haylage is fermented hay. Silage is fermented chopped corn (including stalks).
IME horses LOVE haylage. We use it for cattle and the horses will come up and lick the tractor if they can smell it. “Chaffhaye” sold here is haylage.
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Ah that makes sense. I think they make haylage for dairy cows here but no one feeds it to horses.
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I would if I could get it like I could in Europe.
We feed it to our beef cattle. It is good stuff and could be fed to horses. But we tend to wrap (in plastic, how we tend to make haylage here) any hay that is a weather concern and use it for the cattle so we can cut as much as possible when the hay itself is in peak nutritional condition.
do you feed about the same amount as you would our hay? It seems really rich, not sure how the profile changes from the fermenting. It does smell amazing, kind of like hops.
In my area, I never hear it called grain unless the person means oats or corn used as horse feed, which is really pretty rare. Typically, people call bagged feed pellets as in, the chestnut gelding gets 2 1/2 pounds of pellets.
Well, use proper English you’re regarded as a freak.
G.
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How do you measure out a flake of hay from a bale? Do horses get mostly one flake per meal?
Since this was when I was grooming and I was around all day I pretty much fed as much as they would eat, and just adjusted grain/feed depending on weight and workload. With my own fat horses who don’t work that hard, I would feed less. When another barn or at shows only had grass hay, I definitely had to feed more hard feed.
The bale is “separated” into flakes - when you open the bale, you will be able to pull one off. Flakes vary in size/weight quite a bit from bale to bale. I feed by weight. If the flake is too heavy, I take some off. Too light, I add some. Horses should get 1-2 percent of their body weight in hay per day.
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The size of the flake can vary a lot. In 2 string bales that are 40 to 50 lbs, a flake is usually around 3 lbs but can go significantly lower or higher in the same bales.
My current hay is 3 string Timothy about 100 lbs per bale. The flakes run from 4 to 8 lbs. Some bales trend higher than others.
A horse should get about 20 lbs of hay a day, more if he is skinny, less if it’s my horse. She gets weighed out 15 to 16 lbs a day in 4 or 5 feedings. That might be 2, 3 or 4 flakes total depending on the weight of the flakes.
If you spoke as she does, sir
instead of the way you do -
why, you might be selling fodder too!!
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EEEOOOWWWWW!!!
G.
How do breeches differ from riding tights? As in how can I tell them apart and what is appropriate for a schooling show
thanks
And a “grackle” which I think is a figure 8 noseband?
Tights are usually pull on as in no zipper, come in fun colors and prints, and are a light weight fabric. I have two pairs of tights, both full seat, that are much cooler in the summer than my usual heavier weight Ovations. You can tell the difference between tights and show breeches by the weight, the style, and the finish.
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Tights don’t have a zipper/fly, tights pull on. Tights are usually thinner fabric. Breeches have pockets and look more like pants.
show protocol/formality vary widely.
Breeches are more constructed, usually with zipper flies, belt loops, small pockets, and knee or full seat fake suede patches for grip. Typically the cloth is more substantial.
Tights are pull on so no zipper. And typically no belt loops or pockets and perhaps no patches. Typically lighter stretchier material.
Breeches are more expensive than tights at the same level of quality.
For schooling show, ask trainer or show secretary. Formality level varies widely between different shows.
In general the mark of show gear is the color. If tights come in white or beige they might be indistinguishable from breeches.
I only wear full seat breeches and fairly sturdy ones because of fit and also they offer more stick and more protection. But a lot of juniors ride fine in tights or even yoga pants 
IME, the fabric on the tights also tends to be a bit slipperier than breeches as well, probably because they’re also a stretchier material. I have two pair of tights, which I usually only wear when it’s either very, very hot or I plan to do something like clipping where I don’t want the hair sticking. Otherwise, I’m in breeches every ride. Usually grey/blue/green though, rather than the tan or white you’d show in. I’m also often in long sleeves; I sunburn easily and have a family history of skin cancer, so wear sunshirts pretty regularly and tend to only put on a short sleeved shirt if I know I’m just doing a quick school and not going to be out in the sun very long.
Depending on the level of schooling show and quality of the tights, I can certainly see being able to use a pair to show in; probably if the old Romfh pair I had was tan they’d be ok, but the Kerrits ones really just look like leggings and I would absolutely not show in them no matter the color.
Danielle Goldstein shows in yoga pants; to each their own.
GARN!
