Feeding hay outside in the mud

[pricestory]

I have to soak my hay for my pony. She and my old horse are together, out 24/7 with access to the barn as a run in. I drop the wet hay over the fence for them to try to stay out of the mud as much as possible. I have to put our 3 piles since my pony is a major alpha and won't let the old man eat if she can get to him.
I'm thinking about putting stall mats right where I am dropping hay now to keep it out of the mud. Anyone tried that?

[blueribbonpanel]

I have some old ones, the longer kind, that I have near the runin sheds because it always gets muddy there. The mats help. I think you have a good idea.

[pj]

Haven't tried that but it sounds like an excellent idea.

[PNWjumper]

Sounds like a pretty good idea. Hmmm.....might have to try that out in my field!

I usually feed my boys on the mats under the shelter, but every now and again I get tired of the fact that any wasted hay gets turned into their pee spots. So for a week or so here and there I toss their hay out in the mud. I try to find as "solid" of a spot as possible and then feed an extra flake to make up for anything that gets stomped into the mud.

[pricestory]

Great. I may try to find some small ones this weekend. I ususally get the 4x8, my husband just said we could cut them.
I'll let you know.

[cllane1]

I know it's completely the wrong season to find these, but a friend of ours uses a plastic kiddie pool to feed hay in. Keeps it off the ground, easy to drag around and change spots, etc.

[pricestory]

Just looked at the Tractor Supply website, then called. They have rolls of 1/4" rubber mats in various widths, 96" long. I'm going to get one, 40x96, cut it into 3 mats and see what happens. I think that will be big enough, easier to move, 3 should keep the 2 of them from fighting. May end up the the 48" if 40" doesn't look big enough.

[pricestory]

Went to TS yesterday, bought the 48" x 96", cut into 3 pieces. Although the horses thought it was a trick and would eat them if they got close, it didn't last long. They were eating happily when I went it. Now we will see how it does long term.

[crosscreeksh]

When we lived in mud country I either hung hay nets to the fence, a post, a tree branch or a screw eye in the shed. Another cheap remedy is to buy a couple of fiberglass barrels and cut them in half or 2/3, fasten the barrel to a tree or fence post. You might want to drill a couple of holes in the barrel to let rain water out.

[Windswept Stable]

I also use a Rubbermaid water trough--the shorter kind.. for hay on muddy days.

[Dawn Darnell]

I use hay baskets-I ordered them from Southern States--

[Huntertwo]

Could you put the hay in muck buckets and secure them somehow so they don't over turn?

[deltawave]

A big pile of large rocks might work well, too. I'm thinking softball-sized or larger, laid out flat to cover the area you need. Water will drain right away, and the horses won't walk on the spot. Why does this come to mind? Well, perhaps because we have a HUGE pile of rocks like these left over from getting our driveway put in. :lol: They're quite handy for a number of things.