Hay racks in run-in?

[tpup]

We have th![](s run-in shed.

[IMG]http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/t620/tpup12/Fence2_zps9b5d77c7.jpg)

We plan on doing round bales in mid-winter, but will need to put out hay before that and waiting for botulism vaccines to kick in. We have 3 horses. One fairly dominant, one quite an “individual” somewhat of a loner. So we feel we need at least 2 hay areas (two share one, one has one to himself)

The wind RIPS up our property off of the mountains. So throwing bales into the field won’t work. They will end up on our deck LOL. The run in is 12 deep by 28 long and VERY tall (doesn’t look it in the photos but nice high ceilings…lowest roof line is at least 11-12 feet tall.) In winter we can close the windows shut.

I was going to hang a long hay rack on the left short side, and a corner one in the opposite corner. Note: the half divider wall can be removed but seems to work well now.

My horses are not turned out with halters. Are there any “dangers” I am missing with the large metal hay racks if hung high and no halters on the horses? 2 are VERY sensible horses. When the wind starts this winter we think they will spend alot of time in the run in. Our barn will be done by then and we’ll also have a 2nd paddock with run in side, but most of the time both fields will open up to each other and be one large area. The round bale will go in the same large field but on the opposite side of the field from run-in. If I do fence horses in smaller “off the barn paddock” for really bad weather, I can throw hay bales there because the barn blocks the wind on the shelter side of the barn.

[Flash44]

I see no problem, other than your run in shed getting very poopy. You could also hang hay bags or nets, which would keep it a little cleaner.

[tpup]

Thanks Flash - this is why I asked. Didn’t even think about the poop factor Interestingly they rarely poop or pee in the run-in. It’s uncanny but we are enjoying that (for now!)

[Mango20]

I used to keep my horses at a farm with a huge, old, cow run-in shed. There was a wooden hay rack all along the back of it, with the lower edge about 3’ high. It was great until I had a horse that apparently kicked out into it and broke her leg. That cured me from ever wanting a hay rack of any kind near any of my horses ever again. If you install them, please put them high enough so that a big kick wouldn’t get through the bars. If this is a temporary situation, you might just want to use hay nets. Personally, I’d probably just get a couple of stall mats and put the hay in piles on the mats on the ground.

[saddleup]

Not relevant to your question, but your place looks lovely. All that green grass, lush trees…I live in a desert, so I’m green, too, with envy!

[Zu_Zu]

I use some old Rubbermaid or whatever big water tanks~

I re-cycled some old water tanks … place in the back corners of my run-in-sheds for hay inside ~ works here ~

I was too lazy to put up the hay racks and these huge water tankc can be moved around for easy shed clean-up ~

[blue_phlox_farm]

I have always put out one more pile of hay, hay net, etc than horses eating from them. Do you know for sure that the two non dominates will share? You said the one was a bit of a loner. I think that could make for one horse going hungry, loner or non dominate one (or both horses going hungry if dominate horse decides to keep going from side to side and chasing the others away altogether.) In my 31 years on my farm I’ve had plenty of horse who would share most of the time…key word is “most”. But if seen plenty of dominate foodies claim several hay piles while the others had to doubled up and shared the outer piles, hoping to get to do “clean-up” for the bully when he tired of the chase.

[Bluey]

I have seen setups like yours, a shed with a wall in the middle, where that middle wall was a hay rack the whole middle and horses ate on both sides of it, under the shed.

That could work, if they share well, or hang those long hay nets where it will work best for your horses.

The trouble with feeding out of higher places is that some of it may get in the horse’s eyes and it is not a natural way to eat for horses, some get sore necks from craning them up and pulling the hay out and if you set the racks or nets too low, they can get hung on them.

Using a solid tub, a horse may bump another into it and you have a horse stuck in there, that is why hay feeders tend to have bars somewhere above.

If feeding large amounts of hay on the ground, you will have considerable waste to contend with.

There is no ideal way, every one will have some concerns, you have to pick what may seem to you the least risky for your situation and your horses.

[GotMyPony]

I use some old Rubbermaid or whatever big water tanks~

I also use big black rubber tubs (big but only knee high or so) for hay in my run-in. My 2 don’t waste the hay and I like that they’re eating in a more natural position, head down rather than reaching up, hay falling in eyes, breathing in more dust, etc.

They do move the tubs around but I figure it’s just a game and - knock wood - harder to get hurt on than a metal or wood rack.

FYI neither my horse nor donkey pees or poops in the shed, even with being fed and watered in there, so maybe you’ll get lucky about that, too.

Agree, beautiful place in the photo.

[fordtraktor]

I use bale-size Nibblenets in my run ins. They greatly reduce hay waste and seem very safe to me. I think they are easy to use as well.

[tpup]

Thanks everyone! Photo was taken in June I think. We loved the lot which is why we built here. But the wind is crazy! The lot is part of an old dairy farm. The grass is alot of fescue and other stuff mixed in. We did alot of deweeding before the horses came home. It will be a work in process but we don’t want the grass TOO rich. We’ve just had a nice summer with rain and no drought so the grass has stayed nice.