stables at night - when to feed hay in the field

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robthecob

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This may be obvious to some but we have always had amazing grazing so it has never been an issue till now..

Paddocks are small and well eaten down, nor empty as you can still see shoots coming through but equally no long grass. Horses are out 8.30 till 4 and in on ad lib forage over night. Should I be feeding hay in the field for the day? My Mare is keen to go out and is never standing waiting to come in and whilst she has dropped a bit of condition it's not much really and could be blamed on less work due to work getting in the way. What do you do?#
 
It sounds like we might have a similar set up to you - the last couple od days we have started to put a bit of hay out will up quantity as it gets colder x
 
We always have nets on the gate just in case. If they get eaten we know they need more if they don't we know they aren't hungry..
 
Mine is the same as yours, he's been having hay in the field for a few weeks, and it's always gone. Never hungry when he comes in but he does stand at the gate,- mostly because it's the highest point of the yard so you can see all the goings on
 
I am at a livery yard and we are not allowed to put hay in the field but all the horsew are in good condition. If it snows we are sort of allowed but in practice it is hard as other owners disagree about the sort of hay to put out or object to hay in the field incase the horses fight over it .
 
I have been giving mine a slice each morning in the field when i put them out. I will up it to more when there is a hard frost or it snows. Mine are both very good doers but I still like them to have something to munch on. Luckily we can put hay in fields but I have been at a few yards where this wasn't allowed. I hated the thought of them stood in a bare field akk day with no forage!
 
I don't move mine onto their winter field until Christmas, it's been rested since March so they'll have plenty for a while.

If I'm not sure whether they are getting grass or not I put a section or two out - if it's eaten they are hungry if it's ignored/ used as a bed/ toilet then they aren't !! Mine always choose grass over hay.
 
I never put hay in the field unless perhaps for a horse who is alone.
However my winter fields although not great are ok.
If they are grazing they ate getting forage although sparse .
However turnout in an acre of mud is a different matter.
If you are dealing with thin horses then I can see the need but most horses in good homes are not thin and many could benefit from a spending their days mooching about eating bits and pieces.
You do however need to do something in long periods of snow and frost I like the look of these round plastic hay hutches they look light and easy to move and safe.
I don't have horses out 24/7 when I did we used round bales .
I understand why YOers don't allow it damages the land and risks fights and bullying which caused problems if they are allowing group turnout.
 
I give mine 3 slices in the morning and evening, there are 5 horses on the land and they live out 24/7 all year. They are fed twice a day and I still have grass.

I will up the amount they have once they eat it all before the next lot goes out. I have only just started feeding hay as they have turned it down until now.
 
I have mine in a field with quite a lot of grass, been rested since may, in the day but move them to another field wityh very little grass (bit like yours) but a giant feeder withh a bale of haylage in over night as grass field too close to the road and not secure enough for me for overnight. I only started feeding ten days ago as they seemed to drop a bit of weight. Fine now though. If I was you i would put out a couple of piles or nets and see if they are gone by the evening if so then they are hungry...
 
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