Wheat hay

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I've been feeding wheat hay for about 20 years now; my horses thrive on it
and love it. (The year I won Tevis, it is all Sherif was fed....no grain,
no supplements, etc) It is similar to oat hay in nutrient value, except is
higher in protein and total digestible nutrients (i.e. digestible calories
per pound). My horses really eat it up.....will leave their alfalfa for it.
I've fed both bearded and beardless....have no trouble with beardless....
some horses get the "barbs" stuck in their mouths with the bearded variety,
but seem to get used to it, and rarely have trouble twice. If a horse
begins salivating, I check the mouth, rinse with a garden hose, clean it out
with my fingers.....not a big deal. My horses barely eat oat hay....they
waste about half of it,.....but I get virtually no waste with wheat hay. ( I
have 50 horses, by the way, in my vacation/endurance business.....they ALL
like wheat hay much better than oat or other grain hays) My young and hard
working horses receive 1/2 & 1/2 alfalfa/wheat. Many older, light working
horses thrive on straight wheat hay. Folks here in Mendocino fight over the
limited quantities that are available. Obviously, I buy high quality hay
baled in the milk stage......it smells fabulous.

I know of plenty of high class dressage and warmblood barns in the
Sacramento and SF areas that also feed wheat hay.

I've had a hard time finding any this year, tho......could you give me your
hay dealer's name and number?

(I just read Susan's answer re. wheat hay!!! What a difference of
opinion!!! I got my nutritional info from our Mendocino County Farm Agent
office. Like I said, I know LOTS of horse farms that feed it, have done for
years, ......and wouldn't feed oat hay because of the waste, and because
horses don't keep better on wheat hay.)

Lari

Lari Shea http://www.horse-vacation.com
Ricochet Ridge Ranch Riding Vacations on the Mendocino Coast with
24201 North Highway One Lodging at Unique B&B Inns; International Riding.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437 Akhal Teke and Russian Orlov/cross horses
707-964-7669ph/ 707-964-9669 fax At stud: RRR Stolichnaya & RRR Russia

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