How much Haylage do I feed? and What hard feed for pc camp?

[ponyforever]

Hi

My son owns a 14.2hh connemara, medium built mare. She is 18 years old.

I was wondering how much of the blue bag horsehage Haylage he should feed her at pony club camp in a weeks time. They will be there from Sunday until Thursday doing 2 hours work AM and 1hour-2hours PM.

I thought perhaps one section split in two for morning and lunch haynets then one complete section for evening haynet.

She will also be getting a double handful of chaff AM and PM.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Is she used to having haylage or is it something she has got to have at camp? Even though they maybe do more work at camp than usual I would try and keep her feed the same as it is at home. Will they be turned out at the end of the day or will they be stabled overnight?

 

[ponyforever]

Hi
She has had haylage before but not as her main source of food and fibre. She is going to be stabled all the time

 

[Boxers]

I would think if she is going to be doing 3-4 hours work each day she will need more than chaff in her feed bowl. Perhaps you should start her now on some pony nuts or coarse mix? She needs to be 'acclimatised' to the feed before she goes to camp.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

In that case start giving her some now everyday so she is used to it before she gets to camp - it will give her gut time to adjust to it. I would just make sure she has enough to munch on over night - a section maybe enough depending on its size.

Unless she normally has hard feed I wouldn't give it to her just for camp. As a connie she should be fine on her chaff and haylage - remember haylage does have more calories - therefore more energy - than hay.

I'm sure she will be just fine - hope they enjoy it!

 

[scribble]

I would say slowly introduce halage now but dont really change hard feed poss a little hadnful of cubes or mix thats it. dont forget to feed after the work so dont up the feed then work more as you get silly horses. Haylage does have quite a bit more energy in it than hay and she will be stabled so wont use energy walking round their field. my pony wasd fine on this at camp. They will be excited by the goings on anyway.