For many boarding stable owners, it is not possible to store different types of roughage. And while many people prefer to feed unpacked hay, that also requires a large covered storage capacity and often more labor than large packaged bales. That is not always feasible or affordable. Therefore, many Dutch horses are given pre-packed haylage in plastic.

Packaged Hay

Haylage, also known as packaged hay, is an intermediate form between hay and silage. It is lightly fermented. Lactic acid bacteria from the grass ferment the sugars in the hay, because no oxygen penetrates the packaged bale. Thanks to this fermentation, haylage is long-lasting. Haylage can vary significantly in acidity and moisture content. It can be conveniently stored outdoors and is often less dusty than dry, unpacked hay. However, very acidic or very wet haylage is not suitable for horses.

Acidity

The pH (acidity) of haylage is lower than that of hay and grass. This can disrupt the intestinal flora. Also, your horse uses more minerals such as calcium and magnesium when the hay (lightly) acidic. Therefore, provide a horse receiving haylage with sufficient minerals, for example in the form of a balancer or as a mineral supplement. To keep the intestinal flora optimal, you can regularly do a mild detoxification with nettle extract and provide your horse with extra structure, for example by supplementing with a roughage mix. For example, if you add alfalfa, your horse will receive extra fibers, calcium, and protein. It is then important to also provide extra magnesium, for example in the form of a liquid and easily absorbable supplement. Otherwise, the calcium-magnesium balance will be disrupted. But structure mixes with sainfoin and chicory can also be a good addition to haylage.

Slow Feeder Dry Hay

If your horse regularly has loose stools and stays in the stable at night, it can be a good idea to fill a hay net or other slow feeder daily with unpacked low-sugar hay, which your horse can still nibble on. Not every boarding stable owner approves of this, so discuss it first. You will likely have to store the hay somewhere dry yourself. In addition, an herbal supplement specifically for digestion can help if your horse has slightly disturbed bowel function. Herbs that can support this include hawthorn, yellow gentian, wormwood, and cat's claw.

Other Types of Roughage

Variety is important for horses, so it's a good idea to offer your horse other types of roughage in addition to the haylage he receives from the boarding stable owner. Some horses have access to pasture in the summer, which makes a big difference, of course. Otherwise, you may consider regularly hand-grazing with your horse. You can also collect roughage such as nettle, chamomile, dandelion, and willow branches as an extra treat for your horse.