Tobiano
Well-Known Member
Dull thread but I have been pondering for many hours as I meddle with hay nets for horizontally-challenged horses.
I have seen and heard so many different versions of the routine for soaking hay for fatties, I'd like to see what everyone thinks on here!
These are my questions, others may have more!
1. Duration of soaking. I have heard both 12 and 24 hours mentioned by different sources as the required time for soaking for removal of sugars / reduction in calories. Your verdict?
2. Rinsing after soaking / before feeding. Is it necessary and if so why? How do you all do it? immerse in clean water or spray?
3. Shelf life. I always throw away any uneaten soaked hay at the end of the day as i imagine it will ferment. Is this right or not?
4. Weight to feed. (I have never understood this). I know about the 2% of ideal body weight rule, but is this just for hay if that is the only source of forage? How do you / can you / do you need to measure the weight of grass intake for horses out part of the day and in part of the day? Also, does the weight still matter if you soak the hay as if this reduces the calories then presumably you could have a greater dry weight than of unsoaked hay, for the same amount of calories.
5. Is hay steaming any better than hay soaking and if so why?
Finally, does anyone have a clever way of carrying wet hay nets which doesn't result in total immersion for the carrier?!
Thank you!
I have seen and heard so many different versions of the routine for soaking hay for fatties, I'd like to see what everyone thinks on here!
These are my questions, others may have more!
1. Duration of soaking. I have heard both 12 and 24 hours mentioned by different sources as the required time for soaking for removal of sugars / reduction in calories. Your verdict?
2. Rinsing after soaking / before feeding. Is it necessary and if so why? How do you all do it? immerse in clean water or spray?
3. Shelf life. I always throw away any uneaten soaked hay at the end of the day as i imagine it will ferment. Is this right or not?
4. Weight to feed. (I have never understood this). I know about the 2% of ideal body weight rule, but is this just for hay if that is the only source of forage? How do you / can you / do you need to measure the weight of grass intake for horses out part of the day and in part of the day? Also, does the weight still matter if you soak the hay as if this reduces the calories then presumably you could have a greater dry weight than of unsoaked hay, for the same amount of calories.
5. Is hay steaming any better than hay soaking and if so why?
Finally, does anyone have a clever way of carrying wet hay nets which doesn't result in total immersion for the carrier?!
Thank you!