This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Pasture, Fencing, Barns » Pastures, Fences, & Building topics not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Wasting hay in pasture by ground feeding
Author Message
Member:
Cmora

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 7:37 pm:

I have 3 horses on pasture 24/7. For grain feeding I have seperate 12x12 pens I put them in. While they're eating I place their hay for the day in various spots around the pasture. I was putting all the hay in one pile but then they find that to be a great place to do their thing and I end up wasting so much hay. I'm afraid of pasture type hay feeders, so I've gone without one for a long time. You hear so many horror stories of horses getting caught up in them or cutting themselves, etc.

Does anyone have some ideas on safe ways to contain the hay I put out and reduce waste? I have 3 horses ranging from 14.1 hands on up to one that will exceed 17H soon.

Would also be interested in hearing ways to AVOID!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 7:57 pm:

Cheryl, this isn't the cheapest way to go, but it's not too bad. I use the $30, 30 or 50-gallon long-oval plastic water troughs (rubbermaid makes an expensive kind, but I find much cheaper models at my feed-store), which I mount on top of wooden 4x4 or 4x6 blocks. This keeps it just a few inches off the ground, and I then drill several holes in the bottom for drainage (the bigger the better, otherwise they get clogged). I use the troughs because they are low-sided and long, giving the horses room to move the hay around as they always do, plus they don't tip over easily (like muck bucket sized tubs). The horses are in a more natural grazing position, but not eating directly off the ground (as much...some hay still gets tossed out). It's not perfect, but they have proved safe and sensible for me...and since I feed Timothy hay, it doesn't take long for me to re-coup the $30 per tub! Good luck.
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 8:23 pm:

Perhaps a hay net will help, it also keeps them busy for longer periods
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 8:26 pm:

ooops I forgot there is a mailing place that has them Chicks Saddlery it is inexpensive and reliable.
Member:
Cmora

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 7:23 am:

Thank you both for the feedback. I think I may try Brandi's idea! I dont have a good place to hang a net.....
Have you guys seen those square bale holders at
https://www.squarebalehayfeeder.com/
These look interesting but I have not priced them yet. Thanks again.
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 9:43 am:

I think you are wise to not use the hay nets. If they were out in the pasture you would probably have horses catch a foot or something. Unlikely, but could happen. We had a filly catch one in our trailer. It was high but she got a foot in it anyway so we don't use them there either. Kathie
Member:
Brock

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 2:29 pm:

Cheryl: My advice would be to keep your feeding program as simple as possible. We have 2 horses that we feed hay directly on the ground. Make 3-4 piles and let them pick away at it. I would avoid hay nets. I've read many articles that state the best way for a horse to eat is nose down... natural grazing habit. For our situation the plastic tubs would not work either because on occasion we have a dusty hay bale and throw a bucket of water on it so tubs would be impractical because of our freezing temps. Sometimes they will poop around the hay but for the most part, they will clean up everything around them and there's virtually no mess. We originally started putting hay in a huge tractor tire. One horse has the ability to pick up the tire with his teeth and move it around to get all the "goodies" in the bottom (of course he can't do this in the winter because it is frozen in). We eventually gave up putting it in the tire because it appears they would rather it be just left on the ground. If you're finding they are wasting hay perhaps you're feeding them too much. My opinion.
Member:
Tangoh

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 3:24 pm:

Spread a few straw bales - they'll likely do their business there instead of on their hay. The reason they like to use hay or straw as their bathroom is because they don't particularly like the urine splashing up on their legs when all they have is hard frozen ground to 'pee' on and the hay or straw eliminates it from splashing up on them.

We feed our 4 horses their hay from a huge inverted tractor tire directly on the ground (natural drainage) or from at least 5 piles on the ground. That way everyone has a pile to eat from, even if they are chased from one. While they can pick up the inverted tractor tire and drag it, they usually don't drag it too far to be of any concern to us and I can easily move it back into place myself if it gets too far away. Like Pam said, the reason they do this it seems is to get all the delectable small leaves that fall to the bottom. The inverted tire is very large so all 4 horses have enough room to be a good distance from one another to allow them to eat in relative peace and get their share.

Most farmers have an old tire somewhere and most tire shops will be able to invert it for you. Cheap, no fuss, no muss, no building required.

We also use a tombstone 'cattle' feeder when the temperatures dip below -25 and they are on self feed. The trick is finding one that they can't get their heads caught up in, but they are out there. We actually find more waste using the tombstone feeder than we do with the tractor tire.

Member:
Chohler

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 4:24 pm:

I use a long cattle type feed bin that is made like the rubermaid products nothing to break and nothing to get stuck in. It has drains in it and it is low to the ground, and because of the length my horses don't fuss about being to close to one another.

I found it at ace hardware. I paid a little more money for it but my horses haven't been able to destroy it, I don't loose any hay, and key point in my neck of the woods(the wind can't pick it up)hehe. 60 mile an hour winds are typical here if not more we see 80 mph couple times a year. I used to loose a bunch of hay.

I don't put any feeders up of the ground all the horses i've been around will pull the hay back out on the floor and waste it anyway. I have also seen a couple of horses contort themselves to get anything that goes underneath which is a good way to get stuck.

I have also used the large buckets you get at the feed store that you can fit about 4 flakes of hay in but they are made of very breakable plastic and my horses liked to show me how breakable everytime I tried them.

I've seen some nasty accidents with hay nets so I am very leary of them. The barn I work at has cheap white 50 gal barrels that we cut in half and drilled holes in the side and tied them to the fence with hay twine. Very inexpensive and works well.

Good luck

Member:
Lisamg

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 5:05 pm:

Cheryl;

I agree with Pam. Perhaps you are feeding too much hay or poor quality hay. I have 6 horses and 1 donkey who eat all their hay on the ground, whether in their stalls at night or outside for the better part of the day. They usually clean it all up, unless there are some bad spots. Wind can be a problem though but the wind is always less near the ground. Never the less, I'm sure I've lost some hay on windy days but never enough to bother mentioning here.

We toyed with using the inverted tires but we'd need so many of them, we decided not to. We spread the flakes out in a large area so that there are way more piles than horses. I do not think any kind of communal trough would work for us. Our bully horses would be able to hog the hay too easily. There is no way the bullies can eat fast enough to hog too much hay when the flakes are spread apart widely.

This is what's always worked for us. I don't use hay nets except in the horse trailer, but even there they are dangerous. I'm not crazy about metal hay feeders either, as in my opinion they are dangerous too.

But we all know horses can find a way to get hurt in a padded stall. So do what works for you.

Good Luck!

Lisa
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 5:41 pm:

I feed 5 horses hay on the ground most of the year except for really muddy times when we use the 2 tractor tires. I have always heard to put out more piles than there are horses. I feed 2 1/2 bales a day. All 5 are in good condition, in fact 2 of my teen aged mares are fat!! I do seperate them when I can so I can moniter the hay amount they get....just seperate areas during the day....which I can't do at this time due to ALOT of ICE everywhere.

I feed one bale in the a.m., and the 1 1/2 at night. On below zero days, or nasty windy wet days, I may feed a total of 3. My horses are from 900 lbs, to 1350 lbs, and only the 1350 pounder really needs any grain, he just keeps growing and growing (he's almost 3).

I do move the hay spots around so that there are no heavily soiled areas come spring in the pasture, and I think it helps with boredom. Once it starts thawing and the grass is exposed, they will be confined to eating from the tires in the holding area as I call it.

I agree with above posts; you must be feeding too much and/or they don't like the hay. Maybe the fact they use it for a toilet is their way of telling you what they think of it? I don't have hay left over, in fact they quit eating during sunny days and just doze and there is hay left.

I have noticed if you feed in a smaller area they are more likely to "go" on it; I think it's a way of saying it's mine, of course they don't eat it then either, but no one else does either!

Member:
Cmora

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 8:11 pm:

Wow! Is this web page the best, or what? I will read everything in the morning! Thanks everyone!
This is great! Lots of you seem to live in the cold country!!!!! Yikes! I used to live in upstate NY and am now in Tx! So, your advice & wisdom on cold weather is much appreciated and at the same time makes me go..........."BRRRRRRR"!!!
That winter weather puts a whole new dimension on horse care, doesn't it?
Thanks you guys for the help........I will consider all of your thoughts.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 11, 2005 - 8:37 am:

Though I admit to placing my hay on the ground too, it is well established that horses will waste on average about 30% more hay when fed on the ground than when fed in a manger. It should NOT be placed on the ground if you have sandy soils or if other horses in the pastures are not being wormed well. I too would worry about the use of haynets in situations where the horses are not being observed.
DrO

DrO
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 - 9:39 am:

I prefer to feed on the ground rather than from a feeder. Even good hay has a certain amount of dust and feeders can hold the dust so a horse has to breathe it in.
I put a large tarp on the ground and feed on it.
Every day I shake it off and voila a clean table to eat from.
A bonus of this system is a horse who is not bothered by tarps at all.
I have never had a problem with a horse getting tangled in the tarp. The tarp has no holes in it or loose ends. The wind will catch the tarp once the hay is gone and blow it to the other side of the corral, that has never caused a problem either. Just helps the horse not mind blowing/flapping tarps.
If after 4 hours there is hay left it is either unappatizing to the horses or there is simply too much.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC