Hay in field

[gordo]

Please be nice, I am asking this of you and I am sure I am right but in an awkward position.
Gordo and YO's mare are in at night and out by day. Great until snow arrived. First day they put hay out and it was eaten albeit slowly but it all went. So, sice this they have not put any out and they have had to forage thru the snow for grass which they have been doing. Now I don't know what to do as I feed haylage and they have their own hay. I cannot and do not want to pee them off by feeding my precious haylage as the mare puts on weight easily apart from the fact that it will cost a fortune! I know enough that hosses need to be able to graze in order to keep their digestive system ticking over but I don't know what to do. The YO's are very stubborn and I am made to feel that its their yard, their rules but I think (on this matter) I am right. Gordo isn't thin and he isn't going to starve but eating frozen grass all day surely does them no good? He has hi-fi breakie before he goes so some fibre doing its work but just not sure how to manage this one

[anastasia55555]

i havent alot of grass over my field, pretty much eaten down to nothing, and in the snow they will dig to get to whats there, but i have been giving mine quite alot of hay, and im happy there is still alot left when i get there, as i would be worried they would be very hungry if every speck was eaten. hard as its their yard as you say, i would be less worried as they come in at night, but if they were out 24/7 i wouldnt be very happy with that. Anyway you could keep him separate for a while till the snow has gone?

[gordo]

Can't separate as he gets silly the big wally! He is getting plenty of fibre overnight and, from listening to weather forecast, the snow should be on way out so maybe I just have to grin and bear it fr few days more. If he was out 24/7 like this, we would be off!

[anastasia55555]

grin and bear it for the moment sounds like the best option, is he really hungry when he comes in, or just his usual self?

[companymagic]

I have my two out all day and there is a now fed in the fields rule so they have to dig for what they can get. There is a fair bit of grass under the snow in our fields and they are coming in telling me they have never eaten a thing.. I have up'ed their breakfast and dinner (Health hooves) And they are getting a good size haylage net over night, but other than that I am letting them fend for themselves in the day.. Which to others may sound mean (and to a few at my yard too) But they are not losing weight and to be honest if they did they would still only be a bit fat..

I would see if possible you can give him a little more before he goes out and maybe a bit extra over night? To be honest horse are meant to lose a bit this time of year.. If he looks well I am sure he will be fine. Fingers crossed the snow will be gone soon...

[gordo]

Thanks guys, settled my worrying mind x

[Yann]

Ours are never fed in the field either, they all come in at some point every day or night to top up on hay or haylage and are fine. I really wouldn't worry.

[gordo]

Thankyou Yann, just worrying too much

[lilaclomax]

If they are out for less than 6 hours then I wouldn't worry too much
The nice big fibre breakfast will take a while to digest and having constant forage overnight will make up for the gap in supply.
My boy gets to share 4 biscuits of hay with his friend to keep them occupied, this way he is eating less at night so I am still feeding roughly the same... if he didn't have hay out I am sure I would be giving him the extra at night!