Suggestions - for a horse that is a fuss hay eater?!

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RJ W

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My horse all of a sudden started not eating his hay before winter. I put it down to maybe getting a dodgy bale or one that had been peed on by a cat or fox or something (although my ponies were eating it) but it keeps happening. I tried hay from a different supplier and he guzzled it but for various reasons I cannot get it from them anymore. I have him on a hay from another supplier now and once again he isn't eating it! I'm trying another supplier but I can't keep buying hay he won't eat - its driving me mad!

He won't eat wet/soaked hay - if hay gets a drop of water on it he turns his nose up at it!

I don't really want him on haylage as he can get really hot very easily if I feed him certain things but is this my only alternative?

He is eating grass and hard feed fine...

Would love some ideas/suggestions!

Thanks!

NB. I don't want to put molasses on it as he used to crib so I keep clear of anything with molasses in it!
 
Well my gelding is about the hottest horse I've ever met (halter bred arabian) and it doesn't heat him up. Another to consider is Timothy haylage which is again far less sugary than rye.
 
I think the statements about ryegrass haylage being sugary isn't correct. True, ryegrass and ryegrass hay can have much higher sugar levels, but the fermentation process in haylage converts exactly those sugars into volatile fatty acids, so well-made haylage is generally low in sugar. You'll still get overall higher calorie and protein content in ryegrass haylage than in either timothy (naturally tends to be lower in sugar than rye grass) or so-called high fibre haylage (rye grass left to mature longer, so fibre content goes up, protein is lower). It's actually pretty difficult to find well-made meadow haylage (and most of the specialist producers such as Horsehage won't make it) because you need a certain amount of sugars to start with, or else the grass doesn't ferment correctly. The microbes that do it need the sugars to live off.
I wouldn't worry so much about sugar levels in haylage, but be much more concerned with how well-made it is. That will determine if it is safe (correct acidity and properly fermented) and whether all the grass sugars were used up in the fermentation process. I'd go for a high fibre or timothy version for a lower overall calorie content and higher fibre content. I use small bale haylage for travelling, and have noticed that my gelding isn't keen on the Timothy, so I now prefer the high fibre version.
Do have a look around on the horsehage webpage. They list typical analyses for their haylage. Other specialist growers will likely produce something similar.

Other thought: has your horse had his teeth checked? Maybe he's having problems with hay of a certain coarseness getting stuck in a gap or causing discomfort of some type (but can still cope with grass). Different types of hay might be preferred more because of texture then, not so much due to taste.
 
That's interesting S. I was only going by what my local hay/haylage producer recommended when I wanted something that was not too rich and low in sugar. They said avoid rye and I know that it is very sugary compared to other grasses, so I had thought that it would remain so even after it became haylage. The meadow haylage I have is really lovely stuff though.
 
Wow thanks supsup! thats all really helpful thank you! His teeth are definitely fine - the dentist came out for his 6 month check just before he started being funny with his hay and i did wonder if it was due to textures but the ones he won't eat are all different textures - some coarse, some soft and thin! its typical that I get a horse that won't eat like a hoarse lol!
 
It is possible, if the dentist did some rasping, that he may be finding his "new" teeth difficult to eat with. In a healthy horse, once I'm sure the hay is OK, I don't start worrying unless they lose weight.
 
RJ W said:
Wow thanks supsup! thats all really helpful thank you! His teeth are definitely fine - the dentist came out for his 6 month check just before he started being funny with his hay and i did wonder if it was due to textures but the ones he won't eat are all different textures - some coarse, some soft and thin! its typical that I get a horse that won't eat like a hoarse lol!
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I would get the vet to have a look in his mouth and check his TMJ to make sure he's not been damaged during the dental.
 
The dentist has a fantastic reputation and I have used him for a number of different horses over the years and all have been fine. He didnt stop eating hay as soon as he had his teeth done, it was a good couple of weeks after - maybe my previous comment makes it sound sooner - sorry! It is definitely down to the hay as there was some that he was eating and loving but we can no longer get it. He is now eating some from another supplier with trepidation but more so than any other that we had!
 
Mine is very very fussy about hay. Very frustrating! I have to buy big 4 string hay from where I keep her. It's pot luck really!
I find the meadow hay which looks nice she won't touch. I try & get the gold long strand one best,
Sometimes she would rather eat her straw bed than her hay!
 
supsup said:
I think the statements about ryegrass haylage being sugary isn't correct. True, ryegrass and ryegrass hay can have much higher sugar levels, but the fermentation process in haylage converts exactly those sugars into volatile fatty acids, so well-made haylage is generally low in sugar. You'll still get overall higher calorie and protein content in ryegrass haylage than in either timothy (naturally tends to be lower in sugar than rye grass) or so-called high fibre haylage (rye grass left to mature longer, so fibre content goes up, protein is lower). It's actually pretty difficult to find well-made meadow haylage (and most of the specialist producers such as Horsehage won't make it) because you need a certain amount of sugars to start with, or else the grass doesn't ferment correctly. The microbes that do it need the sugars to live off.
I wouldn't worry so much about sugar levels in haylage, but be much more concerned with how well-made it is. That will determine if it is safe (correct acidity and properly fermented) and whether all the grass sugars were used up in the fermentation process. I'd go for a high fibre or timothy version for a lower overall calorie content and higher fibre content. I use small bale haylage for travelling, and have noticed that my gelding isn't keen on the Timothy, so I now prefer the high fibre version.
Do have a look around on the horsehage webpage. They list typical analyses for their haylage. Other specialist growers will likely produce something similar.

Other thought: has your horse had his teeth checked? Maybe he's having problems with hay of a certain coarseness getting stuck in a gap or causing discomfort of some type (but can still cope with grass). Different types of hay might be preferred more because of texture then, not so much due to taste.
Click to expand...

I wish I had written this! Supsup,you have a clear understanding of the subject and I am impressed .I wish more people took the time to understand hay and haylage ,they arnt just padding betwean hard feeds, they are the main feedstuff.
 
ilvpippa - yes thats what i have mine on for now - big bale hay and so far its okay but I'm waiting for another couple of days to pass and him decide he's not going to eat it anymore! :/ its so annoying!
 
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