> We fed it one year when there was a drought. The horses thrived on > it. But then they seem to thrive no matter what... > > Seems to me I did supplement with alfalfa cubes that year as well...
The 2 girls here seem to be thriving on it but I also supplement with some fortified low starch bag forage and supplement with a mineral/vitamin top dressing and BOSS. I think the biggest drawback to oat hay (as long as you get it from someone that knows how to harvest it correctly) is that it is higher in sugar. I had mine analyzed and it came back surprisely complete and not very much higher in sugar - I don't think I'd feed it to an IR horse, though. The thing I like about it is that they eat up the seed heads and the "better part" of the hay and then nibble on the rest until the next feeding time and I have very little waste. -- Laree in NC Doppa & Mura Simon, Sadie and Sam (the "S" gang) "Yet when all the books have been read and reread, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them." - William Farley
