year as we're not quite at that time of year yet) and he's still out overnight.

When out in the day, in at night - a large evening net given at approx 6pm plus a small 10pm tub of hay and a net of hay at 4pm when I get to the yard after work and he's tied up outside stable whilst I'm mucking out.

Then i put equivalent medium sized net of hay out in an upturned tub in the paddock after work so he has that to eat next day when turned out. Have no idea of weights, but if any hay left after a few days following 'turn around' then I start cutting back a little.

Exactly the same protocol/hay volume for previous horse who was a little bigger in size and weight but was a better 'doer' than Lari.

 

[Auslander]

The grass is still growing, as it's been so warm, so I wouldn't be haying a horse who is already at the comfy end of the scale. My grass is very short, but bright green, and they are grazing happily all day. I do feed hay, but mine are mostly TB types, who need a bit more than a cob. The two cobby ones come in at breakfast time and have a small haynet to keep them occupied while the less good doers eat their hay in peace.

 

[Auslander]

I use extra large haynets, I think they are 10kg or 15kg when in winter he gets 3 per night and one or two during the day and just now hes on two per day

Do you weigh your hay? Your winter rations are between 50 and 75kg of hay per day if he's getting the stated weight per net - if he's not grossly overweight on that, plus grazing, there's something wrong with him! My skinny ones get 20kg per day, plus grazing and hard feed

 

[Widgeon]

Do you weigh your hay? Your winter rations are between 50 and 75kg of hay per day if he's getting the stated weight per net - if he's not grossly overweight on that, plus grazing, there's something wrong with him! My skinny ones get 20kg per day, plus grazing and hard feed

I did the same calculation and came to the same puzzling conclusion! I do find that haynets almost always weigh less than I think they do, when I get them on the scales - I'd have to be cramming in compacted slices to get them up to the full weight they're sold as holding. My cob is a little bit smaller, but he gets about 8-10kg a day in the field over winter (i.e. late November onwards), and does fine on that. I soak it in 15kg small hole nets and they always look reasonably full, despite only weighing in at half their maximum advertised weight.

 

[Barton Bounty]

What I do works for me and has done for 8 years so I will just keep doing what I do ?

 

[JBM]

I have two horses on 6 acres with some sheep
No need for any hay of yet but only goes to 9 degrees at night! 14 during the day

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not give extra hay until the horse starts loosing weight .
Mine are getting non atm there’s no need it’s mild they are a bit fatter than I would like .

 

[HollyWoozle]

If there is plenty for your cob to keep busy with and she produces plenty of droppings then I would be inclined to wait it out on the hay front too. Perhaps you could use a weigh tape to help you see when she starts to drop off and then you could start adding some hay in? That way you won’t miss it (which I feel is easy to do when you see them all the time). Of course if you notice the grass/poos lessening then you can start topping up or if the weather turns cold.

We hay ours all year as our grazing is pretty poor but we are still feeling quite a small amount. Even in our field the grass is pretty green and growing and they are holding their weights well.