Won't eat hay

[jayvee]

Ok guys another problem!!
Another horse (newish horse) on yard won't or hardly eats his hay (hmmm a new discovery!). Yet everyone else scoffs it up!
It's good hay. have only fed dry, feeding wet will be the next option. But failing that guess it be haylage? Not the route I was wanting.
Any reasons why?? Know of any alternatives? (I know I'm jumping the gun abit).
(Has had teeth done recently so ok in that department).
And if I did wet/soak it, how long for without loosing goodness?

 

[Skhosu]

Doubt he'll want to eat it wet if not dry, but worth a shot.
How long has he been on the yard?

 

[jayvee]

Bought this spring. So only now finding out the stable quirks! Noticed he wasn't that intrested when chucking it out in field the last few weeks. But guessed with the grass doing well at the mo he naturally wasn't intrested.

 

[Skhosu]

Is he turned out during the day? How long has he been stabled?
He may just not be very hungry!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

If he won't eat it soaked, maybe try soaking it in a bin full of water with a little apple juice??

 

[TGM]

Could be lots of reasons! Firstly, is he an elderly horse? Is he losing weight because of not eating hay? How is it fed - on the floor, in a rack, in a net. Can other horses get near him when he is eating his hay?

 

[emma69]

I'd try hosing it off rather than soaking, get the dust etc off it without making it sopping (hang the haynet on a hook and hose it off) Lots of horses don't like hay if it is a bit dusty. Try in a haynet (I know a few that won't eat if off the ground) and vice versa. Try large holed-nets, or maybe try putting it in a feed bucket. It may be that he just isn't hungry, if he is still getting grass and feed, he may just not fancy it right now. And obvious, but I still see it done, don't give him the same hay day after day - if he doesn't eat it, trash it, and give him fresh

 

[emma69]

Adding - also check his teeth again (either dentist of someone experienced) A loose or broken tooth could stop him eating, and it may have happened since the dentist visit

 

[jayvee]

Out at day (approx 6hrs) remainder in. Have only just started bringing them in (2 nights ago) will run this routine til spring now.
Actually he does have the biggest feed out of all plus with lots of water(which swells), needs sloppy as tendancy to slightly choke. So I guess he could feel full on that? but he never seems to be a hungry horse. Even eating his hard feed is slow and steady though always eventually finishes. The others are all pigs in comparison! I worry he will loose weight come mid winter at this rate.

 

[jayvee]

Teeth were done a month ago by highly respected and qualified specialist dentists. had woolf tooth removed but no obvious signs at all of a prob since abstraction.
Was fed off the ground in field. Now from hay net in stable.
I have actually hung it very low tonight if that helps or he prefers?
He is the boss so no fear of not getting any when in field.

 

[emma69]

I'd run your fingers round his mouth - not saying the dentist did anything wrong, just something I have come across before - they knock it in the field and then have problems eating. Careful putting the net low, they can get the net caught and if it is one of the nylon ones he could really injure himself - a manger or a bucket is much better if he wants it lower down.

 

[jayvee]

He is 7yo and I always discard un-eaten hay. (sheep have it).

 

[emma69]

If he doesn't do well with dry feed, try wet hay (hosed has always been my preference) an alternative is what we did with one of ours, which was a big (big water bucket size) bucket with chop in instead of hay, dampened down. Not ideal as you say, but a back up plan

 

[jayvee]

I am concerned lowering it, but have tied to string so if the bad happens the string (hopefully) gives first quickly.

 

[emma69]

By string do you mean baling twine? That stuff doesn't give I am afraid, if I use it (e.g. to tie a horse up to a ring) I use a couple of strands rather than the whole thickness because it's really strong stuff.

 

[jayvee]

Ermm.. yeh bailer twine, 1 piece.

 

[jayvee]

I like the idea of chopped wet hay in bucket. But don't have a chopper thingy! buying chaff is the nearest I can think of and wet that. But could that be costly?

 

[emma69]

In future I really would advise that the hay is either in a high net, or not in a net - too much risk. If you use baling twine for tying up, half the strand by peeling it back - I've seen a 17hh horse rip the ring off the wall - the baling twine didn't snap.

 

[emma69]

Yeh, pre chopped bags do add up - perhaps see if you can get an old second (third, fourth) hand one? Try ebay?

 

[jayvee]

I must admit, I don't llike the net low, goes against my grain. Only trying out ideas.
To feed loose from the floor in stable ends in huge amount of waste.
Will keep trying other ways.

 

[Chex]

My pony won't eat hay, only haylage. I think he just genuinley doesn't like it! I put haylage in a big bucket, haynets are to much hassle

 

[sevenoceans]

I have same problem with me boy.. he's 17 hands... have tried everything from wetting to hayrack etc.... at the moment he WILL eat the hay but not all of it from Large rubber tub (he gets 4 slabs and it fits) and Steamed... Now days there's about half to one slab worth left over... It's alot better than he was few years ago.

like you I am determined to not go down to haylage route! (too expensive and wasteful, 3 out of 10 bales are likely to be mouldy!)

Another thing is teeth... reading above it's nagging me slightly... He may have got infection from extraction of wolf teeth (i have 3 wisdom teeth taken out few days ago i can't chew! if that makes sense) But seeing as he eats his food (slowly like my horse, and me ATM, so annoying!) it can't be infection but to put your mind at rest have it checked out again.

also have you asked pervious owners? That may help to find out more about your horse.

Not telling you to do it but it will put on your list of ideas what to do to help your horse... Good luck (it's pain in the butt i know)

FYI....I know a horse that ate part of hay net who had colic and was put down so it had put me off hay net unsupervised.

 

[jayvee]

Well, last nights net was still hanging (and horse standing) lol. Again he only left about 1/3rd. I checked them all at 9pm, the others had almost finished and he had hardly started his. Anyway I walked away to see results in morning. The net low seems to make no difference and as it bothered me I will hang it back up as normal.
I am going to hose it down prior to putting it in tonight. Maybe he has a dry mouth and hopefully will like it wet and find it easier?

His was no different in eating before the extraction (5 wks ago). He is exactly the same now as before. So no change there. I really don't believe he has an infection or any issue there, he shows no bad signs when tacked up or ridden, is still a happy chappy.
I have emailed the ex owner, and awaiting response. Will let you know.

 

[Patchwork]

My horse won't eat hay out of a net and makes a huge mess when it's loose on the floor - he has a home made 'har bar' (literally just a rectangular sheet of wood nailed across one corner of the stable) and that seems to work fine.

 

[MagicMelon]

Weird. One of mine who is currently only on a diet of hay has gone on and off hers a few times, but I think thats just coz she gets bored of the same stuff! Ive had a few different lots of hay so its slightly different which she likes. Maybe, you just have crappy hay?! Try a different lot? Ive never had or known a horse who wont eat hay thats for sure!

 

[jayvee]

Well would you believe it!!!!!
He ate the whole bloody lot last night. And all i did was hose it down! So done the same tonight.
Fingers crossed this has cracked it. (new post tomorrow will say.. 'ooh he didn't eat it') lol.

 

[jayvee]

Oh, the ex owners reply was.. He was never keen on hay as was only fed on straw when a foal and prefered that! ..what?

 

[emma69]

Yup, oat straw is fed as an alternative to hay sometimes, it's not that common but it is still done. I have never fed it tho, and I am sure I recall something about higher instances of impaction colic, so it wouldn't be the route I would go down if it were me. Hope the hosing has solved the problem btw!

 

[filly190]

One of my mares will suddenly stop eating her hay for no reason. I then fill a haynet, soak it and tie it up outside her stable where she can reach it. This always does the trick, if the hay is'nt in her stable she wants it!!

 

[jayvee]

filly190, thats a funny story about your mare, I can imagine it though lol.

I wont bore the pants off you guys by many reports on how he's eating his hay. But last night was good I guess. i filled it to the max and he left about a 1/4. So that is not unreasonable.
Will continue with the wetting. He seems to like so much and thats it, don't want anymore.

fankoo for your all your help and advice xx