Haying 5030 style
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OP
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Want me to send you a bale? I sent a bale to a lady in Georgia to feed her gerbils. Cost her $17.00 in postage.
OP
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That was around Christmas, last. The lady at the post office asked me what was in the package so I told her. She asked me if I had any more and I asked her if she was willing to pay $50.00 for a bale. You know what the answer was. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
At least she would'nt have to pay postage .
At least she would'nt have to pay postage .
cowboydoc
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As long as the hay hasn't dryed yet it doesn't hurt it to be rained on Mike. It's after the first day that it gets rained on that your nutrient value goes down.
That hay or pure alfalfa is all horse people will buy around here 5030. You can't convince them to use grass hay at all. Once the horses get used to it they aren't loose.
That hay or pure alfalfa is all horse people will buy around here 5030. You can't convince them to use grass hay at all. Once the horses get used to it they aren't loose.
OP
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Cowboydoc:
We have the same problem here and I guess it's everywhere. Horses are Grass eaters not alfalfa/timothy eaters. Horses on the range graze on grass. That's why I like to bale orchard grass for my wife's Percherons. Horse people are "dumb and dumber" when it comes to hay. I've watched horse people at hay auctions buy baled hay on weight of bales and color, both very misleading. I've always felt that the best way to buy hay at an auction is to have your digital moisture tester with you. Horsewomen especially, like those heavy dark green bales. Hope they feed it right away because the bales are probably "hot". Sounds like a Vet bill in the making.
We have the same problem here and I guess it's everywhere. Horses are Grass eaters not alfalfa/timothy eaters. Horses on the range graze on grass. That's why I like to bale orchard grass for my wife's Percherons. Horse people are "dumb and dumber" when it comes to hay. I've watched horse people at hay auctions buy baled hay on weight of bales and color, both very misleading. I've always felt that the best way to buy hay at an auction is to have your digital moisture tester with you. Horsewomen especially, like those heavy dark green bales. Hope they feed it right away because the bales are probably "hot". Sounds like a Vet bill in the making.
Boone
Gold Member
Back in the eighties, I went along with a friend to help load hay that he had bought. He asked me what I thought and if he should buy enough for the year. I told him I thought it was to rich, and that I wouldn't use it. Well, he bought enough to last a year.
A few weeks later his wife is telling me that they have a sick horse, and the vet is trying to figure out what is wrong.
I suggested the hay was the problem, and asked if she wanted me to bring some hay over. This suggestion and offer was refused. Three months later they decided that the hay was to rich and put the horse on grass hay. They had racked up $3000 in vet bills and almost lost the horse.
The rich hay of Wisconsin is designed to keep a milk cow producing at a high volume, and completely unnecessary for horses.
A few weeks later his wife is telling me that they have a sick horse, and the vet is trying to figure out what is wrong.
I suggested the hay was the problem, and asked if she wanted me to bring some hay over. This suggestion and offer was refused. Three months later they decided that the hay was to rich and put the horse on grass hay. They had racked up $3000 in vet bills and almost lost the horse.
The rich hay of Wisconsin is designed to keep a milk cow producing at a high volume, and completely unnecessary for horses.
OP
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I think that why it takes so long to graduate from vet school, They teach them to be good businessmen as well as doctors. Actually, ignorance on the part of animal owners is what usually incurs high vet bills. Horseowners in general have alot of misconceptions when it comes to the care and feeding of thier animals. That's why we don't board horses any more.
cowboydoc
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You can certainly use alfalfa for horses but they have to become gradually accustomed to it and they have to need it. It's like feeding a high protein and carb diet made for an athlete to a person working a desk job. The athlete is going to burn off the calories and use the calorie and nutrient rich diet. The office worker would be much better off with a lower carb., lower calorie, diet.
One of the biggest problems faced with athletic horses is getting enough calories in them to keep them fit. Alfalfa hay will help to accomplish this. As long as the horse is getting alot of exercise daily and needs the calories he will burn them and be ok.
The problems come in when the feed is not spread out through the day. Just like the athlete eats 6-8 meals a day so it should be with the athletic horse. You don't feed two meals of high calorie, high fat food to a horse. The problem with alfalfa hay is that horses will eat it down five times as fast as grass hay. With grass hay a horse will eat on it most of the day and will eat slower. With alfalfa hay they will it very fast. Therefore spread the hay out over four or five feedings during the day. One of the problems is we try and cram all those calories into two feedings.
A horses stomach and digestive system was made for grazing. They aren't designed to handle the hyperglycemic load of a high carb. diet all at once. This is what leads to colic and founder in horses. We try and fit horses into our schedule and our lifestyle instead of us adapting and fitting into their schedules.
One of the biggest problems faced with athletic horses is getting enough calories in them to keep them fit. Alfalfa hay will help to accomplish this. As long as the horse is getting alot of exercise daily and needs the calories he will burn them and be ok.
The problems come in when the feed is not spread out through the day. Just like the athlete eats 6-8 meals a day so it should be with the athletic horse. You don't feed two meals of high calorie, high fat food to a horse. The problem with alfalfa hay is that horses will eat it down five times as fast as grass hay. With grass hay a horse will eat on it most of the day and will eat slower. With alfalfa hay they will it very fast. Therefore spread the hay out over four or five feedings during the day. One of the problems is we try and cram all those calories into two feedings.
A horses stomach and digestive system was made for grazing. They aren't designed to handle the hyperglycemic load of a high carb. diet all at once. This is what leads to colic and founder in horses. We try and fit horses into our schedule and our lifestyle instead of us adapting and fitting into their schedules.
Boone
Gold Member
I agree 100 percent Doc.
