There are many scenarios in which you may be considering feeding a direct replacement for hay or haylage.
Youngsters
If your seemingly healthy youngster starts to lose condition it is quite possibly due to them experiencing dental changes. As highlighted in the chart, young horses undergo such changes between the ages of 3 and 5. During this age range, the adult teeth erupt, dislodging the first teeth. These ‘baby teeth’ or ‘caps’ can make chewing very uncomfortable, especially long fibre forages like hay and grazing that is close to the ground.
A soaked hay replacer will be far easier for them to manage and will help them maintain/regain condition.
NB For any dramatic changes in condition you should always consult your vet.
Elderly dentally challenged horses
Dental issues in elderly horses are extremely common and often the main cause of weight loss. The deterioration or loss of teeth can make it difficult to chew long fibre such as hay, haylage and grass.
As horses age the roots of their teeth become shallower, making the teeth less stable in the jaw. This means that they could find eating grass and hay difficult. It may be taking longer to eat and they may not be chewing sufficiently - resulting in the horse gaining inadequate nutrition. In this situation it becomes important to offer the majority of their daily forage in an easier to chew form.
You may notice that your horse is struggling to chew if they begin quidding or you observe long length fibre in their droppings. Horses should have formed, moist, shiny faecal balls that form a nice pile when passed. This often isn’t the case when a horse becomes dentally challenged. If they are producing fewer droppings, if they are small and hard, or more watery, then this can be a sign that it is time to use a hay replacer.
It is also worth noting that poor dentition is not just a problem for older equines. We are finding that diastemas are increasingly being diagnosed in horses of any age.
Weather
The British weather is increasingly unpredictable, and in poor weather many horses will bestabled for longer than usual. Over recent years there have been frequent occasions when hay/haylage is in short supply. Using a hay replacer can help to make the usual hay ration last longer or bridge a gap if supplies are running low.
The weather can also dictate the quality of hay produced. This can be crucial if your horse is a poor doer. If your hay simply isn’t good enough then you may find that feeding a partial hay replacer is beneficial.
Variety
Offering a partial hay replacer alongside the usual hay/haylage ration is a great way to keep your horse interested and encourage movement especially when stabled for longer periods. Place the tubs in different places around the stable or field. This is beneficial for all horses and ponies, but may be particularly useful for those with limited appetites or fussy feeders where offering a variety of forage may help to increase their overall intake. Using a different forage type can provide further variety still - Lucie Fibre Cubes are an ideal option.
Important points to note
Feeding insufficient amounts of forage increases the risk of digestive issues including colic and gastric ulcers. Hay replacers need to be fed in hay replacing quantities. For example if you wish to replace 6 kg of hay you will need to use 6 kg dry weight of hay replacer.
Like all dietary changes a hay replacer should be introduced gradually into the ration over the period of a week or more. Once a hay replacer has been gradually introduced it is appropriate to leave larger amounts to be grazed upon.
HayCare is the most popular hay replacer, offering nutrition levels close to that of high fibre, low sugar hay. It is quick soaking, making it convenient and easy to feed. Use 2.5 parts of water for each part HayCare.
If you'd like help choosing a hay replacer for your horse, our Feed Line nutrition team are available on 01728 604 008. You can also request free feeding advice by completing our online form.