Question for people in wet climates - feeding hay

[PonyRiderMom]

For those who live in wet climates, how do you feed your hay? Do you just toss it out on the ground and the horses have to deal with it getting wet? Do you put it under some sort of shelter or something with a roof? Do you only feed them in hay in their stalls?

I’m the final stages of setting out paddocks. I was going to put a smallish (12 x 36 or so) roofed structure in their dry lot, but I’m starting to get nervous about putting their hay in there. There’s four of them, and they fight over their hay, even though they all get the same hay, unless I put it in piles that are pretty far apart. So if I put it in the shelter, one or two or maybe three of them will get it, and the other(s) won’t. But I’m worried that if I just throw it out on the ground in the open, it will get wet and then they won’t eat it.

How do you feed your hay in a rainy climate?

[Simkie]

In the summer, they’re on pasture during the day and hay is fed in stalls in the barn overnight.

Winter and early spring they’re in the sacrifice area during the day with hay in nets hung on the fence. There’s never more than two days of hay out there, and it’s colder, so even if it’s raining, it’s never wet long enough to get manky. Horses have more hay in the barn overnight.

Hay is too $$$$ around here to feed on the ground. I don’t use nets to limit intake; just to prevent waste.

[Scribbler]

If you are feeding meals throughout the day I wouldn’t worry about wet. If you are feeding a roundbale or nets, I would provide shelter. You can get a hay hut for roundbales. You could build a long overhang shelter to cover your feeding stations and you could feed out of big water tubs with draining holes

[Incantation]

I have a hay hut but only have 2 horses on it. The hay gets wet when it rains most of the time, and it get very hot in there if there are high temps and sun, so in the summer, I move the hut over and feed them on the mats I have under it, or in the stalls inside. They do waste some, but it doesn’t get trampled into the mud.
In the spring/fall, I only put a day or twos worth of hay in the hut at a time. In the winter, I will put more as long as the temps are low enough.

[Demerara_Stables]

If it’s POURING, I feed them hay in their stalls on the ground. If it’s raining but not so hard that they don’t mind being out, the hay goes outside on the ground. If my horses start to waste hay, I feed them less. They clean up every bit, wet or not, at each feeding. If I was hanging nets and they weren’t finishing it at each meal, I’d put it somewhere covered.

[Displaced_Yankee]

Not a rainy climate, but we do get periods of rain here in NC (hurricanes, nightly thunderstorms)

In general to reduce waste our horses has either 1) a webbing style (NibbleNet type) hay net on the fence line or 2) a shallow water tub, also on the fence line. Both prevent the hay being tossed on wet ground and/or getting stomped into the mud or peed on (although my horse managed to pee in his water tub hay feeder yesterday? ) regardless of mud. Also allows for someone (read: Mr. Not Horse Savvy Yankee) to ‘just throw everyone some hay’ without having to enter the pastures if an emergency.

What I suggest for people who have a shared run in is that you line the hay along the edges of the shed as opposed to piles in the approximate ‘middle’. This hopefully gives everyone the most room to share and prevents one horse from guarding two piles of hay. It may be worth watching the herd dynamics around the shed for a little bit. Perhaps removing one horse to a stall at feeding times allows the other 3 to eat peacefully in the shed? Only your horses can tell you how it works. Good luck!

[Foxglove]

When there is grass and not snow (April 15-Nov 1) I hang bale size nibble nets in the run-in sheds (one horse in each 3 acre pasture. I have two in the 10 acre pasture, but there is so much grass there, I don’t feed hay until November.

Once the pasture grass is done, I start putting out loose flakes twice a day. I adjust in the PM feeding. If every whisp is gone, I feed more. If there is still hay on the ground, I feed less.

[NancyM]

Probably not what you want to hear but… Don’t keep horses in a wet climate. Not only the problem you are facing with the hay, but the high humidity is also a problem, creating soft hooves, from the humidity and from the mud. Horses standing in stalls to keep out of the rain and mud, either because stall doors to paddocks are closed because of the mud, or horses who just refuse to go out and move around often leads to health issues, navicular issues and colic from gut impaction. I’ve been there, and we sold the farm and moved to a farm in a dry climate.

In a wet climate, you are pretty much stuck with individual stalls, and individual paddocks attached to those stalls, so that the horses can shelter and eat in peace OUT of the rain and mud. And those paddocks will likely get muddy at some point, even with a lot of drainage and material shipped in to try to keep them dry. Horses will also get injured on those fences between paddocks. Horses and fences are an accident waiting to happen.

The expense is far less to keep a horse in a dry climate. The health of the horse is far better in a dry or semi arid climate. The infrastructure required is far less to construct. The upkeep is far less work, and less money, and horses are happier and healthier, and fences are only perimeter fences, not between horses. It’s worth it. I’ve been there, and done that, and I moved to a semi arid climate, and I don’t do it any more.

Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear, but there you go anyway.

[Demerara_Stables]

@NancyM

Probably not what you want to hear but… Don’t keep horses in a wet climate. Not only the problem you are facing with the hay, but the high humidity is also a problem, creating soft hooves, from the humidity and from the mud. Horses standing in stalls to keep out of the rain and mud, either because stall doors to paddocks are closed because of the mud, or horses who just refuse to go out and move around often leads to health issues, navicular issues and colic from gut impaction. I’ve been there, and we sold the farm and moved to a farm in a dry climate.

In a wet climate, you are pretty much stuck with individual stalls, and individual paddocks attached to those stalls, so that the horses can shelter and eat in peace OUT of the rain and mud. And those paddocks will likely get muddy at some point, even with a lot of drainage and material shipped in to try to keep them dry. Horses will also get injured on those fences between paddocks. Horses and fences are an accident waiting to happen.

The expense is far less to keep a horse in a dry climate. The health of the horse is far better in a dry or semi arid climate. The infrastructure required is far less to construct. The upkeep is far less work, and less money, and horses are happier and healthier, and fences are only perimeter fences, not between horses. It’s worth it. I’ve been there, and done that, and I moved to a semi arid climate, and I don’t do it any more.

One person’s experience does not dictate what works for every owner/horse.

I’ve kept horses in Florida and California, and I can tell you it’s much more expensive in CA, and the horses aren’t any better off. We have no grass July-October (so I’m feeding more hay), and I have had more abscesses here than I ever had in FL. My fields in FL had no mud, and only perimeter fences because everyone was out together. Horses in during the day/out at night in summer, vice versa in the winter. Horses ate hay either in their stalls or in the field (even when it was wet! Almost everyone in CA (not myself) has small paddocks instead of large fields, requiring more fencing and resulting in more mud.

[lenapesadie]

When you (g) look at US rankings of cities by highest amounts of precipitation (measured in inches per year), I live smack dab between the first and second cities, about a 45 min drive to get to either. I reckon I’d have to move to an actual rainforest to get a wetter climate. Like you alluded to, I’m sure my experience isn’t everyone’s experience. But I agree that a blanket statement that keeping horses in a wet climate is subpar is questionable.

The very first winter I had horses at this property, I had a whole 6’ x 6’ section of my dry lot that had two inches of mud for a bit. I was horrified and it’s since been remedied. Other than that I have had zero mud. Our farm has excellent drainage, which is important on any farm.

Twice in his 12 years my always barefoot homebred had what appeared to be an abscess blow in a hoof. However, since he never took a lame step the jury is still out on if they were actually abscesses. Said horse jogs sound on gravel barefoot. It seems this wet climate hasn’t ruined his hooves yet

Since it rains so much and the ground never freezes, I have green growing grass 12 months per year (I do plant the cool season grass annually).

Anyways, I’m always a bit perplexed when folks talk about how awful wet climates are for horses. Horses seem fine here. Now, if folks opine that beastly hot climates are hard I can understand bc that’s just the truth. It’s hot as hades here right now and it’s sucks big time

As for OP, I keep hay in nets in the run in for my guys right now bc they are using the run in to escape heat and bugs (see above re hot as hades). Despite having grazing year round, I do occasionally need to confine horses to the dry lot. In those situations, I do have hay nets hung outside and don’t worry about if it gets rained on as I’m only putting out a day’s worth of hay at a time. I’ve fed round bales outside without cover when I had more horses and that was ok if a bit wasteful and messy. I dunno that I’d be comfortable putting out say a week’s worth of square baled hay outside to get rained on. But don’t be discouraged about keeping horses in a wet climate! Lots of horses live in wet climates and do perfectly fine.

[4horses]

You need to build 2 shelters and use both for hay. Or run a fence so two horses can eat on both sides. I have 4 horses and 2 hay shelters. The hay has to be kept under cover. I know some people who just throw down a round bale and let them eat unlimited and step on it and spread it out. I don’t do that and had one horse get a nasty respiratory infection/cough from eating wet hay. After that I make a good effort to keep it dry or burn it if it gets bad.

[FitToBeTied]

We hang large hay nets in the shelters. It keeps the hay dry and practically eliminates waste.

NibbleNet ® Nibble Plenty

[fivestrideline]

@NancyM

Probably not what you want to hear but… Don’t keep horses in a wet climate.

Oooookayyy, have fun winning that argument with the UK and half of Europe. They seem to be doing just fine.

Not to mention with climate change we are watching more and more of the US become a “wet climate”.

Nibble nets in the run ins or additional hay shelters with sides to keep blowing rain out, maintain the footing at the high traffic areas, and/or only throw a day’s worth of hay on mats or in tubs.

[Pico_Banana]

I get rain once or twice a week usually. At least during the warm months. I feed my hay in nets that I clip to the inside of water troughs into which I drilled drain holes. I only put out enough hay to last about two days. If it gets rained on, even with the drain holes, the horses don’t love eating it although it’s fine. So then I take the nets out of the tanks and hang them on the fence, where they then get eaten for the most part. Anything left then gets shaken out of the net and into the stall of my “eats anything” horse, who will eat it overnight.

Can you tell I don’t like wasting hay?

And in the winter, it’s much less of an issue.

[trubandloki]

OP, I too do not feed hay in my paddock shelter. I have one horse that would never let anyone else in if that became a food place. I totally get that concern.

I feed my hay in a home made hay hut type structure. It has a floor and a roof and sides to keep most of the hay inside. The hay is fed in a small hole hay net in there. When feeding small square hay I actually hang standard sized small hole hay nets in there. All winter I feed large square or round bales, also in a small hole hay net in the same feeder.

Tossing hay on the ground will likely lead to lots of work for you, cleaning up the mess they leave behind. Leaving organic matter, when you don’t have great draining dry soil, only makes for more mud.

@NancyM

Don’t keep horses in a wet climate.

[steelerino]

@NancyM

Probably not what you want to hear but… Don’t keep horses in a wet climate. Not only the problem you are facing with the hay, but the high humidity is also a problem, creating soft hooves, from the humidity and from the mud. Horses standing in stalls to keep out of the rain and mud, either because stall doors to paddocks are closed because of the mud, or horses who just refuse to go out and move around often leads to health issues, navicular issues and colic from gut impaction. I’ve been there, and we sold the farm and moved to a farm in a dry climate.

In a wet climate, you are pretty much stuck with individual stalls, and individual paddocks attached to those stalls, so that the horses can shelter and eat in peace OUT of the rain and mud. And those paddocks will likely get muddy at some point, even with a lot of drainage and material shipped in to try to keep them dry. Horses will also get injured on those fences between paddocks. Horses and fences are an accident waiting to happen.

The expense is far less to keep a horse in a dry climate. The health of the horse is far better in a dry or semi arid climate. The infrastructure required is far less to construct. The upkeep is far less work, and less money, and horses are happier and healthier, and fences are only perimeter fences, not between horses. It’s worth it. I’ve been there, and done that, and I moved to a semi arid climate, and I don’t do it any more.

Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear, but there you go anyway.

I hear a lot of ridiculous things on this forum but this one is pretty high up there as being the most ridiculous. You must be one of “those” types of horse owners.

[NancyM]

Well, I guess you would have to experience what we did to understand the situation. Horses did not evolve to deal with a lot of wet conditions. They don’t deal with it well. They evolved to roam the dry plains… they are not swamp dwellers, nor are they well suited to be stall dwellers. If you keep them in wet conditions, high humidity, high rainfall, there are numerous health and soundness issues that crop up. If you are OK with that, good luck to you and to your horses. Keeping horses in “horse country” makes things a lot easier for everyone. When we realized that the situation was always going to be this way at the old place and made the move, the difference is amazing. Perhaps if you have not done this, you don’t know. So I’m letting you know. It’s something to consider if you count yourself as a horseman.

[Simkie]

@NancyM

Perhaps if you have not done this, you don’t know.

We came the other way. While we loved Colorado and have considered going back eventually, but water access and fire risk makes it a no go.

While living in a wet area has it’s own issues, at least we HAVE water. There are a lot of arid places that will not in coming years. Droughts are becoming longer and more severe.

There are a lot of management options in a wet climate. There are very few solutions when there’s just no water.

[PonyRiderMom]

@Simkie

While living in a wet area has it’s own issues, at least we HAVE water. There are a lot of arid places that will not in coming years. Droughts are becoming longer and more severe.

There are a lot of management options in a wet climate. There are very few solutions when there’s just no water.

100%. I just moved from Texas to the PNW. Texas I guess is “dry” but it has its own set of problems. Some of my horses did very very poorly in the heat, and it was just getting hotter and hotter every year. And then there’s the issue of more people moving to Texas along with water sources becoming depleted. Both ground water and surface water.

I’ve seen the argument made before of “I am going to move to a dry climate and things will be better,” but before you move to that dry climate I think you ought to ask yourself “What is the water source where I’m going to live and how much longer is it estimated to last?” And “Where is my forage going to come from when the water runs out?” I stopped in New Mexico on my way to Washington and loved it, but they are very dependent on fickle water sources. What are you going to do with your horses when the water is gone, or when it’s low enough that they restricting it to bare minimum use only?

[Scribbler]

From the forums I’ve gleaned that NancyM is a long term horse pro (racing, breeding, h/j) who struggled for years in our exurban agricultural belt which is in a coastal rain forest climate and on a flood plain. She was fortunate enough to move up to the interior dry belt ranching area, grows her own hay, and has been amazed at how much easier horse keeping is in that climate. She’s right, I vacation at various places in the interior dry belt and horses thrive there.

However, it’s not practical advice for anyone who has other ties to a particular region. My job that lets me afford a horse keeps me on the coast. I make do.

It is excellent advice if you are a breeder. Go back out in the ranching country as far as you can for better horse conditions and affordable land. But it isn’t workable advice even for most coaches and trainers who need access to a concentration of clients in the metro area