What to feed a horse that cannot have dry hay but doesnot eat soaked hay??

Not the answer you want to hear - but, he will eat it when he gets hungry !

How long do you soak it for, if it has been in for too long it starts to stink and the water will be vile. Try a minimum soak or try putting it in a dustbin and pouring plenty of boiling water over it and then give it to him just before you finish your yard work.
 
You could try adding a splash of apple juice or squash to the water too. Maybe start with it on the drier side then gradually make it more wet?
 
Have you tried steaming his hay? My mare won't touch soaked hay and being the softie that I am started steaming it with a wallpaper stripper and shavings bags. She really likes steamed hay and she doesn't cough anymore. Bonus is you don't get wet messing with soaked hay nets! :D
 
Agree with the steamed hay idea. Kettle and dust bins dont cut it though! you need a proper steamer or home made wall paper type one. The hay needs to reach i think its a minimum of 70 degrees which is why the kettle idea just wont really work.

I have no electric so have to soak and with you my horse dislikes it. I bought a spray bottle of hay boost which is actually to add vitamins but doubles as making it taste better! I just spray a few squirts over the soaked net and it helps.
Id definitely go steamed if i could though no question.
 
Have you tried damp hay, not soaked? My mare coughs on dry hay, but if you chuck a couple of buckets of water over the net and let it drain through, she doesn't..
 
If none of the above suggestions work, you could give a lower calorie haylage, such as Horsehage High Fibre and put it in a tricklenet to make it last longer.
 
Normally the hay in the bags like horsehage etc, you can get in a low cal version, I have exactly the same problem as you as mine is prone to getting tubby, but will cough on dry or wet hay, so I feed equilage at about £7 a bag and lasts me a week of a full net every night. I dont even have the low cal version but I find her weight stays fine as it seems to contain much less sugar than the usual farm wrapped stuff!
 
Pop some mint coridal in the water or when its soaked then left to drain before giving him it pop some in a spray bottle and have at :)

Mint is good for digestion so won cause him any issues and vets in my area give it to colic prone horses to get the medicine down them and not upset the tummy :)
 
AdorableAlice said:
Not the answer you want to hear - but, he will eat it when he gets hungry !

How long do you soak it for, if it has been in for too long it starts to stink and the water will be vile. Try a minimum soak or try putting it in a dustbin and pouring plenty of boiling water over it and then give it to him just before you finish your yard work.
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This ^^^
 
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