Lack of Grazing Grass/Hay

[NoviceNic]

Just wondered if anyone could give me some advise? At the moment my horses are fed morning and night. If they come in overnight they are given adlib hay. Through the day they are on grass if dry, but put out into the menage if wet. They go in the menage mainly for a chance to stretch their legs. They are probably out at about 7am and brought in for tea at 4pm. During this time they are not getting any hay or grass if on the menage. If it is dry we wanted to keep them out overnight in the menage but they wont be able to graze as the hay makes a mess.

So my question is "Is this dangerous to their digestive system?" I am sure I read somewhere that undergrazing is as dangerous as overgrazing?? Can this promote Colic??

Sorry that turned out to be 3 questions. :-(

[Holly B]

Yes it would be bad for them, they would get bored and stressed if they can't satisfy their need to chew. They are supposed to graze for around 16 hours a day in the wild, and if they can't, they might get colic, or at least very upset! Could you use small holed haynets in the menage? They would only be able to eat a small amount at a time, so hopefully wouldn't drop it everywhere. So are they currently out in the menage for 9 hours a day?! If so, they don't have nearly enough grazing time, and you will have to find a compromise somehow. It is bad for them if they don't get enough fibre in their diet, and if they aren't eating, what are they actually doing in the menage? They are probably very bored! Hope this helps. :)

[NoviceNic]

Thank you Holly B. I will have a good think about it. We used to tie haynets up around the menage but they are standing on the gravel raised border and collapsing it.

[Jessey]

I would agree it is not good for horses to go without food for long periods, one reason is that their stomach produces acid all the time (unlike our which only does it when we chew) so if there is no food going in for the acid to work on it starts to eat away at the stomach itself, causing ulsers and all sorts. The answer, go to B&Q or somewhere and get a couple of those giant buckets, fill them with hay and then put a couple of large rocks on top of the hay, this stops the hay from being dragged everywhere and slows them down but will also mean the are not stood round the edges all the time, wrecking it :D hope that helps

j x

[NoviceNic]

Will have a go. Have got a few large buckets around at the stables. Thanks.