Soaking hay

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Hazel and Arnold

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Hi there, just wondering if anyone has any solutions to my problem please? I need to start soaking my hay as my gelding has copd and is starting to come in at night. The only problem is that on mon, tues and weds someone else brings him in for me as I can't get down due to work, kids etc. how am I supposed to soak his hay on these days? I can't get this person to take the hay out, drain it and move it into my stable as they are already doing me a huge favour by bringing my horse in. I can't drain it and leave in stable in the morning as it'll have all day to dry. Any suggestions please? He can't have haulage as this makes his copd worse.
Thanks in advance.
 
I soak mine in big trugs overnight. First job arriving at stables if someone bringing him in later is to tip out haynet to drain water. I then ride; do stable jobs etc. I then hang up nets in stable with trugs underneath to catch the drips. Person bringing in removes trug from stable. Before I go I put next nights haynet onto soak ready to tip out the next day. As I have a good-doer with COPD this system works well & the hay is still wet enough.
 
I use a large bath under my boys net and leave it in the stable full time and just tip out excess water in the am.

I would say to the other livery you will give them maybe an am morning off if they can do the day you cannot do, share the load
 
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I soak mine in a rubbish bin for an hour in the morning, tip out the water then leave it sitting in the bin all day, it doesn't dry out at all as long as the bin is in the shade, the very top can dry out a bit on a very sunny day if left in the sun though.
 
If you don't want to pay the person, perhaps on those days when you can't get down you could leave some hay steamed in a dustbin? I have one I have to steam hay for and it's usually just as effective as soaking and as it's only for 3 days a week, and you will be soaking the rest of the week, this shouldn't cause any problems with your horses breathing. It's much easier to handle as not heavy at all, I literally pour 2 boiling kettles of water all over the hay, and quickly put the lid on. It can stay in the bin until next day if needed as it won't dry out as long as you leave the lid on until it's ready to use.
 
I've just read (reliable source) that soaking increases the bacteria, so soaking for more than an hour isn't recommended. I also read that most of the sugars have been soaked out in the first 2o minutes, and I also know that it needs rinsing (have you SEEN the colour of the water from the initial soak??). All in all, steaming is much preferable for respiratory problems - can you get a dustbin and a wallpaper steamer and set it up so that helper just has to switch it on, leave it, switch it off again and use the net, or do as WW suggests?
 
we use dust bins filled with water and just leave the haynets in there for the ponies to eat. The water does get tipped out and refilled regularly.
 
JillA said:
I've just read (reliable source) that soaking increases the bacteria, so soaking for more than an hour isn't recommended. I also read that most of the sugars have been soaked out in the first 2o minutes, and I also know that it needs rinsing (have you SEEN the colour of the water from the initial soak??). All in all, steaming is much preferable for respiratory problems - can you get a dustbin and a wallpapert steamer and set it up so that helper just has to switch it on, leave it, switch it off again and use the net, or do as WW suggests?
Click to expand...

Not in the case of a laminitic more sugars come out after 24hr soaking.
http://www.eqwest.co.uk/menu_page.php?id=107

http://www.clydevetgroup.co.uk/equine/newsletters/jan04.htm

banks are not recommended for horses with copd
 
Does it have to be soaked?...Would a short dunking be enough....say if you left a bin of water for them to dunk the haynet in while they went and brought the horse in and then just lifted it out and let the water drain off so not quite such a chore.
 
This is weird, I have just come home from the yard and thought I must post on hh to get opinions on the best way to soak hay!! I soak mine in a trug (problem one although its the biggest one they do its still not really big enough) I have seen so many opinions on time for soaking etc that am totally confused all I know is that I have quite often soaked mine overnight and my pony has come to no harm and is fit and well. Problem two is lugging large wet haynet into the stable and hanging it up, it stretches the haynet and I get soaked, if I have more time at the yard I leave to hang for longer but sometimes there is not enough time and then it is hung up wet. Does it have to be wet to feed? or once it has been soaked and rinsed can be hung up to dry out for a few hours so then you could have a rotation of haynets, opinions welcome please as I really want to get into some sort of routine with this before the winter really kicks in.
 
I soak my hay 24hrs for calorie reduction. I do my chores in morning and yard bring in, in the evening for me. I soak in a bath tub. When I arrive in morning, first thing I do is pull plug on bath and leave the net on the edge to drain, and give it a rinse with the hose. Put pony out, take fresh net to bath (which should now be empty), put plug back in and leave to fill. Do all mucking out, feeds then then last of all, go back for drained net which is now drip dried. I transfer it to a large true. It stays damp throughout the day and never a puddle in the bottom. If you use nets you could hang with a tub underneath.
 
Thanks for all the replies, they have been great.

holly bear - does your horse eat the hay out of the bin?

Winkingwillow - I like the idea of steaming the hay but could I steam for 24 then hang in the stable in the morning until he comes in in the evening?

Wiz201 - I love that idea but would his head fit in?!!

Hazel x
 
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