How long to soak hay for horses is one of those questions that you hear asked by owners time after time, especially in the summer months, and there’s a lot of confusion around the subject. If your horse is overweight, dust sensitive, prone to laminitis or has equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), it’s probably something you’ve questioned at some point.

Horses in these categories may have excessive body fat, which can contribute to many other conditions, such as some types of colic and arthritis, and affects the body’s normal hormonal processes. Overweight horses are also more likely to have EMS, which is a condition that encompasses insulin dysregulation and predisposes horses to laminitis.

Tackling weight gain for these horses is a potential life-or-death factor, so we’ve asked independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr to help you work out what’s best for your horse.

Why soak hay for horses?

The two main reasons are to reduce nutrient intake (when helping horses to lose weight) or minimise dust (for horses with respiratory problems).

Horses have evolved to spend most of their time chewing fibre, and to receive most of their daily calories from grass, hay and haylage. Often, forage oversupplies calories to horses, contributing to weight gain and obesity.

Soaking hay is an effective method for reducing its energy (calorie), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), or sugar and fructan content. This helps cut sugar and restrict calories from an equine diet.

Fructans are not the same as sugar, Clare explains. “They are sugar units joined with bonds that are fermented in the hindgut, rather than broken down by digestive enzymes.

“Research shows some fructan is broken down via bacterial fermentation in the small intestine. This is likely why it contributes to insulin response.”

This means fructans also contribute to laminitis.

How long to soak hay for horses: things every owner should know

The length of time you’d soak hay for depends on the desired result.

You might soak hay for 15-30 minutes to minimise dust for a horse with respiratory problems.

Soaking hay for 30 minutes to an hour slightly reduces its calorie and WSC content. However, the reduction may be insufficient to keep an obese horse in a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.

“Losses from soaking can vary,” says Clare. “It depends on factors including the composition of the hay, the amount of water used and the temperature,”

“Therefore, research that shows significant losses of WSCs in an hour or two cannot necessarily be relied upon in all real-life situations.

“In addition we are not soaking just for sugar and fructan loss but also for energy (calories). Reducing sugar without a significant reduction in calories will be insufficient for weight-loss targets.

“It’s not just sugar that horses get calories from – it’s fructan and fibre, too!”

Clare says water temperature can also influence nutrient loss.

“Losses are quicker in warmer water, so we might find we can soak for less time in summer, compared to winter, and in large volumes of water, so using as much as you can is key.”

Can you soak hay overnight?

Soaking hay for longer periods of 8–12 hours, or overnight, is considered suboptimal by some due to nutrient loss and the risk of fermentation.

But, according to Clare, a balance must be struck.

“Long soaking [10+ hours] reduces dry matter – the amount of actual hay, and fibre. Therefore, we need to take this into account and slightly increase the weight of hay to accommodate this loss.

“Increasing the weight of long-soaked hay by 20% can accommodate this, but the long-soak generally means we would be feeding hay at a higher rate anyway, since it becomes less nutritious.

“This is part of the benefit of long-soaking hay: it means we can feed more forage to our horse or pony while maintaining the calorie deficit they need for weight loss or healthy weight maintenance.”

As well as feeding more soaked hay, Clare adds that owners should use the bucket feed to ensure optimal nutrition.

“In terms of nutrient intake, we do need to carefully balance the diet with long-soaked hay,” she says.

“This can be done by adding a well-formulated feed balancer, such as a low-calorie compound concentrate fed at 100g per 100kg bodyweight, if there is no grass in the diet.”

Clare recommends considering long-soaking hay in cost-benefit terms for overall equine health.

“Although bacterial count can increase on long-soaked hay, there is no evidence showing this occurs to a level that is harmful to the horse. Plus, horses and ponies have been fed long-soaked hay for years with good results,” explains Clare.

“We should only soak for as long as necessary, but also realise that a slightly elevated bacterial count in hay is less unhealthy than chronic obesity with altered metabolic parameters, for example insulin dysregulation and/or laminitis.”

How long does soaked hay last?

As a rule, Clare says that soaked hay should be fed as soon as it has drained. Avoid re-presenting any uneaten quantity to your horse.

The quality of the hay to be soaked will likely influence its longevity.

“We should select only good hygienic quality hay for long-soaking,” she continues. “By this, I mean hay that is not dusty, with no signs of a high mould spore count (no fine smoke-like clouds that go airborne when you pull it apart).”

Other good hygiene practices to improve the life of soaked hay include:

• Soaking out of direct sunlight
• Using clean water for every soak
• Keeping soaking vessels and haynets clean
• Using the largest volume of water possible to speed up the effects of soaking
• Avoiding a long soak (for 10+ hours) unless you have to
• Remove and dispose of any uneaten portions

If the hygienic quality of your hay is suboptimal and there is no alternative, Clare says you could steam after soaking to improve the hygiene.

“With less than ideal hay to soak, using straw to replace some of the hay ration might be a better choice than a long soak,” she continues. “However, very dusty or mouldy hay should never be fed to horses.”

How long to soak hay for horses prone to laminitis

While we can’t put an exact figure on how long to soak hay for laminitis, Clare has a rule of thumb to follow.

“I recommend soaking for as short a time as possible, but with caveats,” she says.

“The soak time should also be as long as it takes for that horse or pony to be able to be fed enough forage to avoid more than a four-hour fast, whilst still receiving the correct amount of energy (calories) for the desired result.

“That might be for weight loss, or maintenance if they are at a healthy bodyweight, and to control the laminitis.

“So, it really does depend on the hay, and the individual horse or pony.”

How to dispose of water from hay soaking

To prevent pollution, you should not allow uncontrolled draining from the waste water used to soak hay.

You should store liquid waste in a waterproof container and then dispose of it at a permitted facility or land spread – for more information, visit gov.uk.

You must get permission from your local water company to dispose of liquid waste to the sewer or a controlled water source. For more information, visit gov.uk

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Equestrians may have to start thinking outside the box when it comes to alternative forage sources for horses, scientists have suggested, if recent weather trends are here to stay.

Last summer’s low hay yield in some parts of the country, followed by a dry summer and very wet late winter, have created problems for many owners and yards.

Possible ways of coping with this situation, should it become the norm, will be discussed at a public lecture at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester on 25 February.

“Researchers in the equine industry are now keen to develop a greater understanding of the forages we feed our horses, as well as to look into alternative forages and new feeds, both of which they believe will be essential in order to be able to manage horses sustainably into the future,” an RAU spokesperson said.

The lecture will be led by Simon Daniels, RAU associate professor of equine science, and his former colleague Meriel Moore-Colyer, now professor of equine science at Hartpury University.

Professor Moore-Colyer has been studying haylage for some 35 years and in more recent years, she and Dr Daniels have been part of a research group looking into forage.

“There are ways we can think imaginatively around this problem, but I would think haylage might become a crop that’s a bit more used, and that we can conserve within our climate,” she said. “You can conserve it earlier, when we still have a bit of moisture; we were still getting quite a lot of rainfall in April, and that’s when they can start making haylage and silage.”

Professor Moore-Colyer said this earlier harvesting could be more productive than waiting for hay to grow in a dry late spring and early summer.

Alternative forage sources for horses

Dr Daniels said that horses will always need forage, and the key may be considering different forage options.

“We have colleagues in Germany, for example, who have been looking at different approaches. They’ve been making more alfalfa hay at some studs, because it’s something they can grow and conserve. I think probably, going forward, we might have to think a bit differently if we’re going to keep having years of variable weather.”

Dr Daniels said he would like to “bust some myths” about haylage; some owners think it is more acidic so should not be fed to horses prone to ulcers. But, he explained, the saliva produced by chewing means the haylage is not acidic by the time it reaches the stomach.

“If there’s lots of water-soluble carbohydrate in the haylage that might ferment in the stomach, that we don’t know the answer to, but I think owners worry that haylage is acidic, so not suitable for horses with gastric ulcers, but actually we don’t truly know that, and if they’re chewing well, it might not be a problem.

“People are obviously concerned about a lack of forage, but maybe we do have forage options available, but we’re not truly exploring.

“Mariel did some work, years ago, feeding ponies silage. It might not be the most appropriate, but we do have forage sources we could probably explore better, that we know we can conserve, but we’re very hay focused, because that’s what’s always done.”

Nutritional value

Another issue both scientists are interested in is nutrient quality of forage; if this is better, it could mean less need for concentrated feed.

“We need people to understand a bit more about the energy they can get from forage, and we need better analysis,” Dr Daniels said, adding that this is an area his team is looking into.

Professor Moore-Colyer agreed that alfalfa could help here too; analysis has shown it is a very good source of crude protein.

“So that’s something; mix alfalfa with haylage and you have a balanced diet,” she said. “And we can grow good alfalfa in this country.”

Both scientists agreed that the key is to start thinking differently.

“We’re not saying ‘You need to change everything’,” Professor Moore-Colyer said. “We’re just suggesting a little shift here, a little shift there. It’s not saying ‘I can’t feed hay again’; you might be able to feed a bit of hay and a bit of something else, so that’s going to be our message.”

The lecture starts at 6.30pm on 25 February and tickets are available online.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking equestrian news throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Horse owners are urged to keep planning ahead and to work together as hay prices and availability creates challenges for some equestrians.

H&H reported in September on calls for owners to prepare for a potentially challenging winter, owing to low hay yields in certain parts of the country and weather conditions meaning many were feeding hay earlier (news, 4 September).

Figures from the British Hay and Straw Merchants’ Association, shared by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, show hay prices per tonne for big square bales averaged £143 during the week ending 25 January. This compares to £74 for the same week in 2025 – an increase of £69.

Owners are reporting mixed experiences, some are having no problems in availability or cost, but others have faced challenges. Equestrians have been warned that panic buying will not help – but urged to keep talking to their suppliers and planning ahead with their orders.

Sarah Dale, head of business support at the British Horse Society (BHS), told H&H the BHS is already seeing the impact of reduced hay yields being felt across the country.

“Some yards [were] producing significantly less forage than usual and being forced to buy in at prices far higher than expected. Others who rely entirely on external suppliers are also facing steep increases, and this additional pressure is affecting the financial sustainability of many equestrian businesses,” she said.

“In some cases, yards have had no option but to increase livery fees to cover these unforeseen costs, which has sadly led to some horse owners having to make difficult decisions.”

She added that the BHS is also receiving an increasing number of calls to its welfare helpline from concerned owners, seeking advice on managing hay shortages and maintaining their horses’ wellbeing.

“We would encourage everyone to plan as far ahead as possible, explore alternative forage options where appropriate, and seek advice early if they are worried,” she said.

“Anyone who is struggling or needs guidance is urged to contact BHS’s horse care and welfare helpline or their regional business support manager for confidential and practical advice”.

Philip Judge of Philip Judge International, which supplies hay and bedding nationwide and across Europe, told H&H he is having to travel further into the Continent for hay.

“We are all hoping for an early spring, but at the moment, we are having one of the wettest periods we’ve had through the winter and the tempo in terms of demand is definitely stepping up,” he said, adding that he is also seeing people whose previous stocks are depleting, as well as new customers looking for hay.

“Don’t put pressure on your suppliers by saying that all of a sudden you’re out, or saying on a Friday you want all your hay on the Monday. Real careful planning is paramount, stay loyal to and work with your existing suppliers.”

Mr Judge also encouraged people to be aware of the weight of the hay they are buying, rather than simply going on the number of bales, to ensure they have the amount they think they do.

Bransby Horses in Lincolnshire told H&H the biggest impact it has seen is the increased need for its welfare services.

“The level of thinner horses is high compared to what we would usually see,” said Emma Carter, Bransby Horses’ deputy chief executive. The charity has fixed-price contracts and makes its own hay, but low yields mean that it too has incurred additional costs of around £4,500 for hay this year.

She added the Bransby team is seeing “quite a variation” in terms of the types of horses affected, such as cobs and some Shetlands, in addition to the types of horses known for dropping weight.

Bransby does take in welfare cases, but much of the work it does is supporting owners.

“We’ve been talking to people about alternative feed types that are available, and how to conserve and minimise hay waste,” she said.

“I think this is where local community support really makes a difference as well, thinking what can we all do to help a bit. Whether that could be sharing some storage, helping with transporting [hay] or coordinating to get a group together to get a larger supply from further afield.”

Bristol-based equine rescue charity HorseWorld is estimating a £20,000 increase to its winter feed costs and has launched an appeal to help bridge the gap.

The charity stated that a combination of prolonged heavy rainfall, followed by extended dry spells in 2025, left its 180-acre site with almost no grass. As a result, it fed hay earlier than usual and by early autumn, was feeding more than 500kg of hay a day.

Its own hay production was also affected. In 2024, it harvested 87 large bales – but the same land yielded just 22 in 2025. This, combined with higher hay and haylage prices, has left it counting the cost.

“With more than 100 horses to feed every day, even small increases quickly add up,” said Sarah Hollister, HorseWorld’s head of equine welfare. “As we approach the toughest time of the year, our focus is on making sure there is enough feed in the barns to see every horse comfortably through winter.”

How are you dealing with this winter’s hay challenges? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your thoughts to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking equestrian news throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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In broad terms, how much hay to feed a horse depends on the horse you’re feeding it to. A small pony doesn’t need the same ration as a 17hh warmblood, nor does a retired cob need the weight of hay that a top-level eventer would.

While we can all agree forage rations vary horse to horse, how can you as an owner best calculate an appropriate amount of hay to feed? We spoke to an expert nutritionist to get to the bottom of it – and it might not be as complicated as you imagine.

Can you feed a horse too much hay?

As many horse owners know, feeding hay ad lib is best, as it allows the horse’s gut to be in constant motion, just as nature intended.

However, overfeeding forage can occur in good-doers or horses who hoover up their hay ration quickly, prompting you to feed more.

“The challenge with ad lib is that many horses will overeat, and become overweight as a result – even on normal quality meadow hay,” warns independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod.

“If you find yourself in a position where feeding hay ad lib is impossible, you’ll need to work out how to limit the amount.”

How much hay to feed a horse: making sense of dry matter

Clare says the textbook way to calculate how much hay to feed a horse is to provide an appropriate percentage of his bodyweight (here’s how to weigh your horse) in hay on a dry matter basis.

“Horses will eat anything from about 1.8–5% of their body weight daily,” says Clare. “A typical textbook would tell you horses need 2% of their bodyweight in forage per day, 2.5% if they’re hardworking.”

However, this method isn’t without its complications.

“First of all, you need be aware that these textbook values are based on the hay’s dry weight. That is, the weight of hay leftover if all the moisture was removed.

“That means owners need to calculate how much hay to feed to ensure their horses are receiving the correct dry weight of hay,” says Clare. “The typical dry matter value for hay is 88% – the other 12% is moisture. Therefore, you’d need to feed 1.136kg of hay in order to provide 1kg in dry matter.”

To calculate this, divide the hay weight in kilos by the moisture content as a percentage. For example, if you needed to feed 15kg of dry weight of hay per day and wanted to know how much to feed a horse to achieve this, you’d divide 15 by 0.88, giving you 17.05kg to feed in total.

The easiest way to weigh hay is in a net with a portable luggage scale (like this one on Amazon).

“To add another layer of complexity, it’s almost impossible to predict how much grass a horse eats while they’re turned out,” continues Clare. “This means huge challenges for your calculations if your horse has access to grass some or all of the time.”

Focus on time eating over weight fed

Rather than grapple with complex calculations if ad lib feeding is impossible, Clare advises focusing on how long a horse eats for, rather than precisely how much he eats.

“When your horse is off grass, try to feed forage in such a way that he never has to fast for more than four hours,” says Clare.

The challenge with an overweight horse becomes finding a way to slow them down.

“Forage amount-wise, I’d be reluctant to drop below 1.8% of bodyweight,” says Clare. “Any less, and you risk extending that fasting window beyond four hours.

“Have another look at the type of forage you’re feeding to see if you can make changes there before reducing the amount by any more.”

Clare adds that it could be helpful to “downgrade the forage” to a less energy-rich crop, such as late-cut, stalky hay that is a more mature and less nutritious plant.

“You can also long-soak your hay and feed straw alongside it as ways as ways to reduce the calories of the forage portion of the diet, as well as focusing on limiting the intake amount and rate.”

“Otherwise, you can make it harder for your horse to get through his ration quickly with small-holed haynets and slow feeders, or using a hay replacer, such as forage bricks, to substitute part of the ration with and help slow them down.”

How much hay to feed a poor-doer

In general, poor doers can eat ad lib hay, and their forage ration is a prime opportunity to load more nutrition in.

“Make sure to feed an early-cut, leafy crop, or ask your supplier about their highest energy hay product,” says Clare.

“Alongside feeding ad-lib hay, you can also add an appropriate concentrate to their bucket feed, add another daily bucket feed. In addition, you could top up their balanced bucket ration with a calorie-rich foodstuff, such as linseed, or an oil-rich supplement if further weight could be gained.”

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Know your forage: which type is right for your horse?

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

You might be considering different types of forage for horses due to the current shortage of hay. Being aware of the benefits and shortfalls of different forages and knowing about the best forage replacers will help you make an informed decision when it comes to selecting the right products for your horse.

Forage is a really important part of the diet as it contains fibre, which is needed for energy. It also plays an important role as a filler, helping to prevent gastric ulcers and aid digestion. We’ve covered all the types of forage – and explained some of the benefits and problems associated with feeding each.

Types of forage for horses

1. Hay

Hay is the most commonly fed type of forage for horses. harvested either from permanent pasture meadow grasses or specially sown seed leys. Once cut, it’s left to air-dry in the field. It tends to be harvested between the end of May and end of July.

Benefits of feeding hay

• Various types of hay available
• Long stems encourage chewing, which stimulates saliva, helping to control stomach acid
• Can buy in various sizes
• Can be soaked

Problems associated with hay

• Can be dusty
• Shortage this year has affected availability and driven up prices
• Can’t know specific nutrient quantities unless professionally analysed

2. Haylage

Haylage is conserved cut grass, baled with a higher water content than hay, and then wrapped. Haylage tends to be cut earlier in the season compared to hay (generally before mid-June).

Benefits of feeding haylage

• Tends to be higher in overall energy if it’s cut earlier
• Less dusty
• Can buy in bulk or smaller bags

Problems associated with haylage

• Due to the higher water content, more haylage needs to be fed than hay (by weight) as the nutrient and fibre levels will effectively have been ‘diluted’
• Not usually so good for good-doers
• Starts to go off once wrapping is opened
• Can’t know specific nutrient quantities unless professionally analysed (or purchased in bags with nutritional info)

3. Straw

More commonly used as a cheap bedding option, straw can also be fed to horses. Oat and barley straw are most common, though oat straw has a slightly softer texture and is less prickly for the horse to eat compared to barley straw.

Benefits of feeding straw

• Cheaper and readily available
• Can be used as a partial replacement (up to a maximum of 30% of the daily fibre intake) for good-doers or overweight horses

Problems associated with straw

• Always make sure that you are providing a clean, fresh supply of drinking water alongside and monitor droppings to reduce the risk of impaction colic

4. Chopped dried grass

Chopped dried grass is harvested earlier than hay and dried artificially.

Benefits of chopped dried grass

• Often higher in protein and energy, making it a good option for poor-doers and veterans

Problems associated with chopped dried grass

• These types of chaffs retain much of the natural sugar content of fresh grass, but without the water content to ‘dilute’ it, so it’s usually best to avoid these for horses prone to laminitis or requiring a low sugar diet
• Not suitable for use as a complete hay replacement

5. Sugar beet

Sugar beet is the fibrous byproduct of the sugar beet root left after the sugar has been extracted for human consumption.

Benefits of sugar beet

• Palatable way to add fibre
• Quick-to-soak options
• Molasses free options

Problems associated with sugar beet

• Can’t be used as a complete replacement
• Dangerous if fed unsoaked

6. Short-chopped fibres

These may contain chopped straw, grass and alfalfa, or a combination of the three. They sometimes come as complete feed including vitamins and minerals to ensure a balanced diet, in which case they may be an economical alternative to a traditional hard feed of mix or nuts. Short chopped fibres can either partially or totally replace forage ration.

7. Soakable products

Soakable high fibre products or mashes are often high-fibre and low in sugar and starch, so can be used as a partial replacement and are ideal for horses with dental problems.

8. High-fibre pellets

Pellets are a versatile and palatable way of adding fibre as a complete compound feed, partial replacer or treats in a stable toy. Some contain added vitamins and minerals so should be fed in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.

You might also be interested in:

21 full and partial hay replacers to help add more fibre to the diet

11 small-holed haynets and slow feeders to extend eating time and reduce wastage

Is it safe to feed straw? Everything you need to know, with expert advice from an equine nutritionist

8 ways to reduce your hay bill this winter

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Are you looking for a hay replacer as an alternative or additional forage option for your horse due to the hay shortage or poor grass quality? While hay and haylage is commonly fed alongside grazing to ensure your horse receives sufficient fibre throughout the year, you may need to feed different types of forage to ensure your horse’s needs are being met. They are ideal for boosting fibre intake and offering variety, especially during the winter months when access to grazing is limited.

The choice and availability of hay replacers for horses has grown significantly over the last few years with advancing technology. Not all feeds can be used as hay replacers for horses – they must be high fibre and low starch, as well as being nutritionally comparable to forage to be suitable. I’ve spoken to feed companies and they have recommended products from their range that would be suitable forage replacers.

Best hay replacers for horses

Here is a selection of the best hay replacers for horses that are currently available, including the manufacturers’ descriptions of their products.

NB: Feeding rates have been recommended based on a 500kg horse – these feeding rates per day are a guide only.

Jump to:

• Full hay replacers
• Partial hay replacers
• Forage blocks

Full hay replacers for horses

Spillers Speedy-Mash Fibre

Size: 20kg

RRP: £15.85

Soaking time in cold water: 1 minute

Feeding rate: 11.5kg (dry weight) divided into a minimum of four feeds as a full forage replacer

• Sugar: 2.5%
• Starch: 7.5%

Simple System HayCare

• Sugar: <7%
• Starch: <3%

Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs

• Sugar: 3%
• Starch: 0.5%

TopSpec FibrePlus Cubes

• Sugar: 3%
• Starch: 9%

British Horse Feeds Fibre-Beet

• Sugar: 5%
• Starch: 3%

Rowen Barbary ReadyFibre Mash

• Sugar: 2.50%
• Starch: 5%

Baileys Natural Meadow Cobs

• Sugar: 7.8%
• Starch: 2.2%

Thunderbrook Hay Flakes

• Sugar: 9.7%
• Starch: 0.8%

Partial hay replacers for horses

Allen & Page Fast Fibre

Size: 20kg

SRP: From £13.74

Soaking time in cold water: 1 minute

Feeding rate: maximum daily amount 6.5kg. Split into multiple feeds not exceeding 2kg each meal

• Sugar: 2.5%
• Starch: 5.0%

A low calorie/energy feed, ideal for good-doers or those prone to laminitis, Fast Fibre is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar. It is particularly useful for horses with dental problems and can be fed as a partial hay replacer.

It contains unmolassed sugarbeet so it must be soaked before feeding and that only takes one minute, so you can be sure that your horse’s feed is always fresh.

Pure Feed Meadow Mash

Size: 15kg

SRP: £18

Soaking time in cold water: 5 minutes

Feeding rate: Up to 1kg per 100kg bodyweight per day

• Sugar: 2.5%
• Starch: 8.5%

A quick-soak, high-fibre hay replacer that’s ready in just five minutes. Free from molasses and wholegrain cereals, it’s gentle on digestion. Perfect for older horses, fussy feeders or those needing extra hydration, this soft, easy-to-chew mash mimics the goodness of hay while supporting gut function.

Spillers Happy Hoof Molasses Free

Size: 20kg

SRP: £18.15

Feeding rate: 3kg per day divided into at least two feeds for a 500kg horse

• Sugar: 1.25%
• Starch: 1.5%

This product is the same as the original Happy Hoof, providing all the same nutrients, but without the molasses coating, which lowers the sugar content from 4% to just 1.25%. It contains garlic, biotin and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet and can be used as a total hay replacer.

Mollichaff DailyFibre

Size: 12.5kg

SRP: £10.50

Feeding rate: Up to 3kg per day

• Sugar: 5.2%
• Starch: 3.7%

A high fibre, low sugar and starch chaff ideal for those in light to medium work. Mollichaff DailyFibre provides controlled slow-release energy and supports healthy digestion, joint and nerve function, and a shiny coat. Free from molasses, alfalfa, cereal grains, and preservatives, this chaff can be used as part of a bucket feed or as a partial forage replacer.

Dengie Meadow Grass with Herbs & Oil

Size: 15kg

SRP: £18.19

Feeding rate: Up to 1kg per 100kg bodyweight

• Sugar: 12%
• Starch: 2%

A natural blend of chopped and pelleted British-grown meadow grasses (fescue, rye and timothy( with a rapeseed oil coating and a blend of tasty herbs (liquorice roots, fennel, mint, chamomile and aniseed).

Rich in highly digestible fibre, naturally sweet, soft and easy to chew the high level of oil promotes condition and coat shine. Free from molasses and preservatives.

TopSpec TopChop Lite

Size: 15kg

RRP: £14.99

Feeding rate: 1kg can replace up to 2kg of hay

• Sugar: 2%
• Starch: 1%

A natural product made from chopped British alfalfa and oat straw; with real mint, and a very light dressing of linseed oil. TopChop Lite contains no added molasses or any other sugar coating. It is of similar nutritional value to average quality hay but contains significantly less sugar.

Suitable for all horses, including those prone to laminitis, and good-doers, it can be used as a partial or complete hay replacer if needed.

Saracen Super Fibre Cubes

Size: 15kg

SRP: £15.49

Feeding rate: 2–3.5kg per day

• Sugar: 4.5%
• Starch: 10.5%

Easily digestible, high fibre cubes, which are suitable to be fed in a variety of situations. They are cereal free and provide a source of readily digestible fibre. They are ideal for supplementing the forage ration of horses when forage is in short supply or of poor quality. They are also suitable to be fed to those that are sensitive to dust and moulds to help maintain optimum respiratory health.

Can be soaked to produce a mash that can be easily chewed for horses and ponies with compromised dental health or even to tempt the fussy feeder or to help maintain optimum hydration in performance horses.

British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet

Size: 20kg

SRP: £20

Soaking time: 10 minutes

Feeding rate: 1kg dry weight to replace 1.5kg of hay

• Sugar: 5%
• Starch: trace

Speedi-Beet is unmolassed sugar beet pulp cooked to produce flakes that need a fraction of the soaking time of traditional sugar beet shreds or pellets. It is high in fibre – particularly soluble fibre, which is readily digested and yields slow release energy – as well as being low in sugar and containing no starch.

Baileys Light Chaff

Size: 18kg

SRP: Around £17.50

Feeding rate: Weight for weight for the amount of forage (hay) being replaced

• Sugar: 2.25%
• Starch: 2.5%

Baileys Light Chaff is a blend of high-temperature dried alfalfa and oat straw with a sprinkling of mint and a very light dressing of soya oil, which encourages a shiny coat. It is high fibre and low calorie, as well as having a low starch and sugar content, so is ideal for good-doers, those prone to laminitis and those on a calorie-controlled diet.

Simple System Organic Lucie Stalks

Size: 12.5kg

SRP: £18.85

Feeding rate: Feed according to requirements and condition to a maximum of 1% of ideal bodyweight per day

• Sugar: <5%
• Starch: <3%

An ideal feed for extending eating time, this lucerne chop offers superior high fibre and quality protein, yet is very low in calories. To prolong the hay ration, mix into hay nets or feeders, or dampen in larger buckets in the stable alongside their hay or haylage.

Forage blocks for horses

These are a great way to keep your horse occupied for longer and support their digestive health. They can be used to encourage natural foraging, to slow down food intake or even a smaller alternative to hay when travelling.

Useful as a hay alternative. Made from nothing but timothy grass, they are suitable for all horse types so long as they have good dentition for chewing. Each individual forage block replaces the approximate equivalent of 1kg of hay.

High fibre, low sugar 1kg fibre block, full of tasty herbs and nutritious vitamins and minerals. Can be soaked with warm water to soften to make suitable for horses with poor dentition.

These forage blocks can be fed dry or soaked in water to create a delicious mash. These yummy blocks have been compressed for easy feeding, storage and handling.

Benefits of feeding a hay replacer

• Increase fibre in the diet
• Lots of forms, so something for all horses
• You can ensure that your horse is receiving a set level of nutrients
• Quality doesn’t alter with the seasons
• Soaked options are great for horses with poor dentition
• Soaked options help maintain hydration.

Is it safe to feed a forage replacer in large amounts?

While it’s recommended to keep bucket feeds small, it is safe to feed forage replacers for horses in large amounts as you would hay or haylage in a haynet. As with any change in feeding regime, it is important to gradually introduce a forage replacer and slowly increase the amount used.

Once a hay replacer has been introduced, divide the daily ration up as much as you can to ensure your horse is trickle feeding. These meals can be split between two or three large buckets and left with the horse to graze on either in the field or stable

Can I feed an older horse a hay replacer?

Yes, some hay replacers can totally replace hay in the diet. Soaked hay replacers or mashes come in a pellet form and need to be soaked before feeding. They will be easier to chew than short chop fibres for horses with poor dentation.

When to weigh a hay replacer that needs soaking

You need to measure and weigh out all soakable feeds before you add water to soak them.

You might also be interested in:

Know your forage: which type is right for your horse?

Importance of feeding fibre for healthy horses all-year round

20 feeds suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers

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Need to slow your horse down and save hay? Here are some great options for a range of needs

The best slow feeders for horses can help with the constant struggle of providing continuous access to forage, while simultaneously slowing eating and prolonging grazing time. I know this struggle first hand as my pony is an incredibly good-doer and has had laminitis in the past, but has no ‘off switch’ when it comes to eating. I’d love to be able to provide him with ad lib hay, but he wouldn’t stop until it was gone. And if I leave him hay in the field, it lasts him no time at all and he ends up waiting for hours without anything to graze on. If you’re feeding a horse on box rest, you may have a similar struggle in your efforts to prevent gastric ulcers.

To manage the situation, I have tried almost all of the options below before finally settling on my current setup, which is a wooden crate-style hay box with a small-holed net tied in – I have the Trickle Net Original, Elico Little Piggy nets, Equilibrium Portion Pacer and KM Elite Elim-A-Net Haynet on rotation. But something different will work for every horse, their personality and your setup – so I’ve included a wide range of options in this guide to ensure there’s a solution for everyone.

Best slow feeders for horses (including small-holed haynets)

What is a slow forage feeder?

Slow feeders are available in a range of designs, from small-holed nets to hay boxes, and they all work in the same way. The smaller the area or holes are to get to the hay, the slower your horse will be able to eat, which lengthens time the hay will be available to him. You might be familiar with slow feeders for dogs and these have a similar concept.

Benefits of using a slow forage feeder

• Replicate natural grazing pattern – feeders that encourage horses to get their heads down will help keep their airways clearer and are closer to their natural feeding habits
• Extend eating time – by doing this, slow feeders help to to mitigate the risks of over-feeding, obesity, cribbing, colic and ulcers
• Help keep horses occupied – this is particularly useful if your horse is on box rest or has restricted grazing
• Minimises wastage – this saves us money and is going to be particularly important this year with the reported poor hay yield
• Reduces mess – this ties into wastage but it should help protect your fields, too
• Protects the nutrient levels of hay from decreasing due to weather conditions

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Owners and businesses have been urged to prepare for winter as low hay yields and high prices create a challenging situation.

In many parts of the country, the dry spring meant yields are some 50% down. This means less hay available, and the cost of production was increasing anyway owing to inflation and higher prices. The continued dry weather means many have already started feeding hay.

Mike Evison, of major contracting company JW Evison & Sons and past president of the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association, told H&H supplies are short but there will likely be second cuts in September.

“There is enough, and there’s a rollover from last year, but the problem might be if it starts to snow in January,” he said. “If it’s a bad winter, that might be when it starts to get expensive and scarce, but if the weather stays as it is now, it won’t be too bad.”

Mr Evison said the yield may be down but most hay cut is of “exceptional quality”.

Philip Judge of Philip Judge International, which supplies hay and bedding across the country, brought hay back from France last week, the earliest he has ever started importing.

“The general feeling is that hay will trade at £300 per tonne by the end of winter,” he told H&H. “It’s currently £250 delivered to the UK; that’s the equivalent of £5 per small bale, so these big bales are the way forward.”

Mr Judge said this year has been the “perfect storm” of growing conditions, increased prices and additional import costs and paperwork since Brexit. But the industry has seen such prices before, such as in the late 1990s.

“We’re trying to deal with it the best way we can,” he said. “We’ve got the equestrian industry at heart and I can’t do it all, so I can help other merchants by showing them how to do it.

“Preparation is key; you won’t just be able to go to your local seller. This isn’t new, it’s increasingly common because of climate change but hopefully we can help. People need to be aware and keep their eyes open; panic-buying won’t help anyone.”

Mr Judge encouraged anyone struggling to consider feeding oat straw in part as there is plenty of this being baled and it provides roughage and fibre.

Planning advice

The British Horse Society (BHS) has also issued advice, urging owners to plan for winter. This can include a management plan to maximise grazing, looking at storage to ensure no hay is spoiled and wasted, investing in hay scales to prevent overfeeding and investigating hay replacement options.

BHS director of horse care and welfare Gemma Stanford told H&H: “Unfortunately, the pressures of a dry, hot summer are leading to having to feed hay already. We understand the concerns this raises, especially as farmers have no choice but to increase hay prices.

“Our advice is to plan ahead and take action now to make sure supplies are maintained as well as maximised. Being prepared now could go a long way in the months ahead.”

Will Field, who helps his son Eddie run supplier Sarngoch Farm in Carmarthenshire, had good spring rainfall so a very good yield, although the heat dried three fields intended for 1,000 bales of haylage into hay by the day after it was mown. But owing to conditions elsewhere, he has been transporting further than ever.

“I had a guy on the phone who said he’d pay whatever it cost,” he told H&H. “He’s happy as he’s got what he needs.”

Mr Field said he is having enquiries from as far away as Hampshire and Sussex but that he will ensure he keeps enough for his regular local clients.

“Our carefully produced hay and haylage usually serves loyal and select clientele closer to home,” he said. “This demonstrates not only the demand for high-quality forage but also how shifting weather conditions have reshaped supply and demand across regions.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Know your forage: which type is right for your horse?

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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With the recent fine weather, horse owners across the UK have started to stock up on freshly baled hay — but when is this year’s hay safe to feed to your horse? Ask seasoned horse owners and the response typically varies from “straight away” to “after eight weeks”.

In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn’t often the case, as Tim Moxon of TM Agri Services Ltd explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called curing to take place.”

Tim continues: “This basically allows the sugars and fermentation process to settle to a safe level before feeding so as not to cause colic. If the hay has been baled very dry at less than 12% moisture, this shouldn’t be necessary as it shouldn’t need to go through the fermentation process.”

However, guaranteeing that the hay has been baled this dry is tricky and can be a risky strategy to take.

Annabel Wells, also of TM Agri Services Ltd, advises: “Although in theory very dry hay is safe, there is always the risk that there could be damp inside the bale so I would never recommend feeding freshly baled hay straight away.

“Some yards do feed it immediately, but in my opinion it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

If you’re still unsure about when is this year’s hay safe to feed, ask your supplier for their recommendations, while erring on the side of caution, is the wisest course of action. If you are in any doubt, waiting longer should help minimise the risks of feeding new season hay to your horse.

For advice specific to your horse, consult your vet or an equine nutritionist.

You might also be interested in:

11 small-holed haynets and slow feeders to extend eating time and reduce wastage

How to make hay: Horse & Hound’s helpful guide for horse owners

If you are struggling with the rising costs of buying in hay — and questioning its quality — it is

Know your forage: which type is right for your horse?

8 ways to reduce your hay bill this winter

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Subscribe today and enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus unlimited website access and digital versions of the magazine dating back to September 2012. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rachel Fraser speaks to Kirsten Holland, BVetMed(hons), MRCVS, of Paragon Veterinary Group and independent equine nutritionist, Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr, to find out more about whether horses need to be fed hay during the summer months.

Do horses out at grass need hay provided over the summer?

Kirsten explains: “This depends on the quality of the pasture, weather conditions through the summer and the condition of the horse in question.

“If the pasture is poor quality, the horses on the pasture don’t appear to be thriving, include a mare supporting a foal, non-native breeds, equines in hard work, or the weather conditions are particularly poor, then there may be a need for hay supplementation through the summer.

“In almost all cases, native pony breeds turned out 24/7 will not need hay supplementation during summer months.”

Clare agrees: “If a horse has free access to grass, they usually won’t need forage such as hay to be provided.”

What are the signs to look out for that indicate you should be feeding hay?

“Signs that hay supplementation may be necessary include horses on the pasture losing weight beyond an acceptable body condition score,” says Kirsten.

“In some cases, if horses are out 24/7, the pasture is poor and very bad weather is forecast, supplementing an amount of hay can help keep horses warm in these conditions.”

For horses stabled part of the time and turned out part of the time, how can owners decide how much hay to feed?

“This should be decided by how the horse is maintaining their weight. If they are overweight then only a small amount of hay should be fed, haynets can be doubled up so it takes a longer time for the horse to eat the hay and hay can also be soaked to reduce the sugar content,” explains Kirsten.

“Ideally, hay should have a sugar content of 11% or less, and if a horse is overweight it should be fed no more than 1.5% of its bodyweight in hay weight per day if the horse’s sole dietary intake is hay.

“This calculation does not take into account how much grass is being consumed. Obviously if the horse is turned out on grass at some point during the day, then most of this hay ration can be removed from the diet.

“Horses can consume their daily requirement of grass in a matter of hours. The pasture condition and horse’s body condition score should be considered and horses should be fed in a manner to maintain their body condition at an ideal score – 3 out of 5.

“The condition of the pasture will change through the summer depending on weather conditions, so hay rations should be changed alongside this. If pasture is thriving then the hay ration should be cut down.”

Clare adds: “If stabled for more than four hours, they will need some forage provided, even if they are overweight, in order to avoid stomach problems. Use the ‘four hour fast’ rule as a guide.

“Feeding hay can also help horses who suffer from digestive disturbance on too much or rich grass. These horses can be better off with restricted grass and being fed hay instead.”

If grass is grazed down short, do they need hay? Or are they getting enough by eating the fresh shoots of grass as they are coming up?

“Grass grazed short doesn’t necessarily mean that a horse needs hay supplemented. A paddock can look very short but in summer weather, the grass will still grow and be eaten off as it grows up,” says Kirsten.

“This means that the newest shoots of grass, which are the most nutritious, are constantly being eaten. In good weather, horses can obtain all of the nutrients they need from a very bare looking paddock.

“Breed and workload should also be taken into account when deciding on whether to feed hay or not.”

Continued below…

You might also be interested in:

When is this year’s hay safe to feed to your horse?

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However, just eating grass sprouts can be problematic for some horses, Clare explains: “If you are using a very well eaten down pasture to limit grass intake, feeding some hay is recommended so that the horse’s diet isn’t entirely rich grass sprouts which are low in fibre.

“Similarly, if you’re restricting grass to help a horse lose or maintain weight and their grass intake is below a healthy amount, some hay should be fed. The main sign to look out for is a very hungry horse. Soak hay to reduce its digestible energy content if they aren’t losing weight.”

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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A welfare charity has launched an urgent appeal for donations to help cover the extra £100,000 it has had to spend on hay this winter.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary said it has been forced to spend the extra to feed its 1,500 equids as extreme wet weather meant the charity was facing a hay shortage.

“After heavy rain and flooding at Christmas followed by last week’s snow and subsequent thaw, the sanctuary has had to use much more of its hay supplies than usual to ensure its residents have been kept well fed,” said a Redwings spokesman.

“Unfortunately yields from our own harvest last year were down 30% due to the very wet start to the growing season, and a national hay shortage has pushed up prices by as much as 40% from some suppliers.”

The spokesman said as the charity is fully funded by public donations, the extra spend has put pressure on the sanctuary’s “already tightened” budgets.

“With so many horses to look after we plan our supplies carefully for each winter but the recent incredibly poor weather, lower yields and increasing prices have created a perfect storm where we find ourselves appealing for extra support,” said Rachel Angell, head of the charity’s Norfolk equine operations.

Continued below… 

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“Conditions have been particularly difficult at our Norfolk sites where the clay soil has left fields waterlogged for longer, delaying the arrival of the spring grass and forcing us to use more hay to make sure our horses stay healthy.”

Rachel added that Redwings has found a supplier who can provide the right quality and quantity of hay, but said the pandemic has placed significant pressure on finances.

“We urge anyone who can, to consider a donation to ensure we can purchase any further hay we may need and continue to provide specialist care for our rescued horses, now and into the future,” said Rachel.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Haygain HG One official description

The Haygain HG One is designed to feed one horse, for everyday use on the yard or for steaming hay when travelling to shows. Due to it’s lightweight and compact design, it is well suited to smaller yards and fits easily on a lorry. It holds up to 8kg of forage – either in a haynet or loose wedges. The robust chest allows temperatures to reach more than 100ºC, which is vital for killing mould spores and bacteria.

Quick and easy to use, the Haygain HG One steams forage in approximately one hour using a 1.5kW steam generator with a water capacity of 3.5l, which is sufficient for one steaming cycle. The HG One’s lid is double-skinned for exceptional strength and thermal efficiency in all ambient temperatures. The lid has been designed to allow the condensation to collect and fall back evenly onto the hay.

First impressions

This steamer looks robust and like it would be quite heavy, but it was so lightweight – while it’s empty you can lift it up with just one hand. It was really easy to put together and work out how to use it, too.

Overview of performance

Put simply, I loved it and the horses loved it. We used it mostly for one horse who is particularly fussy, but he ate all his hay after had been in the steamer rather than just picking at it as he had before. It comes out so much cleaner and it smells like you’d want to eat it yourself. You can steam one full net at a time and we found it would take less than an hour. It’s perfect for travelling as it’s so easy to move about and transport.

Sam’s likes and dislikes

You can’t see how much water you’re putting in from the outside, but it comes with a handy measuring stick. It would be great if there was a clear window, like you find on a kettle, so that you can easily see how full it is, but I imagine this would be hard to keep clear. I would say that it’s really important that you read the manual and follow the cleaning instructions, particularly when it comes to cleaning the filament.

Verdict

*H&H APPROVED* Perfect for a single-horse owner or someone who travels a lot.

In the UK? View now at ebay.co.uk

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If you are struggling with the rising costs of buying in hay — and questioning its quality — it is worth investigating how to make hay on your own land. The philosophy here is the same as with good home-made food — if you grow your own hay, you know exactly what you’re feeding your horse.

Warwickshire farmer Richard Wakeham explains: “You may save a small amount of money by making it yourself, but it is more about the implications of knowing your own ground.”

James Tugg, a smallholder in Oxfordshire who makes around 250 bales off two acres, agrees: “Supervising haymaking on your own land means that not only do you know what’s in it, but also that it’s been dried properly.”

Richard warns that farmers who are used to making hay for livestock are likely to turn it less often.

“The more often you turn hay the more likely it is to be dust free and less mouldy,” he says. “And this is something that you can dictate with a contractor.”

Employing a farmer

To avoid the responsibility, cost and logistics of hiring haymaking equipment yourself — and the time learning how to use it — there is the option of employing a farmer. You can find contractors who are happy to make hay from as little as one acre, but how much you can get off that is not clear-cut.

Hugh Goldsworthy, from Charton Manor Farm Contracts in Kent, estimates you could get 50-100 conventional small bales from an acre — but he reiterates that it’s “variable”.

Whether this is enough for your two horses will depend on for how much of the year they are kept in and what your remaining grazing is like. You will also need to make sure that you have sufficient grazing to last you through the summer, having set the haymaking field aside at the end of the winter.

The weather is key in hay making

Whether the field has been fertilised, what type of grass there is and how much rain there has been are all factors in determining your crop.

“Weather, weather, weather” is what the British Grassland Society (BGS) considers the biggest pitfall haymaking hopefuls should watch out for.

“If you only have a couple of acres, there is a chance you could lose it all,” says Richard. “Although it’s rare, I’ve lost complete fields off the back of an inaccurate weather forecast.”

However, James points out that, when you’re dealing with a smaller area, the whole process can be done faster, meaning you’re relying on a shorter window of good weather.

Weather depending, an afternoon in mid-June is the ideal time to have the hay cut, according to the BGS.

“June is when the grass is freshest and at the peak of its goodness,” adds Mike Stevens from Pedley Hill Haylage and Farm Contractors.

How to make hay: storage

Before committing to making hay on your land, realistically assess your storage situation. The ideal conditions are somewhere dry, free of rodents and protected from farm dust, according to the British Grassland Society (BGS). Andrew Delgado, who farms near Wimborne, Dorset, adds that it should be somewhere “nice and dark, with a bit of air”.

You can lose up to 30% of your crop through bad storage, Mike Stevens from Pedley Hill Contractors estimates.

The BGS adds: “Well-preserved hay can be judged by its colour — bright green or yellow — [will be] sweet in smell and absence of dust.”

It is crucial that you agree with your contactor before the process begins who will be stacking and storing the bales.

“I know of someone who had 800 bales made and was left to do the stacking himself,” warns James Tugg.

Is haylage a better option?

Nowhere to store hay? Haylage could be your answer:

• Plastic wrapping means it doesn’t need to be stored inside
• Assuming it’s made correctly, haylage has a higher nutritional value, meaning you will have to spend less on hard feed
• It is more palatable than hay, which means there is generally less wastage
• Because it can be baled quicker due to its increased moisture content, you are “weather-proofing your investment”, according to Warwickshire farmer Richard Wakeham. Mike Stevens from Pedley Hill Contractors adds: “Whereas hay can take seven days to make, haylage can be baled within three to four.”

However, poorly-made haylage can carry significant health risks to horses, including the toxin that causes botulism, which can be fatal to horses.

Equine nutrition expert Clare McLeod said: “It is crucial that haylage is kept airtight since this is key to avoid spoilage. Unlike silage, the grass in haylage is not preserved solely due to bacterial fermentation and the resulting acidity but depends on being airtight for its preservation. If air gets into a bale of haylage, the result will be heating of the forage from the growth of moulds and bacteria, which may be pathogenic (disease-causing).”

Eight layers of plastic wrap or more are recommended to ensure that haylage bales are not punctured – letting in air and therefore causing spoilage – during handling, transportation and storage. Some producers use up to 20 layers, especially on drier forages with stiffer stems.

Botulism is the term used to describe disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria. A very small amount of the toxin is fatal to horses.There is a risk of C botulinum poisoning in fermented wrapped forages, and big-bale hay, if the quality of either is poor. In well-preserved silage or haylage botulism is highly unlikely as the pH is too low (silage) and the water activity too low (haylage).

Botulism outbreaks in horses have been reported from feeding big-bale silage and haylage, and also hay and other feeds – but in most cases where the feed or forage was identified as a source of the neurotoxin, there was spoilage, carcass or soil contamination. Typically botulism from forage occurs from contamination with soil, animal carcasses or poultry slurry, or from rotting owing to poor quality wrapped forages not being preserved thoroughly, or hay not being stored correctly.

Good practice includes:

• Careful harvesting techniques to reduce the risk of contamination of the bales with soil, including grass cutting at 10cm or higher, taking care over raking, and not harvesting when the ground is wet and muddy
• Cutting the crop across the field to allow small mammals more chance to escape, thus reducing the risk of animal carcasses in the finished forage
• Wilting the forage for 36 to 48 hours before wrapping to ensure enough dry matter (low dry matter and high pH are a risk)
• Not using poultry slurry on pasture destined for haylage production, and avoiding harvesting after the application of any slurry
• Wrapping with sufficient layers of plastic to ensure an airtight seal
• Handling, storing and transporting with care to avoid puncture, and disposal of any punctured bales
• Prompt removal and replacement of any bales showing any spoilage immediately on opening, including moulding, unusual smell or any rotten areas

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Understanding haylage production

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Contaminated hay was the cause of two horses testing positive for a banned substance at a show in Spain, an FEI tribunal has ruled.

For Fun, ridden by Finland’s Ville Peltokoski, and Famorku, ridden by Slovenia’s Gaj Riossa, tested positive for synephrine at the Carmona CSI2* in February.

Synephrine, a stimulant, occurs naturally in plants in some countries and in humans is most commonly used in weight loss as an appetite suppressant. It causes vasorestriction and increases heart rate.

While on the FEI’s banned list, it is recognised as a “specified substance” — one which can be present in natural sources and therefore permits extra flexibility when there is a positive finding.

The riders were found not to be responsible for the drug entering their horses’ systems and did not face sanctions — which for a banned substance can mean a suspension of up to two years. In keeping with FEI rules, the riders still had to forfeit all results and prize money from the event and had to cover their own legal costs.

The decision follows a spate of 10 positive tests for the same drug in South America earlier this year, which led the FEI to issue a warning to riders urging them to be “vigilant” over feed supplies.

Continued below…

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In the cases of both For Fun and Famorku, the FEI reached an agreement with the riders, acknowledging that the contaminated hay had been supplied by the organisers of the event, Sevilla Horse Tour (SHOT).

Both Mr Peltokokski and Mr Riossa were able to prove they had purchased the forage which was found to be teff hay — a type highlighted by the FEI in their May warning letter as a potential source of synephrine contamination.

Following three positive cases on the Spanish tour, the FEI said it had written to the organiser on its “own initiative” to request a sample.

SHOT responded to say there were several remaining bales from the same supplier which were sent for testing at LGC Newmarket Road Laboratory in Cambridge. Screening tests indicated the possible presence of synephrine.

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An owner who hopes to raise awareness about the amount of dust in hay has urged others to consider wearing a face mask when filling haynets.

Emily Boyce, 20, who is in her final year of equine studies at the Royal Agricultural University in Gloucestershire, was filling haynets for samples for her research project when she discovered the mask she was wearing had become very dirty.

Emily told H&H: “I wouldn’t usually wear a mask but you need to wear one for healthy and safety at university. I had 45 haynets to fill in total and the mask was so dirty after 20.

“I’ve always thought about dust when I make up haynets at work or on the yard but the mask really put it into perspective just how much there actually is.”

Emily, who works on a hunting yard every Sunday, owns a New Forest pony, Rufus, who suffers from “severe” equine asthma.

“Rufus has fuelled my interest in the subject of hay and trying to reduce the clinical symptoms of horses who suffer from respiratory disorders,” said Emily.

“The bale was just a normal bale and didn’t seem dusty, it was in a large space and the doors were open. One of the lab technicians at the university who is also a horse owner thought it was really interesting how dirty the mask was.”

Emily put a picture of the mask on Facebook and has received hundreds of comments.

“When I saw how much dust was on the mask I thought other owners should know and be aware of these things. I was surprised how many people have commented – there’s been a lot of people having problems with dust and saying they are going to buy masks – the picture has had a big impact which I wasn’t expecting,” said Emily.

“Some of the comments spoke about farmer’s lung and someone said they knew someone that developed it. I’d heard of the condition but never read about it before.”

Continued below…

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Emily said: “It just made me think if there was that much dust coming out of 20 nets, there are people who work on yards that fill more than 20 in a day. I’m going to buy a mask to wear in the future.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website states farmers lung is the most common occupational form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis – which refers to a group of lung diseases that can develop after exposure to certain substances. The condition is the outcome of an allergic response to a group of microbes which form mould on vegetable matter in storage. During handling of mouldy straw, hay or grain, particularly a confined space such as a poorly ventilated building, inhalation of spores and other antigenic material is very likely.

The HSE advises respiratory protection should be worn when handling stored crops.

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Spillers' equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to feed when hay quality is changeable

Q: “I was hoping for some advice about supplementary feeding. The hay that we get in this part of Scotland is, erm, variable as it’s not generally known to be good haymaking weather up here. It’s good enough to keep my cob ticking over, but he’s always rather lacklustre come spring. This year I wish to do more with him, but feel he needs a bit more from his food as more effort will be asked of him. Oats agree with him, but mixes don’t due to the molasses. So I suppose my question is, can I feed a few handfuls of concentrates to counteract the lower nutritional value of the hay (that they have plenty of)? If so, to work this out, do I need to get my forage analysed or can one ‘guesstimate’ it? I’m fairly new to the area and I don’t know any local horse owners that I could ask about this. I really want to do the best for him to feel and be healthier. Any help would be appreciated.”

A: Thank you for your question and you are to right to be thinking about balancing the deficiencies in your hay as even the best made, nutritious hay and haylage can’t be guaranteed to provide a fully balanced diet. If you want to check on what your hay is actually providing, you can have it analysed but it’s not entirely necessary as long as you chose an appropriate product to balance it. If your hay source isn’t consistent, analysing it might not be the most practical solution either.

As your hay isn’t the best nutritional quality it is important that it is at least hygienically clean or it may contribute to colic or respiratory issues. If you are worried about dust, it is advisable to submerge your hay for 20-30 minutes to swell any mould spores so they stick to the hay shaft and are not inhaled. Or if you are lucky enough to have access to a hay steamer, this will significantly improve the hygienic quality.

Continued below…

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When it comes to choosing a feed to complement your cob’s hay, the most important consideration, as you have suggested, is making sure your gelding has a balanced diet as this could be one of the reasons he appeared to be a little lack lustre at the end of the winter last year. Which feed you chose should depend on his current condition and how well he holds his weight. If he holds his weight well and is in ideal condition, a balancer designed to complement a forage based diet is ideal. SPILLERS Lite and Lean Balancer is perfect in these situations as it contains all the vitamins and minerals your boy needs plus very high levels of the important amino acid lysine which is often lacking in hay especially hay of poorer quality that can be very low in protein. This can be mixed in a smaller amount of low calorie chopped fibre.

If he requires some condition opt for feeding a high fibre cube or a chopped fibre feed that is low in sugar and starch, it’s always best to try this approach before opting for conditioning products especially with natives.

Continued below…

For more information on feeding your horse this winter call the SPILLERS Care-Line on 01908 226626.

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The question of how long to wait before feeding freshly-baled hay always provokes debate among horse owners. Some believe that you should leave hay to “settle” for at least six weeks. Others argue that you can use bales directly from the field with no ill effects. So who is right?

Perfect timing

According to Gemma Stanford, head of welfare at the British Horse Society (BHS), it is safer not to feed new hay immediately.

“You should ideally aim to wait a minimum of six to eight weeks before feeding newly-baled hay to your horses,” she says. “If the cut was of a particularly good quality, the nutritional content will be higher and it may need to be left longer before being fed. It is sensible to introduce anything new into a horse’s diet slowly, especially horses prone to digestive problems due to changes in feed. That includes new hay.”

Leaving hay for a minimum of six weeks before feeding is a good rule of thumb — but Charlotte Evans, technical manager at the British Grassland Society, says that the really important factor is moisture content.

“You can feed hay made under good conditions from when it is baled right through to when you notice it going off,” she explains. “This means hay that has been baled at a moisture content of about 15-20% and no higher. If the hay is still drying when baled it can cause problems with colic.”

If you’re making your own hay and are unsure of when to bale, Martin Holden of Southern Hay and Haylage suggests testing the stems.

“Bite the stems — if they are still crunchy, the hay needs to dry out some more,” he says. “If the stems feel dry to the bite, then the hay is ready to bale.”

Quality control

Identifying good-quality hay is largely a matter of common sense.

“Hay at its best smells appealing to us as well as to horses,” says Charlotte. “It should look clean and bright, greenish to light yellow and smell slightly sweet and fresh.”

If your hay has been stored in a dry, undercover environment away from direct sunlight and with enough space for the air to circulate around the bales then it should last for 12-24 months.

Martin says that the key signs of off hay include “a lot of dust when the slices are separated, a musty smell and mould, which can develop if the hay has been baled when the moisture level is too high”.

If in doubt, he advises using a moisture metre and discarding old bales that register readings of above 20%. Alison also suggests having a nutrient analysis performed on your hay, particularly if you have competition horses or breeding stock.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 September 2014)

Horse nutrition: 10 golden rules of feeding

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Nutritional consultant Sally Tobin has launched the Healthy Horse Company to help improve equine diets.

“Horse owners tend to buy hay or haylage without knowing the nutritional or mineral content,” she said.

The company uses accredited labs in the UK and abroad to give a nutritional and mineral profile of hay, haylage and grass.

Samples of 100gms of hay are tested to identify the digestible energy, protein, sugars and range of macro-minerals.

This type of analysis has been used for many years by farmers to help create diets for cattle.

It is now becoming more common in the horse world, believes Tobin, for all types of horses from youngsters to eventers.

The levels of sugars shown are “particularly important for those managing laminitic ponies or horses,” she said.

Owners are advised on any mineral deficiencies in their equine’s forage and how to balance them with additional supplements.

“There’s no point buying supplements until you know what’s in your hay,” maintains Ms Tobin.

The company can provide bespoke feeding plans depending on a horse’s age and work.

Prices for the hay and haylage nutritional analysis start at £25, the bespoke feeding plan is £65.

More information on the Healthy Horse Company

The equestrian community across the country is coming together to help people in Somerset who are struggling to feed their animals after the destruction of pasture and hay stores by flooding.

Supermarket chain Tesco has stepped in to help and has agreed to transport the donations from the Gloucestershire area down to people in Somerset.

The Gloucestershire effort is being coordinated by Francesca Pollara from the Sunhill Stud, Meysey Hampton.

“At the moment I have got 3 lorry loads of haylage and straw,” Francesca told H&H.

“We need people to donate more. The livestock that has been moved is likely to need to be fed for another 2 months.

“We all have horses and if we were in the same situation I hope someone would do the same for us.”

Eventer Bruce Haskell is also trying to raise support.

“At the moment all I am trying to do is get more and more people involved,” Bruce told H&H.

“It started at the weekend and now hopefully it is starting to snowball.”

If you are in the nearby area and can help then please email Francesa (francesca@sunhillstud.co.uk).

As well as the effort in Oxfordshire, hunts have also been helping to co-ordinate efforts. The Quorn, Fernie, Belvoir, Cottesmore and North Cotswold have all made donations.

“Anyone connected to the countryside will be able to relate to the suffering and despair that these farmers are going through,” said Joss Hanbury joint master of the Quorn.

“They are desperately in need of fodder for their animals, which in many cases have had to be moved out of flooded fields or barns to other farmers.”

Geoff Brooks, owner of the Eurobale haylage business in the Quorn country, is organising the collection and transport costs for that area. (email eurobale9@aol.com).

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An abundance of stock, coupled with steady prices, means smart riders could save money by bulk buying hay now for the winter, according to industry insiders.

After two tough winters when prices kept soaring, costs have now levelled off.

Last year, although there was a shortage of top-quality racehorse hay due to the wet summer, the normal grade hay was plentiful.

Despite horses being stabled for longer than usual over the hard winter, many suppliers have reported excess stock this year.

Mark Oakley, a hay producer from Bedfordshire, had a third of his stock left by the time spring arrived.

“The weather was mild before Christmas and we baled much more last summer than usual,” he said.

“The cold weather in March boosted sales and I’ve sold more than normal at this time of year, but I still have hay left.”

John Barber, founder of www.hay-net.com — a website for buying and selling straw, hay and haylage — says he has witnessed a similar situation.

“But at the moment, I can’t see us selling the amount we have,” he said.

Stock up for winter now

The surplus stock has affected prices — to horse owners’ benefit.

The British Hay and Straw Merchants Association (BHSMA) reports that wholesale small bale meadow hay cost an average of £83.30 per tonne in mid-May. That’s a significant drop from the same time in 2012, when prices averaged £112.30 per tonne.

“Suppliers aren’t panicking; hay will always sell,” said Michael Alexander, from Alexanders Auctioneers, Cambs.

“But buyers could take the opportunity to get forage for this coming winter now at good prices,” he advised.

April Gingell from the BHSMA agreed.

“It is always sensible to stock up if you have the room to store it,” she said. “Farmers need to clear the space for this year’s crop, so now is the time to get a bargain.

“It’s like buying a winter coat — if you get it out of season when fewer people are shopping, it’ll be cheaper.”

John Read, senior associate at Carter Jonas auctioneers, Newbury, reports that some hay producers have said they won’t bale as much hay this year because they have so much left in stock.

Philip Judge from hay supplier Philip Judge International said prices will never decrease, because the cost of producing hay and transportation is ever rising, so it is wise to

buy now.

“Select carefully, check the quality and be sure to keep it clean and dry,” he advised. “It is worthwhile to have some hay in now, rather than struggle to source it come November.”

Is old hay safe?

As long as it has been produced and stored correctly, then hay up to two years old is fine to feed — according to Louise Jones, a nutritionist at Dodson & Horrell.

“If the hay is baled when the moisture levels are low enough and it’s not exposed to rain, nutritional losses will be minimal,” she said.

But she advises having hay tested for nutrient content.

“It’s hard to tell visually — look for tightly packed bales [keeping out moisture] and more leafy hay,” she added. “Most [feed] companies will test hay for you for a nominal fee.”

April Gingell added that you should not be afraid to ask to examine the hay before buying.

“With lots of poor-quality hay and straw around, I’d advise going directly to the farmer — or buy in bulk from a reputable merchant,” she said.

H&H veterinary adviser Karen Coumbe explained why.

“Older hay is more likely to have accumulated dust and moulds, which will increase the incidence of stable coughs and other respiratory problems,” she said.

The full version of this news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (23 May 2013)

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Hay steamer company, HAYGAIN, has launched a new website.

HAYGAIN’s steamers work to improve the quality of forage whilst maintaining nutritional value and goodness.

The new website explains the process and the science behind the development, as well as supplying product specifications and the latest news.

A spokesman said: “HAYGAIN steamers are scientifically proven to kill mould spores and bacteria in hay and haylage to produce a warm palatable forage, helping maintain a healthy respiratory system.

“Soaking hay boosts bacteria growth by 1.5 times in just 10 minutes. Steaming kills 99% of bacteria in 50 minutes.”

The company, that has been up and running for three years, has three models on offer that all steam forage in less than 50 minutes.

For more information go to www.haygain.com or call 0333 200 5233.

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Horseowners are being warned that this could be the third tough year in a row for buying hay – though for different reasons than the past couple.

Prices have soared over the past two winters due to poor crops after very dry summers. This year, quantities look good and costs should remain stable, but the appalling weather has affected quality.

“The hay harvest was late with the rain this year,” said a spokesman from the Hay and Straw Merchants Association (HSMA). “There will be plenty of haylage, possibly even more than normal, and second-quality hay – but we’ll be lucky to get good amounts of top-class racehorse hay.

She added there are exceptions, but that best-quality hay is likely to “command a premium price“.

Brian Peacock from Yorkshire Haylage added: “After the most difficult wet June and July ever, trying to get first-cut [earliest harvest, usually in May/June and the most nutritionally valuable] haylage has been near impossible, and hay impossible. We’ve had bumper crops, but the quality is diminished.

“So it’s ‘buyers beware’ – there will be a lot of poor-quality first-cut product to watch out for, so it’s worth looking at a reliable supplier, or trying before you buy.”

Due to more horses having to stay in this summer, H&H readers are concerned about how much hay and haylage has been fed – and a possible price increase. But farmers are reassuring.

“Fortunately, we still have some of last year’s stock, as it was a mild winter, but we have had some panic buying,” said Mr Peacock. “So far, the price hasn’t risen, and if we can get some hay made in the next few weeks, that should keep the price intact.

“If we can get good second cuts, that should keep the price similar to last year, but onceagain we are totally reliant on the weather.”

According to the HSMA, last winter hay prices were highest in the eastern counties, at around £110 per tonne. The cheapest were found in Scotland, at £60 per tonne.

Ben Bonnett from Top Grass Haylage said he was “remaining positive“.

“Grass crop yields look good, but we have only managed to get under half of the crop baled so far.

“We have some quality made haylage, but the quality is dropping off as the grass crop gets older.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (30 August 2012)

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Horse owners are suffering punitive hay and straw prices for the second year running.

Last year hay prices rose dramatically – and have remained high. A dry spring and wet summer this year, as well as a high export trade to Europe due to a poor harvest there, have led to more problems.

And there are warnings of further price hikes as the winter goes on.

According to the Hay and Straw Merchants Association (HSMA), hay prices are highest in the eastern counties, at around £110 per tonne. The cheapest can be found in Scotland, at £60 per tonne.

Livery yard owner John Shears from Kent told H&H he’s seen a more than 100% rise in the past two years.

“It went up massively last year and has risen again,” he lamented. “I can’t pass this on to my liveries, so have had to swallow the cost.

“You can understand the yield is down so they need to raise prices, but some farmers are opportunists. It’s like ‘hay wars’ – we’re being held to ransom by the suppliers.”

Supplier Richard Wade from JR Wade and Sons, Notts, said he’s had to put prices up by around 80% over the past three years.

“We have plenty of demand, but the supply’s just not there,” he told H&H. “Unfortunately, we have had to raise prices and turn down custom. I can definitely see it getting worse over the winter.”

And farmers say the rising costs of harvesting are having an effect on hay and straw prices.

Ben Bonnett from Top Grass Haylage, Cambs, added: “Fuel costs combined with low grass yields mean prices had to increase for us to remain in business.”

At the peak in March, the national average wholesale price was £130 per tonne, but in November this had dropped to around £90, the HSMA reported. And April Gingell from HSMA told H&H that hay prices haven’t risen since last year and have even gone down in some areas – such as Scotland.

She added that prices “nearly always” increase as the winter goes on, but stresses that people shouldn’t panic. “There’s massive demand, but what we’re hearing from merchants is that the stock is available,” she said.

For the full story see H&H’s 29 December issue.

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A farmer from North Wales is winning plaudits for designing a new truck that makes moving hay around easier.

The Tidy Tryc – which is made from a steel frame – enables the user to easily transport bales around whole, instead of unwrapping them which can be messy and time consuming.

The Tidy Tryc recently came second in the Farmers Weekly farm invention awards (simple category).

The truck can be used in a similar way to a sack trolley or, if a quad kit is purchased, fixed to the back of a quad.

Telor Edwards who invented the device said: “It’s so much cheaper to buy big square bales rather than small bales, and with the help of Tidy Tryc, segments can be carried around the yard easily with no strain or mess.”

Tidy Tryc Manual (including 10% introductory discount) RRP: £305.00

Watch the Tidy Tryc in use

For more information visit www.tidytryc.co.uk or tel: 01678 504557.

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A simple net designed to save money by preventing hay wastage is being launched on the market this summer.

The Toppa-Net is the brainchild of Anabel Bray, who became frustrated with the amount of hay that her horses were wasting when eating from their feeders and the mess made of her paddocks.

After trialling the net at home last winter, Ms Bray claims it provides a more natural rate of consumption, slows greedy eaters and prevents grazing from being spoilt. Bales of hay were replaced every five-six days rather than every other day and she saved more than £1,400 during the winter.

The Toppa-Net costs £35 and is suitable for use in round feeders with either round or square bales. To find out more and to place an order, visit http://toppa-net.webs.com

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A woman killed in a freak farm accident is believed to have been hit by a bale she was unlodging to feed her horse.

Charlotte Louise Conroy-Taylor, 45, of Brookhouse, Lancashire, was found on a barn floor by her 12-year-old daughter, Zara. The mother had broken her neck.

She was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary but was pronounced dead on arrival (31 May).

The accident occurred at Beamount Grange Farm, Slyne-with-Hest, where Mrs Conroy-Taylor kept her horse. A post-mortem has been carried out, but the exact cause of her death will not be released until and inquest is held later this year.

The police and health and safety executive have ruled it to be a “tragic accident”. No further investigations will be made.

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Bristol-based charity HorseWorld is appealing to anyone who may have land that they can use to cut hay from this summer.

The charity is responsible for the care of nearly 500 equines, including those that have been rehomed, in the region and the rising cost of hay has become a real problem.

Equine husbandry manager Joanne Vaughn said: “We have record numbers of horses needing our help at the moment.

“We cannot cut costs with things like vet bills or anything that would jeopardize the quality of care we give the animals but if we can cut our own hay, it will free up funds to use for other aspects of animal care.”

With over 150 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys needing feeding this would be a considerable saving for a charity that is reliant entirely upon donations.

Jerry Watkins, welfare manager, said: “We would be looking for a minimum of about four acres within about 15 miles of Whitchurch.

“We will arrange harvesting and haulage.

“The land should have reasonable access to allow the passage of our tractors and implements.

“This would be an ideal opportunity for someone who has land that would benefit from being cut but does not want the hassle of doing it themselves.

“At the same time, they will be helping horses, ponies and donkeys in need.”

If you have land that HorseWorld could use to harvest, please call Amy on 01275 893033

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse and Hound (14 April, 2011)

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Hay levels have become so depleted that some suppliers have been forced to source hay from as far afield as Pakistan, but owners say there is no crisis yet.

Poor growing weather in the UK meant last season’s yield was low and suppliers believe the problem may escalate due to weather patterns and farming trends.

In a typical year, hay supply company Colehay, based in Devon, produces 75% of its supply from its contracted 5,500acres. This season, the fields have produced 40% of their average yield.

“We’re importing hay from Norway, Sweden, France, Pakistan, Canada and America and I’m trying Morocco next,” said Colehay’s Pat Cole. “We’ve had to spread our wings.”

Mr Cole, who sells small bales for £10-£12, expects to import from the former Soviet Union countries next season.

Philip Judge, based in Stow-on-the-Wold, sells around 300,000 small bales a year — half of which he produces himself.

Last season a third less than normal was produced.

“Demand is outstripping supply,” said Mr Judge, who charges £7.50 per small bale — double last year’s price.

“I’m paying massive prices and importing from places like the Outer Hebrides and Poland. It’s going to be an expensive year for owners.”

But while owners are being told by their farmers that stocks will be exhausted as early as next month, others accuse suppliers of scaremongering.

Some H&H readers report they can still manage to buy small bales direct from farmers,for between £3.50-£5.

An H&H forum user from Somerset said: “It’s £5 a bale but it was £3 18 years ago, it’s not a ridiculous increase, is it?”

And Hampshire livery yard manager Ann Hegarty believes the shortage can be managed with good organisation. “I’m not sure if hay really is running out, but it’s 70 per cent more expensive than last year and so we still have to put livery prices up by £20 a month,” she said.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 January, 2011)

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Fire ripped through the yard and hay barn at Pachesham Equestrian Centre last night, but no horses or people were hurt.

Seventeen stables, two mobile homes and a car were lost in the blaze, but the centre proposes to go ahead with a British Dressage competition being held there tomorrow (16 October).

According to early reports, the centre in Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, has lost its entire hay supplies.

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A Berkshire riding centre may have shown uncanny foresight in investing and testing a new hydroponics system this summer.

The system produces lush sprouting barley from seed over seven days as a hay substitute.

Keith Harris, whose wife Gill runs The Spanish Bit riding school in Dorney near Windsor, has a purpose-built hydroponic unit running at the riding school, which has been feeding 46 horses and ponies since April.

“We have replaced two daily feeds with fresh sprouting barley, and sometimes mix it with hay,” said Gill. “Our horses relish it and are look so well with glossy coats — we’ve even had to cut back their hard feeds.”

Meanwhile the Harrises home grown hay has produced about a third its normal yield this year.

The business, H2O Farm, is the first to use the FodderTech system developed in Australia by hydroponics expert Peter Doyle.

In other countries, the product is used to feed other species including cattle, sheep and even rabbits.

‘’One of key focus areas is horses as we have much experience here and have seen first hand that product really works,” said H2O Farm director Howard Campion.

The firm says the sprouting fodder improves coat and appearance, lowers feeding costs and reduces the likelihood of colic.

Once installed, the system produced 1kg of fodder for 5 pence, and in seven days produces 35kg of fodder from 5kg of seed.

Many horse owners recall another hydroponics system marketed 20 or so years ago in compact units, in which many people found mould grew.

“It is important to keep the production area clean, and to have air circulating to avoid mould,” agrees Keith Harris.

H2O sheds operate in a controlled environment with a fixed temperature, humidity and airflow, but do not require daylight.

For more details visit www.h2ofarm.co.uk or tel: 01753 576989

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Thieves may be turning their attention to hay and straw with prices predicted to soar because of poor growing conditions.

Farmers have warned of hay and straw shortages this winter after last year’s damp summer was followed with drought in this year’s growing season.

Now police and Horsewatch groups are warning horseowners their haystacks may be in danger from thieves.

Helen Evans, of Thames Valley Horsewatch said: “With the possibility of hay and straw being in short supply and therefore more expensive, in the coming months, horseowners should think about ways of securing hay, straw, bedding and forage.”

She suggested that cutting the string on small bale of hay or straw makes it virtually impossible for anyone to walk off with it and marking bales of haylage, bedding and feed with spray paint or permanent marker will make them identifiable and less attractive to thieves.

Last month 16 bales of hay were taken from a field in Selby North Yorkshire, with the thieves smashing the lock on the gate.

And bales have also been stolen from yards in West Meon, Winchester and Newbridge, Hants, and a field in Kings Langley in Herts.

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A new study conducted by the Laminitis Consortium suggests that soaking hay in summer temperature tap water makes it safer to feed to laminitis-prone horses and ponies.

The research, indicated hay soaked at 16C for 16 hours resulted in the greatest loss of water-soluble carbohydrates — which can cause laminitis.

The research was carried out by Dr Annette Longland of Equine Livestock and Nutrition Services, Dr Pat Harris of the Waltham Equine Studies Group and Clare Barfoot of Spillers.

Ms Barfoot said, “Despite this exciting study, soaking hay should always be seen as an additional safeguard. It’s crucial to have your hay analysed before feeding an animal with a high risk of laminitis.”

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Welsh farmers who keep ponies and other livestock on areas of archeological and conservational importance have been given permission to put out hay by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The government announced the temporary relaxation of the rules today (15 January) to help livestock farmers feed their animals in the freezing weather.

Farmers whose land falls within “agri-environment” schemes which normally impose restrictions on supplementary feeding will now be able to give their livestock additional feed during the cold period.

This temporary relaxation may continue for four days after the snow has cleared if the ground remains frozen but will cease once the ground thaws.

To reduce damage to environmental features the Welsh Assembly Government has offered the following guidance:

• Feeding areas should be moved regularly wherever possible
• Leftover hay should be completely removed to reduce damage to the sward after the snow has thawed
• Feeding should not take place on archaeological features
• On moorland and common land, where landowners restrict the practice of supplementary feeding, graziers should consider whether to inform them of their intention to feed during this period of adverse weather
• Farmers on SSSI-designated land must contact the Countryside Council for Wales before undertaking supplementary feeding

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Farmers are warning that hay prices could rise to £6 a bale as the country faces its third year of hay shortages due to poor weather.

Farmer Martin Slade of Bracknell, Berkshire, said the year has been terrible for haymaking since the short June heatwave broke.

“There’s a diabolical shortage of hay. We’ve still got 250 acres to cut and have already sold what we’ve cut,” said Mr Slade.

The picture is the same throughout the country. Karen Condliff, owner of Pump House Farm and Livery near Congleton in Cheshire, makes haylage for her own yard and also sells it.

She said: “We’re lucky, we got our first cut done in June. It’s like gold dust, so we’ll be holding on to all our haylage.”

And Sue Gardiner, owner of Church Lane Farm and Livery in Shurdington, near Cheltenham, said: “We sell a lot of hay to the general public. Last year it was £2.50-£3 a bale, this year it could be £6.”

Current Met Office predictions are for an intermittently wet August.

If hay is cut late prices will rise and the majority of it will be poor quality.

Late hay is not as nutritious as that cut in July.

Isabel Harker, nutritionist for Spillers, said: “Late hay is less nutritious and more fibrous. It may not be suitable for foals or young horses.”

Guy Gagen, chief arable adviser at the National Farmers’ Union, said: “We recommend owners keep in contact with their supplier to let them know they need hay. Otherwise a farmer may not make the effort to make it.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (13 August, ’09)

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Two men have been jailed for a total five years and nine months for setting up bogus hay, straw and animal feed businesses as a front to fraudulently claim back VAT.

The men were sentenced by Winchester Crown Court on Monday for evading a total of £1.2million. The case followed a detailed investigation by HM Revenue & Customs officers.

Gary Fernihough, 48, of Stoke on Trent was sentenced to three years and Ian Jones, 48, of Southampton to two years and nine months on the charge of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT.

The pair, together with Gary Fernihough’s brother who was sentenced last year, set up three wholesale businesses pretending to sell horse and animal feed, hay and straw.

They even leased two business premises to continue the masquerade of trading legitimately — but never actually bought or sold anything. Instead, they created false paperwork to fraudulently claim back VAT — over a period of eight years from February 1998 to October 2004.

Sentencing the men at Winchester Crown Court on Monday 6 October, Judge Barnett said: “You are a disgrace to the commercial world.

“This fraud took place over a period of time and required application, sophistication and determination.”

Hay, straw and feed are all zero-rated for VAT. Instead of selling goods honestly to animal and horse owners the men created false purchase invoices claiming to have bought vehicles and fuel in order to make deliveries. And then they claimed back VAT repayments on their supposed “purchases”.

HMRC criminal investigation assistant director Peter Hollier said: “Tackling VAT fraud is a priority for the HMRC, and we will not hesitate to pursue those who commit this type of offence.”

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Feed merchants are shipping in hay from as far afield as Canada and Switzerland to keep up with demand for top-quality forage this year.

Wet weather early in the haymaking season means there is not as much of the highest-quality hay for sale as is usual at this time of year.

But recent dry spells mean there is enough moderate hay available.

John Barber of feed merchant Longhay in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, said: “We’re offering Canadian and Swiss hay this season to top up the best-quality hay that was harvested in June. Usually the UK is an exporter of hay and we don’t import from overseas but this year we’re having to find hay where we can. The only problem with Canadian hay is that it’s very expensive — £250 a tonne, where the best British is £200.”

Prices for moderate British hay have rocketed to around £3 per bale this year, around 50p more a bale than last year, and the best quality can cost as much as £6 a bale. Last year, it was £3.

Guy Gagen of the National Farmers’ Union said straw volumes have also been affected by the weather and it is important for horse owners to prepare now for the winter.

“We had two severe deluges coming after drought in April and this has severely affected all crops, including grass,” he said.

“Farmers say they will try to look after their existing customers, but won’t have any put aside for other buyers.

“It’s important for people to get in touch with their suppliers to ensure they have enough straw and hay for the winter.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (13 September, ’07)

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The National Farmers Union (NFU) has described 2007 as a “disaster zone”. Haymaking is “non-existent” and few have taken a first cut of haylage.

• In the south-west, straw is a “major issue”
• One west Midlands farmer could lose £37,000 worth of hay
• In the north-east, wheat and barley quality is so poor that it is not worth harvesting
• Contamination fears about flooded grazing mean costly reseeding will be needed

Clare Lockyer, technical manager for Spillers Horse Feeds , expects a clearer idea of the scale of the problem by mid-August.

“The most pressing concern is the non-harvest of hay. Some shrewd farmers managed to take some good early hay and haylage crops during the end of May and first week of June before the rains set in, but elsewhere the fields are still full of grass,” she says.

“Grass has now grown stemmy and has seeded, which means a coarser crop of a very low nutritional value and of variable quality.”

Read H&H’s exclusive news feature on the impact of the floods, plus insights into how racing, eventing and competitors have been financially hit in tomorrow’s Horse & Hound (2 August 2007)