Not Finishing Hay?

I Love BODIE! · 09-22-2008, 04:05 PM

So Bodie has started to not finish his lunch hay, even though beforehand, he would always eat all of it straight up. I come in at 5pm, when they are feeding dinner, and there is still a substantial amount of hay from lunch left (at least half a flake). I can't tell if he finishes all of the hay after dinner since they clean the stalls before I get to the barn in the morning.

I was thinking the reason he's leaving hay might be because he is now at a good weight, and so isn't as hungry anymore, but wanted to ask you guys in case I should be worried.

Thanks in advance!

royalrox · 09-22-2008, 04:41 PM

Do you know if they just got a new batch of hay? How long has he not been finishing it?

I know Royal is super picky sometimes he just doesn't like a bale lol.

I doubt that its because he's gained weight though, if his hay has increased then yes he could simply not need anymore, but his intake shouldn't vary accoding to weight. Really obese horses certainly still eat their share

I Love BODIE! · 09-22-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalrox

Do you know if they just got a new batch of hay? How long has he not been finishing it?

I know Royal is super picky sometimes he just doesn't like a bale lol.

I doubt that its because he's gained weight though, if his hay has increased then yes he could simply not need anymore, but his intake shouldn't vary accoding to weight. Really obese horses certainly still eat their share

I think we just got a new batch, but it's REALLY nice 2nd cut, so I'm not sure... He hasn't been finishing it for maybe four or five days? I don't know the exact amount, but he did finish all of it last Tuesday for sure.

Pally · 09-22-2008, 05:28 PM

Sometimes what looks really nice to us might still not taste too good to the horse. Not saying that are eyes aren't a good guide to start, but they certainly don't cover everything. So maybe for whatever reason this new batch is not so tasty. The other possibility is that if your barn feeds by the flake and not by the weight, he might actually be getting a ton more hay in the same number of flakes, if this new stuff is denser.

I Love BODIE! · 09-22-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pally

Sometimes what looks really nice to us might still not taste too good to the horse. Not saying that are eyes aren't a good guide to start, but they certainly don't cover everything. So maybe for whatever reason this new batch is not so tasty. The other possibility is that if your barn feeds by the flake and not by the weight, he might actually be getting a ton more hay in the same number of flakes, if this new stuff is denser.

Oh, very true, I didn't think about that!

09-22-2008, 04:05 PM	#1
I Love BODIE! Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California, USA Posts: 1,480 Images: 66	Not Finishing Hay? So Bodie has started to not finish his lunch hay, even though beforehand, he would always eat all of it straight up. I come in at 5pm, when they are feeding dinner, and there is still a substantial amount of hay from lunch left (at least half a flake). I can't tell if he finishes all of the hay after dinner since they clean the stalls before I get to the barn in the morning. I was thinking the reason he's leaving hay might be because he is now at a good weight, and so isn't as hungry anymore, but wanted to ask you guys in case I should be worried. Thanks in advance! __________________ -Emily- Bodie - 17h 1996 Thoroughbred Gelding I was on HGS when we made 3,000,000 posts! I've Been SNOWBALLED! FOUR TIMES!!! Idlewild and I Love BODIE! = M&M

09-22-2008, 04:41 PM	#2
royalrox Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Springs, PA Posts: 3,417 Images: 286	Do you know if they just got a new batch of hay? How long has he not been finishing it? I know Royal is super picky sometimes he just doesn't like a bale lol. I doubt that its because he's gained weight though, if his hay has increased then yes he could simply not need anymore, but his intake shouldn't vary accoding to weight. Really obese horses certainly still eat their share __________________ You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows The present now will later be past, And the first one now will later be last -Bob Dylan Proud member of the thoroughbred club! I've been SNOWBALLED...owie

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09-22-2008, 05:28 PM	#4
Pally Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 371 Images: 8	Sometimes what looks really nice to us might still not taste too good to the horse. Not saying that are eyes aren't a good guide to start, but they certainly don't cover everything. So maybe for whatever reason this new batch is not so tasty. The other possibility is that if your barn feeds by the flake and not by the weight, he might actually be getting a ton more hay in the same number of flakes, if this new stuff is denser.