Ideas for Feeding Hay in the Field?

p87 said:
I can't be the only one who scatters sections of hay all around the field in order to encourage them to forage naturally, and keep them moving so they don't become stiff standing eating in the one spot all day?
Click to expand...

There's a difference between spreading hay out (as I'm doing now) and watching your horses run after hay on a windy day as it vanishes into the neighbouring woods. :-))
I think life tends to be a bit of a compromise, especially in the winter, especially with horses living out.
 
My winter field's fence line is at the bottom of a small banking. This is great, as I can wedge sections of hay between the stock fence and the slope. I do this at intervals from outside the field, so I don't have to go into the muddy gateway, and the horses a section each.

For us hay is a bad weather event - they usually manage on the grass. If it were every day all winter I'd worry about poaching, and encouraging them to loiter by the fence, rather than free-forage. If you can encourage the latter behaviour it makes such a difference to how they 'do' over winter. They move about more and are generally warmer and more relaxed.
 
Thanks Fiona36 and Marioforever - much appreciated. We have 4 horses so I was looking at 2 medium ones, but I think reading your feedback I might bite the bullet and get 2 larger ones. Many thanks for the advice!
 
love the ‘tattie’ box i got recently


IMG_1597_zpsa0bea051.jpg
 
I do haynets too - tied to the fence and far enough apart so that each horse can eat in peace. means they're easily moved rather than poaching the ground in one area too much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top