How Do You Feed Hay Cobs?

When feeding HayCobs dry, feed them separately, not as part of a mash or sprinkled on top of a feed. Your horse must be able to chew them thoroughly. If your horse is prone to choke, do not feed dry. Instead, soak thoroughly to make a mash before feeding.

Can you soak hay cobs?

We recommend that you soak for at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight to make sure there are no hard centres left in the mash. We also recommend that when feeding our Haycobs dry, they must be fed separately, not as part of a mash (or sprinkled on top) as your horse must be able to chew them thoroughly.

What are hay cobs?

Thunderbrook Equestrian Haycobs is a completely dust free high fibre forage based feed. Can be fed as a full or partial hay replacer. HayCobs can also be hand fed as treats or in a treat ball. No pre-soaking required. The use of innovative processing technology results in highly compressed dust free cobs.

What is the best food for cobs?

HoneyChop Calm and Shine is a blend of high fibre oat straw, dried grass, marigold, nettle, mint, camomile and oil which can help towards a shiny coat and added condition. It is a low sugar dressed short chopped oat straw with added dried grass.

How long can soaked hay be left before feeding?

If you can use lots of warm water then it is suggested around two hours will help to reduce sugar levels without losing too much dry matter from the hay. Soaking hay for longer starts to increase losses so the horse then has to consume more to ensure they receive sufficient fibre intake.

How long do cobs live for?

Gypsy Vanner (also called the Gypsy Horse, Irish Cob, or Traditional Gypsy Cob): 25-30+ years. Hackney: 25-30 years. Haflinger: 30-35 years.

What age are cobs fully grown?

By around 12 months old, the horse will have reached roughly 90 percent of their height. After this rapid growth period, the growth rate slows down substantially, typically taking another 4 to 6 years for them to finally reach their maximum height and weight.

Are cobs good for beginners?

Cobs are often considered as the most suitable horses for beginners, but not all of them are fit for first-time horse owners. The Welsh Section D, for example, can be quite fiery and a sharp ride, and would not be classified as an ideal choice of mount for a less than capable or confident rider.

What should I feed my cob in winter?

Alfalfa chaff is a good source of digestible fibre and quality protein so can be fed to replace some of the forage ration. Soaked sugar beet pulp is also a good source of digestible fibre and can be fed mixed with alfalfa or oat straw chaff in a separate bowl to give your horse a choice of forages in the stable.

Should cobs be hogged?

Hogging is required to show cobs in certain classes and can also make a particularly rugged cob look much neater.

Do cobs need rugs?

Many horses, especially breeds such as the native pony and cob types, can adapt well to winter weather and easily cope without a rug when they have adequate forage and access to shelter.

Can you feed hay straight away?

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

Does hay lose nutrients if rained-on?

What happens to quality for rained-on hay? The majority of the damage from untimely rains is the loss of soluble nutrients from the hay (the sugars). Even before rain damage, we lose some sugar during plant respiration that occurs from the time forage is cut until it reaches about 50% moisture content.

Is hay ruined if it gets wet?

If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth – putting a producer at risk of barn fire.

Do cobs need clipping?

Heavier breeds can suffer from mites and ticks which bury themselves into thick hair and cause irritation and soreness. Clipping off the hair on a very regular basis, will ensure that the skin is kept free from bugs and irritation, but does mean clipping almost weekly!

Are cobs intelligent?

Welsh Cob Temperament and Behaviour
Welsh ponies are known to be an even-tempered breed. They are intelligent, friendly, trustworthy and spirited, making them popular for a range of uses such as riding (for both adults and children), work, and competition.

How long should a cobs tail be?

For cobs, hunters, hacks and riding horses I like a tail to finish about 4 inches below the point of the hocks when the horse is on the move. This means you need to see your horse being trotted in hand to see his natural tail-carriage.

How many cobs do you get from one plant?

two cobs
Each plant will produce one or two cobs, so work out how many cobs you’re likely to need (you can freeze them) and provide enough space to achieve this.

Will a 4 year old cob grow anymore?

Between four years old and five years old, a horse will stop growing any taller. As a horse reaches six years old, he is likely fully grown, the only way to confirm this is with an x-ray.

Should cobs jump?

Cobs are renowned for their versatility. Commonly assumed to be sedate and sensible, a fit cob can equally be forward going, fast, fiery and fun. They will take most disciplines in their stride and are often capable jumpers.

How do you take care of a cob horse?

To keep your Irish Cob healthy, a well-balanced diet is essential. A full-grown horse should eat roughly 12 to 15 pounds of fresh hay per day. They should be permitted to graze if possible to get nutrients from the pasture, as they get up to 2% of their body weight in roughage a day.