Your thoughts about feeding Haylage to native ponies

[rosie gall]

I have owned and loved horses for many, many years but as the years go on, we are struggling with the hassle of hay soaking. Both ponies are native, one Fell and one Dartmore, but inclined to being porkers and we have spent the last 2 years soaking hay for them, reducing turnout, etc, etc. I know the signs and am quick to respond but we have plenty of very sweet grass. So we are now exploring the option of a non soaked, reasonably price alternative to hay soaking that would work through the winter. I would like to go haylage as easier to deal with. They both have some turnout with muzzles throughout the year?? Thoughts please.

 

[L&M]

I have owned and loved horses for many, many years but as the years go on, we are struggling with the hassle of hay soaking. Both ponies are native, one Fell and one Dartmore, but inclined to being porkers and we have spent the last 2 years soaking hay for them, reducing turnout, etc, etc. I know the signs and am quick to respond but we have plenty of very sweet grass. So we are now exploring the option of a non soaked, reasonably price alternative to hay soaking that would work through the winter. I would like to go haylage as easier to deal with. They both have some turnout with muzzles throughout the year?? Thoughts please.

I give my ems cob and mini Timothy haylage, made by 'Horsehage' - it is more costly but I have peace of mind that they are being fed a ow sugar high fibre forage without the hassle of soaking hay.

 

[Surbie]

My fatty is on the same Timothy haylage alongside his damp hay.

The only thing I would say is, if yours like it and you have storage, get a supply in. All our local feed merchants run out around March/April and we have to switch to the blue rye until they have their new crop in.

 

[scats]

Timothy horsehage here alongside 12 hour soaked hay.
They get the hay in the day at the moment, then a small net of the horsehage in the evening before I ride. Saves me soaking another load of hay in the morning when I’m short on time. I like that I know it’s low on starch and sugar and contains no rye at all.

 

[Jambarissa]

In very general terms haylage is lower in sugars but higher in protein. If you have a local supplier I'd get a sample checked to see what you're working with.

Are you only soaking to lower sugar? If so you could check the value of your hay too, it might surprise you. You could look into Timothy hay if you can get it which may be lower in sugars.

On the whole I'd rather not feed haylage if the right hay is available. But it's the value of the whole diet that is important, you could feed a little less haylage and substitute some with straw or straw chop so the overall diet is as you wish

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would sooner feed a mix of hay and straw and ditch the soaking. I used to feed good oat straw to my good doers and no hay. They did well on it and saved me money too.

 

[dottylottie]

my 2 welshies are on the bog standard haylage included in my livery with no issues. i had a massive battle getting divas weight off (weigh taped at 500kg when i bought her - 13.2 pony) but she’s maintaining nicely with weighed haylage, and a slice or 2 of straw for when she runs out.

i did do the soaked hay malarkey to get the weight off, but i’ve not struggled to keep it off at all even with haylage.

 

[Traks]

Our Welsh D has haylage at our livery, some months its more quite dry and more like hay, others its definitely haylage, she loves it! No issues here although they've not had a huge amount of grass so her waistline has been spot on.
Last winter she got a bit porky once the grass came through so we switched to hay for a month or two, no problems with that either.

 

[Melody Grey]

I’m admittedly old school and avoid haylage like the plague- I’ve known it to be like rocket fuel, acidic on the gut, prone to going off before I can use it all (big bales) and expensive (branded haylage). I feed ad-lib hay and have always found it to be cost effective and good for mine. Interested by some of the responses above, perhaps attitudes/ knowledge have changed?

 

[EventingMum]

Nowadays there are far more options available in haylage compared with years ago when it was always rock fuel. My supplier now offers original, light and mature varieties in small bales to cover most horse's needs. He also does big bales and knows I don't want high energy stuff and it's always spot on. Sourcing hay here can be a nightmare, probably due to our wet weather and the quality can be very inconsistent. I do keep hay for some liveries but certainly couldn't soak it for the whole yard.

 

[Polos Mum]

I suspect your issue for what you want is the "reasonably priced" bit of your list.

There are some really good quality tested low calorie haylage brands out there. But making it to be genuinely low sugar (and the fact that it's in high demand) makes the price higher.
If you can't use big bales then you're really in expensive territory.

I like the medium bales from Bailey's - but I have 4 so I get through them before they go off.

Even my Dales pony won't eat the haylage when the spring grass comes through even a tiny bit - so I know it's not sugary.

I think the question is, whether the hassle of soaking is worth the ££'s of guaranteed low sugar haylage from a regular and reputable supplier.

 

[CJoe]

it totally depends on the haylage! - all mine have haylage as one has asthma and its hard to find seriously good quality non dusty hay ALL winter....my shetlands, EMS, cushings and youngsters all have it, just get it tested to know what you are feeding isn't super high sugar and protein.

 

[PurBee]

I’m admittedly old school and avoid haylage like the plague- I’ve known it to be like rocket fuel, acidic on the gut, prone to going off before I can use it all (big bales) and expensive (branded haylage). I feed ad-lib hay and have always found it to be cost effective and good for mine. Interested by some of the responses above, perhaps attitudes/ knowledge have changed?

This was the prevailing opinion and reality with haylage when it first hit the equine market years ago. It was made with first cut early ryegrass, wilted just a bit, to 60% moisture, ensiled rapidly ensuring fast fermentation dropping the PH low and acidic, and mostly over-fermented so it was vinegary smelling, still acidic and would be going off on day 3 after opening.
The rapid change on the horses gut biome would cause them to become spooky etc. Back then it was fed mainly to racehorses as they didnt mind them sharp!

Haylage made properly should be @40% moisture, fermenting drops the PH low, but once fermentation has completed the PH rises. That’s when its ready to be fed. Different grasses are used these days too, altering the fermentation rate, and offering lower energy levels.

Too wet haylage over ferments to vinegar smell and remains acidic, too dry haylage doesnt ferment at all and sweats in the bag, risks of moulds. That has a ‘damp sock’ smell.

Haylage made properly is a really nice feed, completely mould-free. There’s lots of less well-made haylage out there, and much of it is just damp hay sweating in a bag breeding microbes sending horses as loopy as the first cut acidic ryegrass haylage of yesteryear.

Finding a good haylage is key, and it is actually lower in sugar than the equivalent bale as hay, due to fermentation. Minerals and vitamins are generally better preserved in haylage too due to the wrapping and no oxygen degrading nutrients over time during storage, unlike hay.

Making good haylage is an art form really, and ryegrass is favoured in the mix due to the high sugars in the stalk aiding the fermentation. Its far more difficult to get low sugar grasses to ferment, and tbh, i’ve yet to find a rye-free mixed meadow haylage well made. (The popular ones on the market ive tried had other severe issues, mainly undesirable weeds that were toxic)
I compromise and buy a low rye% mix of rye/fescue/timothy.
My choice is my area is feed either that or feed terrible quality mouldy hay which is vastly more problematic than feeding even 1st cut rye haylage.


Rye receives a bad rep due to high fructan levels, but that fed as hay would be rocket fuel compared to well made rye haylage. The fructans help the fermentation process, and get ‘neutralised’ by fermentation so safer for feeding to horses. Its a compromise im prepared to take in their feed if theres plenty of other grasses in the mix too.

Ive fed high fibre 100% ryegrass marksway to my arabXwelsh and they are no change on it. Theyre very quick to change behaviour with feed, and i was impressed with marksway for their attempts to make a ‘safer’ rye haylage. I feed more variety of grasses though as i dont like mono-dieting on just well-made ryegrass haylage, despite them handling it well.

 

[maya2008]

Horsehage and other companies do a high fibre bagged haylage. It’s lower in sugar than most soaked hay (unless you soak for hours and hours), fine for laminitics and in general for natives. It is very tasty though and they guzzle it, so need very small holes in haynet or hung from ceiling, that sort of thing!

 

[Jenko109]

I've often fed natives on haylage.

Always the usual stuff in big bales from the farmer. Not the branded stuff in the feed shop.

Never had a problem. If I have something that needs to lose weight then I will feed part haylage and also put up a net of straw for them to pick at.

Soaking hay is just the worst and I will avoid it at all costs.

 

[rosie gall]

My fatty is on the same Timothy haylage alongside his damp hay.

The only thing I would say is, if yours like it and you have storage, get a supply in. All our local feed merchants run out around March/April and we have to switch to the blue rye until they have their new crop in.

Thank you good advice

 

[rosie gall]

In very general terms haylage is lower in sugars but higher in protein. If you have a local supplier I'd get a sample checked to see what you're working with.

Are you only soaking to lower sugar? If so you could check the value of your hay too, it might surprise you. You could look into Timothy hay if you can get it which may be lower in sugars.

On the whole I'd rather not feed haylage if the right hay is available. But it's the value of the whole diet that is important, you could feed a little less haylage and substitute some with straw or straw chop so the overall diet is as you wish

Thanks I thinking in a similar way. I have physical health issues since a spinal op and I'm getting old so the soaking is something I'm dreading this Winter but will always do my best for my boys

 

[rosie gall]

Nowadays there are far more options available in haylage compared with years ago when it was always rock fuel. My supplier now offers original, light and mature varieties in small bales to cover most horse's needs. He also does big bales and knows I don't want high energy stuff and it's always spot on. Sourcing hay here can be a nightmare, probably due to our wet weather and the quality can be very inconsistent. I do keep hay for some liveries but certainly couldn't soak it for the whole yard.

I'm also running low on last year's hay. Any new hay I guess will need to set for a few months so I'll need to sort some sort of alternative!

 

[rosie gall]

I suspect your issue for what you want is the "reasonably priced" bit of your list.

There are some really good quality tested low calorie haylage brands out there. But making it to be genuinely low sugar (and the fact that it's in high demand) makes the price higher.
If you can't use big bales then you're really in expensive territory.

I like the medium bales from Bailey's - but I have 4 so I get through them before they go off.

Even my Dales pony won't eat the haylage when the spring grass comes through even a tiny bit - so I know it's not sugary.

I think the question is, whether the hassle of soaking is worth the ££'s of guaranteed low sugar haylage from a regular and reputable supplier.

You've summed it up very well. It's £s against handle and old age!

 

[rosie gall]

This was the prevailing opinion and reality with haylage when it first hit the equine market years ago. It was made with first cut early ryegrass, wilted just a bit, to 60% moisture, ensiled rapidly ensuring fast fermentation dropping the PH low and acidic, and mostly over-fermented so it was vinegary smelling, still acidic and would be going off on day 3 after opening.
The rapid change on the horses gut biome would cause them to become spooky etc. Back then it was fed mainly to racehorses as they didnt mind them sharp!

Haylage made properly should be @40% moisture, fermenting drops the PH low, but once fermentation has completed the PH rises. That’s when its ready to be fed. Different grasses are used these days too, altering the fermentation rate, and offering lower energy levels.

Too wet haylage over ferments to vinegar smell and remains acidic, too dry haylage doesnt ferment at all and sweats in the bag, risks of moulds. That has a ‘damp sock’ smell.

Haylage made properly is a really nice feed, completely mould-free. There’s lots of less well-made haylage out there, and much of it is just damp hay sweating in a bag breeding microbes sending horses as loopy as the first cut acidic ryegrass haylage of yesteryear.

Finding a good haylage is key, and it is actually lower in sugar than the equivalent bale as hay, due to fermentation. Minerals and vitamins are generally better preserved in haylage too due to the wrapping and no oxygen degrading nutrients over time during storage, unlike hay.

Making good haylage is an art form really, and ryegrass is favoured in the mix due to the high sugars in the stalk aiding the fermentation. Its far more difficult to get low sugar grasses to ferment, and tbh, i’ve yet to find a rye-free mixed meadow haylage well made. (The popular ones on the market ive tried had other severe issues, mainly undesirable weeds that were toxic)
I compromise and buy a low rye% mix of rye/fescue/timothy.
My choice is my area is feed either that or feed terrible quality mouldy hay which is vastly more problematic than feeding even 1st cut rye haylage.


Rye receives a bad rep due to high fructan levels, but that fed as hay would be rocket fuel compared to well made rye haylage. The fructans help the fermentation process, and get ‘neutralised’ by fermentation so safer for feeding to horses. Its a compromise im prepared to take in their feed if theres plenty of other grasses in the mix too.

Ive fed high fibre 100% ryegrass marksway to my arabXwelsh and they are no change on it. Theyre very quick to change behaviour with feed, and i was impressed with marksway for their attempts to make a ‘safer’ rye haylage. I feed more variety of grasses though as i dont like mono-dieting on just well-made ryegrass haylage, despite them handling it well.

Thank you for such a comprehensive and fascinating response. I think I used Marksbury for a few weeks last year when the water was frozen!

 

[tda]

I feed my 4 older natives with haylage, quite dry, almost wrapped hay, because 2 of them cough on hay and I can not physically do soaking. One of the the 4 is a bit portly, but it's the best compromise I can make work

 

[Fransurrey]

I've fed it to Exmoors and cobs with no issues. One of the Exmoors was EMS, the other I still have and has severe sweet itch that is no worse on haylage. The cob has PSSM1 - again no issues. All have reacted to rich grass, but not the haylage (meadow haylage, locally sourced or I have fed Baillies which was lovely!).

 

[catkin]

For a couple of ponies kept at home we use small bale bagged horsehage, a high-fibre version and have done for many years. Not the cheapest forage going but don't waste much, it is low in sugar/starch and there are no costs for soaking water and its disposal after use. Also find the small bags easy to handle and store.

My native ponies don't live out all the time as our grass is very variable and not always suitable for them so feeding bagged haylage means that that portion of their food ration is fairly consistent and their vits and mins supplement is balanced to the forage. We do not usually need to feed anything else, just alter the forage amounts depending on workload or portlyness

 

[Limit]

I give my ems cob and mini Timothy haylage, made by 'Horsehage' - it is more costly but I have peace of mind that they are being fed a ow sugar high fibre forage without the hassle of soaking hay.

Timothy haylage made by Devon haylage( if you are in this part of the country) is excellent, its also costs less than some other brands. My welsh sec A and veteran cob love it.

 

[Miss_Millie]

This thread is an interesting read, does anyone have an idea of how the value works out compared to an average small hay bale? My local option is around £8 a bag vs £5 for a small bale, which there is probably also more of, although the haylage bags are tightly packed. The sugar content is only 8%, which doesn't sound too bad.

I'm another who has always thought that haylage is too acidic for the gut, but maybe these companies making it specifically for equines are making it drier than some farmers? I've found sometimes that large bale haylage is closer to silage with too much fermentation and mould for my liking.

 

[Polos Mum]

This thread is an interesting read, does anyone have an idea of how the value works out compared to an average small hay bale? My local option is around £8 a bag vs £5 for a small bale, which there is probably also more of, although the haylage bags are tightly packed. The sugar content is only 8%, which doesn't sound too bad.

The small bags of haylage are designed to feed one horse for 2 days. That would be with almost no grazing / other forage in my opinion (or a very large horse!)
Normal size small bale hay I'd expect to use 3/4 of a bale a day (if nothing else) so 1.5 bales for 2 days.

So in terms of price £7.5 (sorry terrible maths earlier!) for two days in hay and £8 for haylage.

The traditional parkland meadow haylage I use is 4-7% sugar, 6-8 mj/kg digestible energy

 

[Miss_Millie]

The small bags of haylage are designed to feed one horse for 2 days. That would be with almost no grazing / other forage in my opinion (or a very large horse!)
Normal size small bale hay I'd expect to use 3/4 of a bale a day (if nothing else) so 1.5 bales for 2 days.

So in terms of price £10 for two days in hay and £8 for haylage.

The traditional parkland meadow haylage I use is 4-7% sugar, 6-8 mj/kg digestible energy

Thanks, that's very useful. It seems harder to find good quality small bales nowadays, maybe because we had another very wet summer.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I have owned and loved horses for many, many years but as the years go on, we are struggling with the hassle of hay soaking. Both ponies are native, one Fell and one Dartmore, but inclined to being porkers and we have spent the last 2 years soaking hay for them, reducing turnout, etc, etc. I know the signs and am quick to respond but we have plenty of very sweet grass. So we are now exploring the option of a non soaked, reasonably price alternative to hay soaking that would work through the winter. I would like to go haylage as easier to deal with. They both have some turnout with muzzles throughout the year?? Thoughts please.

give all my laminitics timothy inc welsh A