Re: Hay

On Sat, 18 Feb 2006 22:29:07 GMT, Brian Whatcott <betwys1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

...If a horse uses 18 to 20 pounds of hay per day...

"...a 1000 lb. mature horse can be expected to
consume 22-24 lb. of hay daily..."
-Dr. B. Wright - Veterinary Scientist
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_hay.htm

That will depend on the horse's size, workload,
the weather, the availability or lack of pasturage,
and, of course, the hay quality. Tamara has
made the point that hay should be tested to
know its feed value.

Old-time traditions based on giving horses
as little food as possible don't really apply to
modern horses kept for other purposes and
in other conditions.

But if you are supplementing with grazing, grain, sweet feed,
whatever, that means less hay is needed.

Actually, in terms of the health of the horse,
hay should not be reduced in favor of more
concentrated rations.

Here's one very important reason, among many:

"Horses that are allowed to eat all the grass hay
they want tend to dehydrate less than horses fed
richer and more concentrated feeds."

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0298rough.shtml

Also:

"The secret of feeding round bales to horses
is to give them a new bale before they're forced
to eat the outside of the old..."

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0497round.shtml
.

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