Opinions please: Mollie won't eat hay any more. :(

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FionaM12

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Mollie used to eat hay quite happily, but last summer, she went off it. However she went onto haylage over the winter and she loved that.

All the horses on her yard can go out in summer 24/7. I choose to bring Mollie in for a while most days though to reduce her grass consumption and avoid the worst of the heat and the flies at present.

We use hay in the summer if any horses do come in, but Mollie won't eat hers. She's in her stable for maybe six or seven hours, sometimes longer and although she's got plenty of forage, she won't eat it. I've even tried thinly slicing a carrot lengthways and mixing it into her haynet. All she does is work her way through it pulling the carrot out and discarding the hay. :rolleyes:

It isn't the quality of hay as I've tried it from different sources. For practical reasons haylage isn't an option until the yard stocks up for winter.

She's a bit fat so I'm not worried she'll starve, I just hate a horse to be standing empty for hours. But she's choosing to do so, despite having perfectly good hay to eat. :confused:

She's up to date with the dentist so it's not her teeth.

Would you worry, make other arrangements or leave her to get on with it as she'll eat if she's hungry? :confused:
 
My mare was off her hay the other day. I dunked it in cold water, let it drain then sprinkled it with garlic powder :) She's not overly keen on dry hay in the summer anyway tbh.
 
No advice from me but I'm interested in any constructive replies as I have the same problem. My horse is in during the day for the same reasons as yours. He won't eat his hay or feed (tiny amount of speedibeet for supplements).

I know he is just being fussy but I don't like the thought of him being empty for hours on end.
 
If she is fat I would not look at other options she has it there and she probably is not that hungry, if it was winter or she was losing weight I would have a different view, mine dont eat much at the moment while they are in they snooze, work, pick a bit of hay and snooze some more.
 
Cop-Pop said:
My mare was off her hay the other day. I dunked it in cold water, let it drain then sprinkled it with garlic powder :) She's not overly keen on dry hay in the summer anyway tbh.
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It doesn't seem to matter f it's wet or dry, I've tried both. She doesn't like garlic but I've tried pouring apple juice over it and that didn't work.
 
Elsbells said:
Would you choose to eat your porridge which is good for you or a yummy Big Mac?

She'll be stuffed on the grass so don't worry.
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Haha! I see your point. Will she be okay if she's in all day though? I don't want to give her ulcers.

She actually seems quite glad to come in, the flies and heat bother her.
 
If you're sure its not teeth or the hay itself, I wouldn't be overly worried unless she is too thin or loosing condition. She may just not be hungry.
 
be positive said:
If she is fat I would not look at other options she has it there and she probably is not that hungry, if it was winter or she was losing weight I would have a different view, mine dont eat much at the moment while they are in they snooze, work, pick a bit of hay and snooze some more.
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Carlosmum said:
If you're sure its not teeth or the hay itself, I wouldn't be overly worried unless she is too thin or loosing condition. She may just not be hungry.
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Thanks, that's reassuring. :)
 
I'd leave her to it. She has forage, it's her choice not to eat it. I don't even give mine hay - the highlands are in over night with just straw. They do eat it, because they're pigs... But if they didn't, it wouldn't make any difference to me ;)
 
Think it's the time of year, now mine is going out for longer during the day when he comes in, he has his dinner and a net of soaked hay and by morning there is always about a quarter at least left with loads on the floor too, he's eating it just not all of it, think they are filling up on grass and where it's so hot aren't really feeling the need to eat the hay. If she starts loosing weight or becomes dull or not quite herself then maybe look into it a bit more :)
 
If youre worried try a short chop like Halleys just grass, my old horse went off her hay and she scoffed the just grass when dampened down it might tide you over until she wants to eat the hay again
 
Your horse is "a bit fat"; she doesn't want to eat her hay; I'd be DELIGHTED and let her stew: horses do not generally starve themselves. I do not feed fat horses.
 
I really wouldn't worry. I've never had a horse refuse hay, so she must be content. If you give her haylage you are just encouraging her to over eat (I have the same problem with chocolate, if you gave me adlib cucumber, I'd be full. If you gave me chocolate, I'd always find a space :o)
 
I'd actually let her go with it, considering your comments about her weight, I'm sure she is fine :)

On the flip side, in this heat our grass has pretty much stalled in growth so Ben (who is/was in at day and out at night) started eating at least his winters quota of hay!!! And he still looks damned trim! This week yo and I decided to turn him out onto the 24/7 fields which are empty so he can fill up on grass for a couple of weeks, save on some hay and let his paddock spring back!
 
My boy is in through the day and hes not eating his hay, but its there if he wants it, I think he picks a little out through the day, but hes just full on grass (even though muzzled) so I don't worry. Think he'd rather sleep while in
 
My routine is similar to your - my boy is out 24/7 in summer, brought in for several hours to reduce grass intake and try and prevent him getting any fatter :rolleyes: I give him forage but he doesn't eat it usually. I think he's probably just full of grass and also tired from being busy stuffing his face all night so I don't worry. Quite often he'll just lie down and sleep flat out when he comes in anyway. I wouldn't be too concerned about your mare OP, if she has forage provided then it's down to her to choose to eat it or not.
 
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