Easiest way to soak hay?

You can buy those square water tank thingies from DIY shops. Fill with water, dunk hay in (in a haynet), turn on the wee tap and by the time it empties it will have soaked for approx 20 mins.

Alternative could be steaming? Never tried it but just a thought.
 
conkers said:
I just used to tie the unsoaked hay net up and then spray it with a hose pipe for a few minutes. It worked just as well for me as sticking it in a dustbin filled with water with the advantage that I didn't get soaked everytime I lifted the hay net out.
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totally agree i do exactly the same saves getting soaked and works a treat
 
I used to believe hay should be soaked for 20 mins, so tried to do this for years- although very difficult in the winter when time is short, as it would take another 15 mins for it to 'bleed' the water off before going in the stable.

Then last year CW developed a mild form of COPD after the hay was put in the barn behind him.. vet came, gave me medicines, advised on how to deal with it re keeping the stable clear of dust, spores etc. I asked him how long I should soak hay in case it needed to be longer than 20 mins and he said 5 mins soaking will be sufficient. .

Have kept to this (unless I forget it and go hacking.. oops) and I haven't seen any change in his breathing/coughing. in fact he doesn't like the 20 mins soaked hay now... well not as much anyways... (he's a slave to his stomach!)
 
It depends on what you're soaking the hay for though.

I can thoroughly damp a haynet using the hose if all I want to do is stop my mare from coughing. However, I now soak to remove excess sugars and this means soaking for at least an hour for it to be effective. I believe that Martini55 is soaking for the same reason, so a dousing with the hose isn't going to work.

I understood that you should only soak hay for a maximum of 20mins otherwise it is the equivalent of feeding raw sewage!!
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The water that you drain off apparently contains the same number of bacteria, etc as raw sewage. It's not really an issue as long as you don't keep the hay in it for long enough to ferment.

As far as leaching nutrients out goes, that's the whole point in this case. It enables good doers who may otherwise have to have their hay seriously restricted to have access to it ad-lib with no ill effects. As long as you supplement vits and mins, either with a powdered supplement or balancer it isn't an issue.

I shove my haynet into a dustbin, fill with water and leave whilst I ride or muck out. I soak for as long as I can manage though it's never more than 3-4 hours and that tends only to be at weekends. I just tip the dustbin over when I want to drain the hay off, pull the net out and leave it to drip dry a bit then tip it onto the floor of the stable (I try not to feed from nets if I can help it).
 
We use a wheelie bin, with the front partially cut away, and a bung at the base to let the water out.

Mine has mild copd - all hay has to be soaked, but I find that 10 minutes is sufficient.
 
I read some research which said that 1/2 hour was the max that hay should be soaked. You don't get any more sugar out by leaving it longer.

What do people do in the winter? I have had to feedhay lollies on occasion!
 
steaming is, really, the best way as it loses far less nutrients than soaking does.
it doesn't have to be complicated or difficult - simply chuck it is a barrel, pour a few jugs of boiling water on top of it (you don't need so much water as you would to soak becasue of the heat and water vapour doing the trick) immediately secure the lid on tightly and leave for 20 mins or so, then it's reaady!
 
i don't see why not. It is healthier than soaking as it actually kills dust spores rather than just dampening the down as done with soaking - if sugar could be extracted so easily then we'd all be doing it! :-)
 
This is very interesting, as I know some ppl soak hay and others dont, so, for what reason do you soak the hay besides to drain off the sugar and dust pores?
And how long can you keep the soaked hay in the haynet for before it is all eaten?
I'm trying to slim tara down at the moment, she lives out but comes into her stable for grooming etc and munches away at her haynet (she loves her food!)
Should I be soaking her hay then ??

Sorry to add my own question to your existing thread :o
 
I have just bought a cheap water butt from B&Q - brilliant :D - only cost £10 and comes with a tap at the base for draining out the water. They are massive too - I can fit two good sized haynets in at once and they are lightweight. However, i steam my nets. I put two kettle fulls of hot water over two nets and leave it for anywhere between 5 and 30 mins. Very quick and not as messy as soaking as you don't have to wait for the water to drain off.
 
steaming is, really, the best way as it loses far less nutrients than soaking does.
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You're missing the point though, as the intention of soaking in this case is to remove excess sugars, and yes it does come out as sugars are water soluble. It's been proven in research to be effective.

I steam hay in winter because then I do want my horse to be getting all the nutrients available. It's easier, quicker and less messy than soaking too but you can only steam limited amounts in one go otherwise the steam doesn't penetrate the hay in the middle of the container.
 
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