>Does anyone soak hay for their horses in hot+humid
conditions?
>My horses have not experienced damp/wet hay and I'm not so sure they'll eat
it
>And then of course I'm worried it will mold in our hot+humid weather
conditions
>here in the Midwest in Western Central to Southern IL
>If so, how long do you soak it, how much do you feed at one time, etc to
avoid the
>hay from going bad in these conditions?
I’m in So Cal, so hot but not humid, but soak hay twice a
day for one slightly laminitic-prone mare that needs the water soluble carbs in
her hay removed as much as possible. She gets about 8-9 lbs of dry hay
soaked per feeding for at least an hour in the evenings, overnight for the
morning feed, it starts smelling a little fermenty if it goes more than 12 hours.
I throw it all into a big pasture feeder in her pen so it drains off while she’s
sorting through it and spread it out a little so its not one big clump.
She looked at it sort of funny the first few times I gave it to her, but ate it
philosophically enough, and was fine with it within a day or so. Now the
other horse and mule think it must be better than what they’re getting
(the exact same hay, just not soaked) and will leisurely rub their butt against
the panels separating her pen from the others (it’s just to scratch, Mom,
honest) and when the panels scooch over just enough so they can reach through
and steal some of her soaked hay, I’m sure it’s all just a coincidence.
<g>
The residue water goes onto the vegetable garden and everyone’s
happy. I’m not feeding her enough that there’s anything left
within a few hours, if there were, I’d remove the leftovers before the
next feeding, but wouldn’t go to the point of raking up every little
shred.
