Re: Might as well set light to a bunch of fivers!!

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jen1

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Thought I would do a new post re my post last night as it's now 3 pages away on here and those that answered may not get my reply!

Reason vets said hay on floor is it's a more natural position for the horse to be in all day. I am not bedding him on it he is on shavings, just that he makes sooooo much mess of it that it's more like bedding.

Was talking to friend at yard tonight and she suggested haynets at night as that's what he would normally have then floor during the day, then maybe if he is still making a huge mess during the day change it round as he may eat more at night when it's more boring and nothing to look at outside. So will try that and see how it goes.

Would use Hay bar as last resort as he is very 'footy' likes to get his hooves in everything from his dinner bowl to tipping over water buckets to sticking a great big hoof in the wheelbarrow when I am TRYING to muck out, needless to say he isn't too popular when he does that!! Wonder if the price of a hay bar would exceed my hay useage in the long run? May put a post on here to ask if anyone has had problems with feet in hay bars see what the response is!!
 
I bought hay bar for same reason that you are considering one.My boy tips everything out onto the floor and does the same he has always done poohs on it and mixes it in his shavings.I am not making any savings on hay and have paid out £50 !!!!!but it does save time no hay nets to fill.
 
Large black plastic tub with holes drilled in bottom, fill with hay and tie in corner of stable, healthy position all round, no dust going straight into lungs head in correct position for chewing so teeth happy and kneck muscles happy, hay bits drop into tub while bobo eating.
 
While I know you want him to have ad lib hay, why don't you cut down on the amount you are giving during the day so that he eats up during the night? You wouldn't have to throw half as much out.
Horses that are in 24/7 do not spend their whole life eating contrary to some opinions! They will eat a bit, snooze a bit, look out the window a bit, maybe have another munch then go back to bed at some time too; it's not continuous eating, they won't eat any more than they want.
If it was me, I would be looking at 3 wads of hay (depending on size of course) during the day then depending whether it had been eaten up, either another 3 or even only 2 to go through the night. If you wanted, you could reverse the amounts but usually through the night, they do tend to sleep more so are eating a bit less. Because food is in with him virtually all of the time and he's not using up the energy, he's not going to hurt if he does actually clear it all up and your bed will be a lot cleaner!

Sorry I missed your earlier post so don't know what's wrong with him.
 
Yes I was thinking same thing tonight, think I have just been giving him too much. Gave him a bit less tonight so will see what results are in the morning!!!

He's a 16.1 cob, 7 years old and sadly has a broken leg due to F*&^ing Bas*&rd new horse being put in his field 3 weeks ago. If you want full run down search for 'my beautiful cob has a broken leg' post that I did at the time.
 
No problems with feet in hay bar, but one of ours simply pulls all the hay out and throws it round the bed, have a wonderful mix of shavings and hay as a bed!
 
Yes did wonder that!!!! so may take advice from above re drilling holes in a plastic bin and also it would save 60 quid or so!!
grin.gif
 
Just wanted to say I've had similar problems and almost went the route of haybars and then large tub. Dismissed haybars due to expense wasted if they don't work as one pony does pull everything out of any container. I then tried the bin idea but noticed how very close their eyes come to the edge of the bin and I could see an eye injury occuring if horse pulls head out awkwardly and catches their eye. If you do try it make sure the edge of the plastic is absolutely smooth. (Maybe its just my clumsy cobs!)
 
After I had bought my haybar I noticed someone had put a post up of how to make one with mdf might get my dad to do that for daughters pony in summer.
 
Well that is wishful thinking! twenties then!!
Stable was a bit cleaner this morning so reducing hay gradually so I only put in what he needs and trying not to have too much excess!!
 
If you ring one of the big feed companies, say Spillers, they will calculate the amount of hay/feed you need to give based on his bodyweight. Sorry but I can't remember how to do it, but this will help you feed only what you need to, rather than wasting a load, just means you will have to buy a spring balance to weigh stuff on. Hope that helps.
 
I've had munch stations in two stables for the past couple of years, they were very expensive but worth their weight in gold! I got them from Derby House. They've cut waste down to almost nil, my yearling used to drag all his hay into his bed and tip his feed over and kick it everywhere. And they are so easy to fill compared to haynets!
 
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