Hay recommendations

[K8ee]

I got my little mare, Luna, from a kill lot in December. She is currently on Bermuda Hay and doing well. However recently I have had a problem getting hay of consistent quality. I have found a source for Alfafa/Orchard Grass mix within a reasonable distance that is a bit cheaper and the seller swears by the quality. Luna is idle at this point but I plan on light riding in the near future. I am cautious about high sugar grasses (i,e, Fescue) as she has foundered sometime in the past.

Do any of you have thoughts on changing her over to the Alfafa/Orchard Grass.

[IPEsq]

Orchard can be high sugar sometimes but it depends. Alfalfa is generally going to be low sugar. Best way to decide is to ask the supplier for a hay analysis.

[K8ee]

Thanks IP. I knew that Orchard can be high sugar but I was hoping it would be lower than fescue. You are right about asking for the hay analysis. Luna is a little fatter at this point than I like. I was trying to get that last 20 lbs on her when I wormed her with the Fenbenzadole 5 day program Well about a billion of those little fat cells exploded and now she is on hay and about 4 cups of feed a day. I may just broaden my search for Bermuda and see what I come up with.

[IPEsq]

I think it totally depends on the growing conditions of your particular supplier.

[Texarkana]

While some species of grass tend to be “lower sugar” than other species, they only way to know for sure is to test the hay.

But what IPEsq said- orchard grass trends high in the NSC department, although it is dependent on many factors. While alfalfa tends to be lower sugar, the high protein/high energy in it can cause similar problems for metabolic horses.

Generally speaking, orchard/alfalfa mixes are something I’d avoid for horses with histories of founder. If it’s the only thing you can get, then you have to make do. But timothy, brome, or warm season grasses tend to be better options when available.

[JB]

If she’s already heavier than you like, on just grass hay, she doesn’t need any alfalfa. Keep looking for some good quality grass hay.

[Anu153]

Good quality hay is the best food for horses. So I feel its better to give them hay than the sugary grass.

[JB]

Hay can also be very high in sugar. Hay comes from grass, so if the grass was high in sugar when cut, its resulting hay will also be high in sugar.

[K8ee]

JB, Her weight gain came primarily from a low carb high fat feed she was getting as she was a bit underweight when she arrived. Weight gain was slow even though I had wormed her with basic Strongid then Ivermectin on a 2 month schedule. It was when I did the 5 day Fenbendazole worming that she exploded on me. She is not obese by any means, just a little bit more than I feel is ideal… Maybe 25 lbs over? I have changed her feed and the amount.

Based on the responses, I will broaden my search for Bermuda as she is doing well with that. I know some people have experienced colic with it but I have never had a problem. Her little pasture doesn’t have much grass so I do take her out and hand graze her in the yard about 45 mins to an hour a day. That is primarily fescue with a little bermuda but I think the fresh green helps her digestive system and it gives her a mental break and we just spend time together. I take a grooming bucket with us and she is groomed at that time. Did I mention that I have the sweetest little mare in the whole world?

Thanks to all that responded. Horse people Rock!

[JB]

There are many varieties of Bermuda grasses. It’s the Coastal variety which is tied to ileal impactions. Is that the type you’re feeding?

If you’re getting really good quality, not cut too mature, and she’s got good teeth and chews well, she’ll likely be fine. I boarded with 15-30 horses for many years and Coastal was the sole hay for most of them. It was REALLY good Coastal, and there were very few colics at all, and none that I recall being attributed to the hay. The key is quality, even moreso than other hays.

[K8ee]

I agree. I boarded at a barn that bred Appaloosas for 25 years and colic there was rare. Including boarders, 20-30 horses were the norm there. Bermuda was the choice there as well. Most of the time, Coastal Bermuda. The other thing that was provided without exception was clean fresh water. While this was a 120 acre farm with streams and ponds, there was water troughs near each feeding station for the outside guys and of course in the stalls. The only time a horse was stalled beyond feeding time was when the weather was inclement or for health reasons.

First cuttings should be showing up in the area soon and hopefully I will find a consistent supplier.