Pallets of bedding and haylage recommendations

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4Hoofed

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So far our hay has been inconsistent this year. Our hay is nice but dusty. Outside hay we have a good supply of but some of it has been suboptimal. Which having nearly completed colic surgery recovery is giving me anxiety. I prefer haylage but as I’m downsizing to one horse big bales aren’t practical.

Now I’ve been looking at buying a pallet of small haylage bales, I’ve looked at horsehage but does anyone else buy by the pallet and gave any brands they recommend? Do all brands “little” bags last the 2-3 days of horsehage. I’m aiming for an easy winter. Loads of online places seem to offer free delivery!

Same goes for shavings, any good recommendations for good online suppliers? I’m getting a quote for bedmax locally, but any other larger flake brands any good? I’m trying to face a simple organised winter as 2025 has been far too exciting for me!

I’m near Birmingham if it makes any difference!
 
I have previously used Mole Valley Farmers for haylage by the pallet I have used their own brand and Country Haylage brand, but would not say a small bale would last 2 - 3 days unless you had a small pony to feed. Then Arley Moss Supplies for shaving by the pallet, both offer delivery. I personally preferred Blue Frog shavings over Bedmax, it is a mixed size flake bale.
 
Marksway generally are the heaviest bales we’ve had out of all suppliers - and they’re not overly wet haylage either. Generally 20+kg (I’ve weighed them)
Feeding about maintenance 2% 500kg horse = 10kg hay/haylage. (Wetter haylage brands would of course be heavier feed amounts)
So for my 2 horses with bowl feed too, 1 bag per day = it would be 1 bag marksway lasting 2 days with just 1 horse. (On minimal grass intake)

However, Marksway only do timothy OR ryegrass haylage types. I buy several pallets and mix when offered mono-grass haylages.

Devon haylage do a timothy and ryegrass mix in 1 bale - nice hefty bales, really nicely made haylage - I’d opt for that if based in the UK….theyre a bit cheaper than markway too (last time I price compared).

I’ll just warn you about meadow haylages though - you don’t want buttercup in the mix as buttercup acid that irritates mucous membranes I.e. lips/gums and intestines is only neutralised by drying it - hence why it’s safe in hay - but with correctly fermented made haylage, buttercup remains wet/damp so the acid is not necessarily neutralised and could be problematic. I’m mentioning this as you’re on colic recovery and need to be careful.
I bought a round bale trial last winter of local made haylage, lovely meadow mix, but very wet, and absolutely loaded with buttercup…..has to throw the hefty bale out, just didn’t want to risk it.

Fingers crossed for a smooth recovery for your horse.
 
So because of the issues with hay this year a LOT of haylage companies are not supplying pallets to new customers…I rang round a few that wouldn’t. I’ve since got a pallet of Devon Haylage Timothy mix which is fab stuff, 20kg bales, a bale lasts me a good 3 days for my 14hh who is in at night now. Delivery is extra but not too bad, The only slight niggle is that they are not the easiest to take apart, there is a bit of a knack to it compared to other haylage bales! But once you know how it’s fine. On the plus side the bits of hay are long compared to other brands which means it’s harder to pull out of the haynet for the horse…not a bad thing as it slows them down 😆 but it is a bit of a pain to pull apart unless you take out a whole section at a time. Devon haylage publish their nutritional info and it’s very dry compared to other haylage bales which is why I love it!

I tried Yeomans who said no to new customers, Baillie too. A couple said they could sell a pallet through a local supplier but you’d obviously have to collect it from them. I store mine in a very dry shed at home with concrete base, no rodents and take up 2/3 at a time to the yard. Just remember you may run the risk of rodent damage so that’s something to factor in in terms of your storage x
 
Also bedding, I loathed bedmax when I tried it! It’s lovely and fluffy but a pain to muck out and not absorbent at all. I’ve got Burly Bed and really really like it. I can get it locally though. Depends what you are looking for, absorbency and cushioning was my priority x
 
Bobthecob15 said:
So because of the issues with hay this year a LOT of haylage companies are not supplying pallets to new customers…I rang round a few that wouldn’t. I’ve since got a pallet of Devon Haylage Timothy mix which is fab stuff, 20kg bales, a bale lasts me a good 3 days for my 14hh who is in at night now. Delivery is extra but not too bad, The only slight niggle is that they are not the easiest to take apart, there is a bit of a knack to it compared to other haylage bales! But once you know how it’s fine. On the plus side the bits of hay are long compared to other brands which means it’s harder to pull out of the haynet for the horse…not a bad thing as it slows them down 😆 but it is a bit of a pain to pull apart unless you take out a whole section at a time. Devon haylage publish their nutritional info and it’s very dry compared to other haylage bales which is why I love it!

I tried Yeomans who said no to new customers, Baillie too. A couple said they could sell a pallet through a local supplier but you’d obviously have to collect it from them. I store mine in a very dry shed at home with concrete base, no rodents and take up 2/3 at a time to the yard. Just remember you may run the risk of rodent damage so that’s something to factor in in terms of your storage x
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I agree, the bales from Devon haylage are a bit of a pain to get apart. It’s cut in 3 pieces, but the cutting blade doesn’t go through the entire bale so it’s difficult to part the 3 sections easily. Lovely stuff though…worth the hassle!
 
PurBee said:
I agree, the bales from Devon haylage are a bit of a pain to get apart. It’s cut in 3 pieces, but the cutting blade doesn’t go through the entire bale so it’s difficult to part the 3 sections easily. Lovely stuff though…worth the hassle!
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It is, just a bit messy and frustrating to get apart 🥴
 
Bobthecob15 said:
It is, just a bit messy and frustrating to get apart 🥴
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Because I was getting through a bag within 3 days, I’d lay a bale down on the ground flat, and cut the bag open completely, so it was a massive envelope-type flap, so I could see the entire bale and rip it apart from the broad side. Close the flap after to cover remaining I’d soon use. I have a very shady cool store place so no matter the weather, it tends to stay fresh within the 3 days…sometimes longer for drier haylages.
I’ve cut my fingers on other haylage before now trying to pull it out via just a side slit…just like a paper cut!
With the broad side cut as a flap, no matter how the machine has tumbled, cut and wrapped it in the bag, it’s far easier to pull it loose.
 
If you use wood pellets as a base it really helps keep the bed dry. I prefer to have shavings on top but find the wood pellets help shavings go further. This is a code for white horse wood pellets that will give you 5% off Macchr21736 for new customers.
 
Thanks everyone! I’ll ring round and see who’s still selling! I can get horsehage locally definitely so if suppliers are limiting who can order that may be what I go with!! I actually get on with bedmax but I find when it “goes” nasty there is no turning back! So you have to really trust someone to do your bed for you 😂😂 I may mix it with a snowflake or something for absorption! With the colic op and every I’m really stressing! I just want consistency with the forage 😩😩
 
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