[Sweetsizzlinrumour]

I'm feeding round bails in the pen now and it's wonderful..I have five horses to care for and it's so easy now..they are loving it!!!They think it was the best idea we ever had.. it is half the cost of squares..it costs me $900 to feed three horses for squares I would pay $1800 and way more manual labor!!.

[showing_qween]

We have the very little rectangle bales and just break off how ever many slabs we need. My boy eats about 4 a day.

[ejforrest]

Botulism.
Botulism is common in haylage, silage, and roundbales. If feeding this type of feed, it is recommended to vaccinate against botulism. Its alot cheaper to vaccinate then to treat a horse with botulism.

[Blistering Winds]

botulism can be found in ANY haybale. doesn't matter if it is round or square. I know I've busted square bales with "pieces" of animals before.


However, 6 months for a bale? First question....is there grass in these paddocks? If so, then yes. it can take a while for a horse to eat a round bale due to the fact the horses will eat the grass over the round bales.

In a shelter, you have a better chance of your bale lasting the 6 months very healthy. Many squares are 1-2 years old before they are ever fed, still in great condition when stored properly. Rounds are the same way. Proper storage and they can be stored for several years without going bad.

Have you spoken to the barn owner? Maybe his or her workers missunderstood. I don't blame you for being upset for your shelter being "taken over".

And either way, unless your horse is overweight, a constant "Free grazing" on hay is much healthier for your horse. Costs are lower so your barn owner may be looking at the choice of raising your boarding or lowering cost. If you are willing for him/her to raise your boarding, then talk to her about it. most owners are NOT willing to do such. Even in the hay crunch many areas are still experiencing.


At most, a round bale this time of year may last 2 months with one horse involved. That is about what my horse usually eats when he is by himself.

[sorrell]

It does sound like laziness to me. Granted a horse can take a round bale down in a month and under the shelter it is much less likely to get moldy, but it will still collect feces and urine and attract flies if the shelter is not cleaned out daily.
It would be smarter, I would think to put in a hay rack or some such where a few days supply could be put in at a time.
I used to board at a place where they cut corners like this trying to save time and money and it did have a negative impact on my horses....maybe they could even put an extension on the original shed so your horse could at least get out of the elements if need be. It does seem sort of silly. I would be upset by it too!
Like, does the hay bale pay half my board since it shares over half my horse's shelter? Hmmm...... you have to wonder sometimes what motivates people to do things like that.

[Debbie z.]

I think round bales for one horse is too much. I'd rather feed square. Unless in the winter it would be more beneficial. And the round bale is in shed does he have room to lay down? And your paying for services to your horse and what YOU feed him and want him to have. If bale sits for a month it will get dusty and moldy which is not good for horses to ingest. Your making right decision to move him. You need piece of mind when you have a horse at a barn. Good for you and much luck!!

[Beanie33]

They raised the boarding fee several months ago, which I pretty much expected. New owners. He has grass in his paddock and I take him out to graze him also.
And I know this place is not in the best financial position. It's just going to get worse. I just wish they would have talked to me about it, I had already requested for them not to put one in there.
I do not see trying to work things out with the new owners and that is not good for me or my horse.
They had dropped off of the worming schedule that he was on without telling anyone of the horse owners. We just happened to find out.
Found his water almost empty couple of times.
The round bale was the "straw" that broke the camels back.

[Lopinslow]

i just don't understand why you don't want your horse to ALWAYS have hay in front of him ( as long as it's good hay ), as that IS a GOOD thing, as long as the horse does not have a weight issue.

as i said, i only feed square bales to my stall horse, otherwise i much prefer everyone to always have hay to eat!

[Debbie z.]

Originally Posted by Beanie33

They raised the boarding fee several months ago, which I pretty much expected. New owners. He has grass in his paddock and I take him out to graze him also.
And I know this place is not in the best financial position. It's just going to get worse. I just wish they would have talked to me about it, I had already requested for them not to put one in there.
I do not see trying to work things out with the new owners and that is not good for me or my horse.
They had dropped off of the worming schedule that he was on without telling anyone of the horse owners. We just happened to find out.
Found his water almost empty couple of times.
The round bale was the "straw" that broke the camels back.

Round bales are good as long as the quality is good. And if he's in a grass pasture he'll eat that over hay( someone already mentioned I think) That hay will sit there and if it gets wet or dirty that's no good either.(certain circumstances) Well sounds like you have alot to think about. At least your on the ball with things. It will be ok. Thanks for posting back. Keep in touch.

[Dawn]

Personally, I'm still confused about what the issue is as well.