Hay, haylage and dieting pony!

[nqt2003]

My boy is slimmer than he was, but I still need to be very careful about his weight. I've got him down to about 470kg according to my weight tape, but he still looks like he could do with loosing some more.

The big bales of haylage we had been getting have run out and I now have the option to either buy bagged haylage or feed hay.
I know hay would be much better but he apparently has a mild allergy - that's why he's on haylage. However, I really don't fancy giving him bagged haylage as I think it will be too fattening!

I've decided to try him on hay - I will soak it well and feed it wet - that should be ok?

So, a couple of questions.
1 - I know you need to feed more hay than haylage, but should I still feed the 2% (is that right?) of bodyweight? I currently feed about 8kg of haylage, so should I feed a bit more hay?
2 - soaking it. Would it be better to put it in to soak first thing in the morning and leave it all day or put it in for an hour or so in the evening while I muck out? I worry about leaving hay soaking in the sun all day, heating up the water (when it shines in this country!)

Thanks for reading!

[kturner]

If he has a dust allergy and that is why you are soaking then just a wash or few minutes is ok.

If it is a mould spore allergy, then the soaking for 20-30 mins, makes the spores swell bigger so they cant breath them in their nostrils or mouth, and they eat them instead. (No harm done). If it dries out however then the spores shrink back to small breathable ones again.

If you are soaking to get rid of rich nutrients then the longer the soak the less nutrients. I only use an hour for this.

I never give haylage as mine is a lami. I soak when he coughs only, ( if it is a dusty bale. ) Each horse is different. Make sure if you are soaking all the nutrients out then they should get a balancer/vitamins/minerals to make sure their diet is still OK. Just like us taking a vitamin if we dont eat properly.