condition & diet Feeding hay in the field
Most horses and ponies can be very wasteful with hay in the field, but as winter progresses and grazing quality declines, then supplementary feeding becomes almost inevitable. So how best to feed hay (or fresh haylage) in the field? We’ve got some ideas that may make your life just that bit easier and ensure that the hay you feed is actually eaten...
Driving a post into the ground on a dry area with a tie ring at the top (with a baler twine loop for safety) means a haynet can be hung away from the fence line. Fill with just the right amount to ensure it is all eaten that day. The haynet can then be filled again the next day. Just be sure that your horses are not inclined to paw and perhaps get tangled up in a haynet; if they are, then this may not be for you. You can move the post to fresh ground as needed to avoid poaching. An alternative is to put out small piles of hay on the ground each day – in a different place each day – and only put out ‘just enough’ for that day so it’s all eaten, then put it out in a different place the next day. Several smaller piles are better than one big pile if more than one horse shares the grazing. This mimics natural feeding, which is widely recommended as the best option You could also put the hay into one of the hay feeder products now widely available and move that around the field to minimise poaching.
Use a tie ring on a post away from the fence line if you prefer to feed hay from a net
Feed for optimum condition A Super Fibre
conditioning feed, Fibre- Beet is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product, with added high quality Alfalfa for optimum condition and to provide quality protein for muscle tone and function.
Fibre-Beet also provides a good range of minerals, trace elements and amino acids and it is high in fibre with a low sugar content, providing slow release energy without the ‘fizz’.
Ideal for horses prone to digestive upsets and very palatable for fussy eaters, Fibre-Beet has added biotin for hoof quality.
Soaked and ready to feed in only 45 minutes in cold water, or 15 minutes in warm water, Fibre-Beet is also ideal for veterans even if teeth are poor or missing.
Priced around £12.35 - £13.30
Visit www.
britishhorsefeeds.com
COMPLETE CONDITION IN ONE BAG
· A complete high fibre conditioning feed with soya oil and mint
· Contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement
· Contains Yea-sacc® and a prebiotic to help maintain a healthy digestive system
· Suitable for horses and ponies that struggle to maintain weight and condition
Photograph courtesy of Simply Equine Photography
HorseHage & Mollichaff Helpline: 01803 527274
www.horsehage.co.uk
BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN MARK WESTAWAY AND SON
MANUFACTURERS OF HORSE FORAGE
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