Grain First or Hay First

Ira · 03-07-2005, 02:45 PM

I would like to know how all of you feed Grain and Hay. I was told that you should feed your horse Hay first and then feed the Grain. I have been feeding Smokey his grain first and then his flake of hay last.

Super_Trooper · 03-07-2005, 02:47 PM

We have "always" given the grain and hay at the same time and they eat the grain first...I have never had a problem with it.

buggywhipp · 03-07-2005, 02:49 PM

I too have heard that you should feed hay first and then grain. I however also feed my grain and hay at the same time. I've never had any problems doing it that way either.

Moostang · 03-07-2005, 02:50 PM

Mine get it at the same time.. but sometimes if I get out their early they get grain first.. but Scout only gets a small bit.. and Kristay's is senior feed

Ira · 03-07-2005, 02:51 PM

Thanks - I'll continue the same way.

Paints4me · 03-07-2005, 02:52 PM

I just attended a clinic on nutrition and the lady said the best thing you can do is put the grain on top of the hay. She said this helps because it takes them longer to eat their grain (having to sort through hay to get it). Anyhow she just told us that if they ate slowly it would space the grain out in their system some and they could digest more nutrients from it. Or she said to put big rocks in their grain buckets so they have to dig around them. It proably would make more sence having her explain it but I though it was interesting.

Dawn · 03-07-2005, 03:59 PM

I always give hay first. I do think that it is better for the horse to have hay in their system before grain. For mine, it doesn't really matter which order because they have basically unlimited access to hay. Horses are less likely to bolt their grain if they already have a bit of hay in their tummies.

Super_Trooper · 03-07-2005, 04:00 PM

Mine are really not piggies that way, they eat their grain nice and slow, grab a mouthful of hay, go have a drink...and so on.

Blistering Winds · 03-07-2005, 04:05 PM

If they are bolters of grain, give hay first.

Usually, in a "herd" situation, I drop hay first then grain. I do the grain on top of the hay as well.

Ends up on the ground one way or another.

I feed round bales lately, so when it is feeding time, I only ahve to drop grain.

buggywhipp · 03-07-2005, 04:15 PM

My horses too are slow eaters. OMG!! My colt is slower than a turtle when it comes to eating grain. LOL!!

03-07-2005, 02:45 PM	#1
Ira Full Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 89 Images: 4	Grain First or Hay First I would like to know how all of you feed Grain and Hay. I was told that you should feed your horse Hay first and then feed the Grain. I have been feeding Smokey his grain first and then his flake of hay last. __________________ " We will be known forever by the tracks we leave behind ". ....Dakota Proverb

03-07-2005, 02:47 PM	#2
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	We have "always" given the grain and hay at the same time and they eat the grain first...I have never had a problem with it. __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

03-07-2005, 02:49 PM	#3
buggywhipp Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,766 Images: 112	I too have heard that you should feed hay first and then grain. I however also feed my grain and hay at the same time. I've never had any problems doing it that way either. __________________ ~Angie~ Limoges 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar colt by Le Mode SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Horses Are Addictive, Expensive, And May Impair The Ability To Use Common Sense.

03-07-2005, 02:50 PM	#4
Moostang Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northern Calif Posts: 9,910 Images: 681 Blog Entries: 55	Mine get it at the same time.. but sometimes if I get out their early they get grain first.. but Scout only gets a small bit.. and Kristay's is senior feed __________________ Diet Dr Pepper is a gateway drug to the diet sodas http://moostangproductions.com

03-07-2005, 02:51 PM	#5
Ira Full Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 89 Images: 4	Thanks - I'll continue the same way. __________________ " We will be known forever by the tracks we leave behind ". ....Dakota Proverb

03-07-2005, 02:52 PM	#6
Paints4me Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,284 Images: 24	I just attended a clinic on nutrition and the lady said the best thing you can do is put the grain on top of the hay. She said this helps because it takes them longer to eat their grain (having to sort through hay to get it). Anyhow she just told us that if they ate slowly it would space the grain out in their system some and they could digest more nutrients from it. Or she said to put big rocks in their grain buckets so they have to dig around them. It proably would make more sence having her explain it but I though it was interesting.

03-07-2005, 03:59 PM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,295 Images: 1386	I always give hay first. I do think that it is better for the horse to have hay in their system before grain. For mine, it doesn't really matter which order because they have basically unlimited access to hay. Horses are less likely to bolt their grain if they already have a bit of hay in their tummies.

03-07-2005, 04:00 PM	#8
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	Mine are really not piggies that way, they eat their grain nice and slow, grab a mouthful of hay, go have a drink...and so on. __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

03-07-2005, 04:05 PM	#9
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,979 Images: 831 Blog Entries: 17	If they are bolters of grain, give hay first. Usually, in a "herd" situation, I drop hay first then grain. I do the grain on top of the hay as well. Ends up on the ground one way or another. I feed round bales lately, so when it is feeding time, I only ahve to drop grain. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

03-07-2005, 04:15 PM	#10
buggywhipp Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,766 Images: 112	My horses too are slow eaters. OMG!! My colt is slower than a turtle when it comes to eating grain. LOL!! __________________ ~Angie~ Limoges 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar colt by Le Mode SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Horses Are Addictive, Expensive, And May Impair The Ability To Use Common Sense.

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