Soaked hay

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Nari

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I soaked a load of hay last night to feed my horses this morning. However instead of feeding it I've given in & turned them out of a scrubby patch for a few hours as the big lad was just getting too hyper to safely ride or turn out in the turn out arena
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Will the hay I soaked overnight to feed today be ok tonight? I pulled it out to rinse & drain this morning.
 
I wouldn't feed it if its been draining all day, soaked hay that's been allowed to dry is worse than not soaking it at all.
 
Even though it's been draining it won't be dry. Any leftovers of the hay I normally soak in the day & feed at night is still damp the following morning.

Out of interest why is soaked hay that's dried out worse than unsoaked?
 
No, it will be horrible by now. The mud, muck, dust and spores you have been soaking it in all night will have multiplied very nicely since this morning. Chuck it.
 
If it was being soaked to get rid of all the sugars then it will be fine to feed. If it was to lose dust spores etc then no.
 
But I presume you do change the water every now and then not leave it to soak in the same water for 24 hours? Hay water thats that old is like sewerage.
 
mud, muck, dust wont multiply.
however, bacteria in the water esp if its warm will and could ferment the hay.
soaking it in fresh water overnight with a good rinse with the hose should be fine.my two got hay treated like this all last summer.
leaving it in the same water 24 hours may be abit dodgy.
if you are soaking it to get rid of sugars 5hours is probably enough.wouldnt soak for longer than 12 hours in the same water personally.
and i always rinse before i feed toher wise you are feeding hay with sugars removed coated in the sugary water.
 
On the subject of soaked hay...is it necessary to change the water after each portion of hay? or can you soak the next batch in the same hay? I use fresh water each time at the moment.
 
Update.

The hay had been pulled out & rinsed in the morning so it had only soaked for 12 hours then been left drying for about 10. It wasn't warm & didn't smell sour or off. The big lad (who it's soaked for to reduce the feed value) wouldn't touch it but the welsh cob was happy picking through it so I chucked it all in to him expecting him to sort through for the good bits & leave the rest. Lesson learned - never underestimate a welsh cob's appetite!!!! This morning there wasn't a scrap of hay left & he looked like he was about to foal
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. I've kept an eye on him today & he seems fine but I shan't make that mistake again.
 
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