No Rain & No Grass

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ShowJumperL95

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With this silly heatwave and no good amount of rain due for another week(s). We have no grass and the quality of it is awful.
I am thinking of putting mine on grass nuts to make up for the lack of grass in the fields.
Does anyone have any recommendations? :)

I won't use readi-grass as there is too much sugar in that and will send them loopy

TIA
 
Hay or haylage would be better if you can get some - much much more fibre than in grass pellets, and will last longer. My poor doer is currently munching his way through the long stuff I had earmarked for winter foggage, it's not good is it
 
JillA said:
Hay or haylage would be better if you can get some - much much more fibre than in grass pellets, and will last longer. My poor doer is currently munching his way through the long stuff I had earmarked for winter foggage, it's not good is it
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No it's not is it! It's so frustrating. They are already on haylage but we haven't had the best bales recently and are getting some in the field it is just so brown out in the fields. I wish rain dancing actually worked :D
 
My lot got on well Thunderbrook Healthy Herbal Chaff up until a couple of months ago which is late cut meadow grass based (they also do Meadow Nuts and Hay Cobs which were brilliant for bulking up the feed or feeding as treats as you can mash them or feed them dry) never sent any of them loopy, but it has just a bit too much calorie-wise for my fatties! (they're currently on Pure Feeds Fibre Balance and doing great on it!)

I've heard good things about Simple Systems as well and it's been a wonderful feed for a lami pony we've got out on loan, but I don't know exactly what combination of simple systems feed he's on! :)
 
- it's been great for the lami prone! Loving this heatwave.... dreading the rain coming and the grass shooting.
 
Me too Lintel! Practically dancing with joy!! Please don't rain dance if you're in the north west - lots of fatties and laminitics round here!

But yes not so good for the skinnies. Agree you'll get more forage from hay/haylage than grass nuts.
 
AGray825 said:
My lot got on well Thunderbrook Healthy Herbal Chaff up until a couple of months ago which is late cut meadow grass based (they also do Meadow Nuts and Hay Cobs which were brilliant for bulking up the feed or feeding as treats as you can mash them or feed them dry) never sent any of them loopy, but it has just a bit too much calorie-wise for my fatties! (they're currently on Pure Feeds Fibre Balance and doing great on it!)

I've heard good things about Simple Systems as well and it's been a wonderful feed for a lami pony we've got out on loan, but I don't know exactly what combination of simple systems feed he's on! :)
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Thank you will have a look at all of those!
 
Lintel said:
- it's been great for the lami prone! Loving this heatwave.... dreading the rain coming and the grass shooting.
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ditto, my little lami/cushins pony is actually enjoying summer, having to put hay out for the big boys but don't mind that, nice to have some good weather in summer for a change, and the hay that has been made so far has been great, no excuse for rubbish hay this year.
 
Lintel said:
- it's been great for the lami prone! Loving this heatwave.... dreading the rain coming and the grass shooting.
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Agreed. I’m complaining about the amount of hay I’m feeding but I know it’s preferable to the flush that will come. Somewhere in the middle would be nice!
 
ShowJumperL95 said:
With this silly heatwave and no good amount of rain due for another week(s). We have no grass and the quality of it is awful.
I am thinking of putting mine on grass nuts to make up for the lack of grass in the fields.
Does anyone have any recommendations? :)

I won't use readi-grass as there is too much sugar in that and will send them loopy

TIA
Click to expand...

Silly heatwave, I believe it's called summer. Absolutely loving the weather and no mud, mucking out or haynets to do. Yes, the horses field is going down, but one thing is for sure, it'll be raining soon enough and then no doubt some of us will be complaining about that too!!
 
Bellalily said:
Silly heatwave, I believe it's called summer. Absolutely loving the weather and no mud, mucking out or haynets to do. Yes, the horses field is going down, but one thing is for sure, it'll be raining soon enough and then no doubt some of us will be complaining about that too!!
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Haha I know its called summer and i'm not complaining about the temperature but a little bit of rain would be good just to keep the grass going at a reasonable rate. On of mine reacts bad to the sugars in fresh grass so he will be in when we do get a good rainfall. It is just annoying it has gone from one extreme to the other haha
 
Morgan123 said:
Me too Lintel! Practically dancing with joy!! Please don't rain dance if you're in the north west - lots of fatties and laminitics round here!

But yes not so good for the skinnies. Agree you'll get more forage from hay/haylage than grass nuts.
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The big haylage bales I get are more dryer than I would like but tempted to maybe put them on horsehage HIFIBRE bales to help get some more good fibre in them is it worth the money for the tiny bag?!
 
As someone said above - just give them hay. My fat mares are on a track, and foraging through hedgerow - but the boys are having a big section of hay a day. They aren't going mad for it, so the grass is obvs still growing
 
I use Emerald green feeds they are brilliant soaked grass nuts keep them hydrated and grasstastic chaff keeps them full. All grown without chemicals which has to be a bonus
 
Bellalily said:
Silly heatwave, I believe it's called summer. Absolutely loving the weather and no mud, mucking out or haynets to do. Yes, the horses field is going down, but one thing is for sure, it'll be raining soon enough and then no doubt some of us will be complaining about that too!!
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THIS!!!! Honestly it a lovely summer that we have not have for years like this!! after battling this winter with rain, cold and mud I am ignoring the ridiculous moaning and I am loving being down with my horses hacking out late and popping shorts and a t shirt on to muck out! yes so we are feeding a bit of hay but come on!! fast forward October and nights drawing in! i know what i prefer!!
 
I would feed as much hay / haylage as you can as cheapest and best source fibre.

But I think if hay low grade, topping up with good grass nuts sounds a good plan from a protein and nutrient point of view. Look out for the sugar levels, as some are high. Emerald green are great. Grass nuts much better value per kg than grass chaffs! But hay / haylage best value.
 
flying_high said:
I would feed as much hay / haylage as you can as cheapest and best source fibre.

But I think if hay low grade, topping up with good grass nuts sounds a good plan from a protein and nutrient point of view. Look out for the sugar levels, as some are high. Emerald green are great. Grass nuts much better value per kg than grass chaffs! But hay / haylage best value.
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Thank you, yeah I am trying to feed as much as I can to try and keep their digestive system healthy! I thought giving grass nuts soaked aswell would help keep them hydrated aswell? I heard people soak them (sorry never used these before) But it sounds like just more haylage is the best option.
 
hihosilver said:
THIS!!!! Honestly it a lovely summer that we have not have for years like this!! after battling this winter with rain, cold and mud I am ignoring the ridiculous moaning and I am loving being down with my horses hacking out late and popping shorts and a t shirt on to muck out! yes so we are feeding a bit of hay but come on!! fast forward October and nights drawing in! i know what i prefer!!
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I am not moaning about the benefits of this weather.. all I am asking is what people are giving their horses for the lack of grass currently. Mine are poor doer's so trying to get an idea about how others are managing it. I am enjoying the lovely sunny days and the extra time i get to spend with my horses.
 
JillA said:
Hay or haylage would be better if you can get some - much much more fibre than in grass pellets, and will last longer. My poor doer is currently munching his way through the long stuff I had earmarked for winter foggage, it's not good is it
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All 3 of mine are back in the winter paddock as that had good growth on it. Summer paddocks are just brown stubble now. Once they’ve eaten the winter one down, which will probably be about another week, I will have to start putting hay out.
 
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