Due to the recent adverse weather conditions, our yields have been lower than usual, resulting in a temporary shortage of certain products.
Currently, we have the following available for sale:
We will make every effort to prioritise and accommodate our regular customers during this period.
There may be a limited supply of meadow haylage available later in the season; however, this will be dependent on future weather conditions.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Forage forms the foundation of every horse’s diet, and on a stud or breeding yard, its importance is even greater. Broodmares, breeding stallions and working stallions have specific nutritional demands that must be met to support fertility, performance, and overall health. Haylage is more widely used in such situations – and with good reason since it brings several benefits over dry hay and hay replacers. Read on for our practical guide for feeding haylage on stud yards.
Supports Nutritional Demands of Broodmares and Stallions
Broodmares in late pregnancy and lactation have higher energy and protein requirements to support foetal growth and milk production. Haylage typically contains more digestible energy and protein than mature hay, making it an ideal forage option (Harris et al., 2017).
Breeding stallions, whether active or at rest, benefit from the consistent nutritional profile of good quality haylage. It supplies essential fibre while offering better digestibility compared to mature, dry hay, which can help maintain condition without over-reliance on concentrates (Longland et al., 2011). This is especially useful for working stallions who require controlled energy to support fitness without excessive excitability.
High Palatability & Digestibility
For good doers prone to weight gain, careful rationing is still possible. You can do so buy selecting lower energy varieties, such as Baillie Haylage High Fibre, and controlling intake by weight. Conversely, poor doers — such as older mares or high-demand lactating mares — often consume haylage more readily due to its softness and fragrance, supporting better feed intake. Baillie Haylage Ryegrass & Timothy is beneficial to those that need a little more energy through their forage and the timothy grass offers increased palatability and fibre content.
Reduced Respiratory Risk
The higher moisture content of haylage significantly reduces airborne dust and spores, compared to dry hay. By absorbing potentially harmful spores, this helps maintain respiratory health, especially important in enclosed yards or for horses with sensitive airways, allergies or respiratory difficulties.
Storage and Handling
Haylage is baled at higher moisture (20–40%) and wrapped to ferment. Once a bale is opened, it should be used within 3–7 days, depending on weather conditions, to avoid spoilage (Moore-Colyer, 2000). Due to the nature of the packaging all three Baillie Haylage bale sizes can be stored either indoors or outdoors, though we recommend storing haylage out of direct sunlight in the hot summer months. Bales must be kept free of damage and particular care must be taken to ensure accidental damage cannot be caused by birds, dogs, cats or other animals.
Weighing and Portion Control
Haylage has a higher water content which means a slightly greater volume is needed to deliver the same dry matter intake as hay. We should aim to feed 2% of the horse's bodyweight in dry matter daily, adjusting for condition and workload. Portable weigh scales are practical tools for managing portions.
The higher nutritional density in haylage can reduce the reliance on cereal-based concentrates, which may contribute to metabolic issues and excitability in breeding stock. Its fibre content supports gut motility and fermentation, promoting digestive health — a key factor for both fertility and temperament (Argo et al., 2015).
Sourcing consistent, hygienic haylage is paramount. Forage testing for nutrient content and hygienic quality ensures suitability for pregnant mares and breeding stallions. Working with Baillie Haylage, who provide forage analysis, can help tailor feeding regimes to individual and seasonal needs.
Haylage is an excellent forage option for stud and breeding farms. Offering improved digestibility, palatability, and respiratory advantages, haylage supports the health, welfare, and performance of broodmares and stallions, as well as youngstock. If you would like more information on feeding haylage on stud yards, contact us. Our team are always happy to help.
Written by Hannah Williams, Associate Nutritionist (ANutr), MSc, BSc, PGCE, BHS ISM. Equine Nutrition Lecturer at Bishop Burton University Centre.
References
Argo, C.McG., Curtis, G.C., Grove-White, D., Dugdale, A.H.A., Harris, P.A. and Barfoot, C.F. (2015) ‘Prevalence and risk factors for hyperinsulinaemia in ponies’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 47(2), pp. 196–201.
Harris, P.A., Ellis, A.D., Fradinho, M.J., Jansson, A., Julliand, V., Luthersson, N. and Santos, A.S. (2017) ‘Review: Feeding conserved forage to horses: recent advances and recommendations’, Animal, 11(6), pp. 958–967.
Longland, A.C., Byrd, B.M. and McGowan, C.M. (2011) ‘Pasture non-structural carbohydrates and equine laminitis’, Journal of Nutrition, 141(7), pp. 1745S–1751S.
Moore-Colyer, M.J.S. (2000) ‘Fibre intake and the effect on equine digestive physiology’, Equine Veterinary Education, 12(2), pp. 62–69.
Baillie Haylage, a trusted supplier to the UK racing industry, is proud to announce a new fundraising initiative benefiting the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) throughout the month of December. They have asked their customers to kindly donate a voluntary additional 50p on every bale they purchase in December, with Baillie Haylage matching each donation pound-for-pound, ensuring a like-for-like contribution to the vital cause.
The Injured Jockeys Fund provides financial assistance and rehabilitation to jockeys who have suffered life-changing injuries while pursuing their profession. The importance of the Injured Jockeys Fund to the racing community cannot be overstated, as it offers crucial support to injured jockeys and their families during challenging times.
In addition to the donations from haylage sales, Baillie Haylage have set up a JustGiving page to allow customers outside of the racing industry, as well as the public, to make contributions.
"JP [McNamara] used to ride for me, and his fall [in 2006] was my first real involvement with how the IJF worked and I just cannot give enough praise to what this remarkable charity, the IJF, did for JP and his family and as a result the IJF is number one charity to support."
Kim Bailey - Baillie Haylage CustomerIn more recent times following Lauren Hawkins fall this year “I must say again how wonderful the Injured Jockeys Fund and their Team have been to Lauren's family. Their support has been brilliant and hugely appreciated.”
“Baillie Haylage is very pleased to support the Injured Jockeys Fund as their support to jockeys and to their families is immeasurable.
Robert Baillie - Company Director of Baillie HaylageOur intention is to raise as much money as possible for this valuable and necessary organisation by contacting our customers and others who are linked to the equestrian industry. I do hope that many individuals and businesses will come on board with us to support this very important organisation. All donations are very much appreciated.”
- Customers in the racing industry can donate an additional 50p per bale purchased, with Baillie Haylage matching the donation.
- For wider community donations, Baillie Haylage will set up a JustGiving page where individuals can contribute directly.
For more information on how to donate or participate, please visit [link to our JustGiving page].
Baillie Haylage is a leading supplier of quality haylage products, serving customers in all sectors of the equestrian industry. Known for its commitment to quality and consistency, Baillie Haylage works closely with customers to ensure that their equines receive the best nutrition possible.
The Injured Jockeys Fund provides life-changing support to jockeys who are injured in the course of their work. Founded in 1964, the charity offers financial assistance, rehabilitation, and long-term care to help those in need.
Injured Jockeys Fund (Registered charity number 1107395)
As horses age, their body changes too, and it is important to adapt their feeding regime to suit.
There’s a common belief that older horses struggle to digest nutrients and therefore need more energy or nutrient-dense food. While that might be true in some cases, it's not always so simple.
One of the biggest challenges for older horses is dental health. Many develop issues that can lead to tooth loss or make it harder for them to properly chew their food. When feed (especially fibre) isn’t adequately chewed, the digestive system has to work overtime to break down larger particles, making it harder for the horse to absorb the nutrients it needs.
To help your veteran, you may need to switch to softer fibre sources, like fibrous mashes instead of hard feed, or consider feeding haylage instead of hay. You might even opt for an entirely forage-based diet. Additionally, older horses can become fussier eaters, so offering more palatable options is key.
Haylage is a soft, palatable choice, ideal for supplementing pasture or as a main feed for stabled horses. At Ballie Haylage there are options for every horse and pony! Our Meadow Grass is particularly soft, leafy and extremely palatable. It's darker in colour since it’s cut later in the year, but it's low energy content makes it perfect for older horses or those at rest.
When adjusting your veteran horse's diet, always do so gradually, and keep a close eye on their weight and body condition.
The relationship between haylage and ulcers in horses has been up for debate for many years - the benefits however, are clear. Our nutrition expert from Bishop Burton College helps us to understand the how a high forage diet can benefit ulcers.
Ulcers are a prevalent gastrointestinal issue among horses, impacting their health and performance significantly. They affect up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of non-racing horses, forming due to stomach lining damage from excessive acidity. This erosion leads to pain, discomfort, and potential long-term health complications. Given these risks, exploring dietary interventions to alleviate ulcer symptoms and promote overall digestive health is crucial. One such solution gaining recognition is the inclusion of haylage in the equine diet.
Haylage, a fermented form of forage, offers several advantages for horses with ulcers over dry hay.
Its higher moisture levels and lower dust content reduce the risk of respiratory irritation and digestive upset, making it particularly beneficial for ulcer-prone horses.
Additionally, the fermentation process in haylage produces lactic acid, acting as a natural buffer against stomach acid. This soothing effect can provide relief for horses suffering from ulcers, while the softer texture of haylage may be more easily chewed and digested by horses with sensitive stomachs, promoting gastrointestinal health.
One key benefit of feeding haylage to horses with ulcers is its ability to stimulate saliva production. With its longer length compared to hay, haylage requires more chewing time, thereby increasing saliva production. This saliva helps neutralize stomach acid and protect the stomach lining, reducing the risk of acid splashing onto ulcerated areas and promoting healing. Furthermore, the high moisture content of haylage helps maintain hydration levels in horses, crucial for optimal digestive function. Dehydration can exacerbate ulcer symptoms and hinder the healing process, making access to moist, palatable forage like haylage essential for equine well-being.
Haylage's improved digestibility compared to hay allows for better nutrient absorption and reduces the risk of digestive issues, maintaining a healthy gut environment essential for horses with ulcers.
Additionally, its resilience to weather conditions ensures a consistent quality and nutritional value, providing a stable and reliable feed source for ulcer-prone horses. Haylage can be fed as a partial or complete forage source, offering flexibility in tailored feeding plans to support horses with ulcers and address their specific dietary requirements.
When feeding haylage to horses with ulcers, it's essential to provide small, frequent meals to mimic natural grazing patterns and ensure a consistent forage supply. Choosing high-quality haylage is crucial for optimal nutritional value and consistency, while regular monitoring of the horse's weight and overall health allows for adjustments to their feeding plan as needed.
All Baillie Haylage varieties are suitable. Discover our range here.
In conclusion, feeding haylage to horses with ulcers can provide numerous benefits for their digestive health and overall well-being. Its unique characteristics make it an ideal choice for managing and preventing ulcers in equines, helping horse owners to take proactive steps in supporting the health and performance of their equine partners.
How Much Haylage To Feed A Horse or Pony? These Baillie Haylage Feeding Guides are what we hope to be a comprehensive series of charts to guide how much haylage to feed.
Here you can find:
This is a 'guide', every horse is slightly different so if you have any further questions do not hesitate to get in touch with us and further more, seek advice from your vet.
This applies to equines that may require to loose weight or who are not in work.
This applies to equines in light work and maintenance such as gentle hacking a couple of times a week and occasional schooling sessions, in addition to pregnant mares in their first half of pregnancy.
This guide applies to equines in medium work such as daily hacking, schooling sessions and low level competitions.
This applies for equines in heavy work who have daily intense schooling sessions and regular showjumping/eventing/dressage/racing. This also applies to equines that are underweight, pregnant mares in second half of their pregnancy in addition to lactating mares and breeding stallions.
Sophie Wells OBE Dressage has recently joined the Baillie Haylage team - her list of achievements is endless, but multiple Gold medals in European and World Championships as well as Paralympics is certainly an impressive start! It goes without saying that Sophie's horsemanship is second to none so, a couple of weeks ago Baillie Haylage headed over to Sophie’s HQ and met up with her and the handsome Jorge.
Sophie very kindly gave Baillie Haylage some inside tips to help you prepare for the season ahead.
Sophie said she likes to create a weekly plan of what she would like to achieve for the week. This needs to be a plan for both you and your horses for the week.
This means breaking each day into steps... for example:
What exercise you will do in the morning and for how long?
What time and how long will the farrier be? Can you do something like clean tack or ride another in that time?
Sophie says this makes the week seem manageable.
With a busy schedule like Sophie’s, fitting training/riding can be difficult. Sophie likes to work with her horses even when time is short, and this can be something as simple as 10-minute carrot stretching session or working on groundwork techniques. This benefits both you and the horse, building on your relationship and feeling more confident and happier together.
Sophie said she likes to find the bigger competition that she would like to aim for and work backwards to what she would need to do to get to that competition. This gives her something to aim and focus for and helps with getting in the mind set to achieve those goals.
She will then plan for a smaller competition or even just getting the horses out to different venues to build up to this competition.
It's the time of year where we start thinking about bringing our horses in and stocking up on feed for the coming winter months. It can be difficult to know how much forage to feed in relation to hard feed so we asked our experts! Here is a basic guide on forage rations from Hannah Williams PGCE, MSc, BSc (Hons), BHS ISM, Equine Nutrition at Bishop Burton College.
Forage is an essential part of the horse’s diet. The horse’s digestive system has evolved to have a continuous supply of forage passing through; hence them being termed ‘trickle feeders’. This constant supply of fibre maintains gut mobility and digestive efficiency. The most significant proportion of the horse’s diet should always be forage as the hindgut (the largest part of the digestive system) is designed to digest the fibre from forage by microbial fermentation in the cecum. When deciding on a forage-to-concentrate ratio for your horse, it is important to consider this.
When deciding on a ration for horses, we should always start off with grazing (fresh forage). In most cases, if the horse has free access to good quality grass, this can meet their daily nutrient requirements. Grass is an essential source of the horse's energy, nutrients, and fibre. For example, a 500kg horse in light work needs 83MJ of energy per day. They need to eat 12kg of feed per day, with grass providing an average of 8MJ, meaning the horse consumes 96MJ, which meets and exceeds their energy requirements.
If grazing is insufficient, we can consider adding baled forage (such as haylage, especially through the winter months). If this still does not meet the horse's daily nutrient requirements, then giving the horse a concentrate feed and lastly, a balancer or supplement may be needed.
Developing a ration for our horses involves deciding on a forage to concentrate ration. Some authors write that a ratio of 30% forage to 70% concentrate can be fed to horses in very hard work. However, even though these ratios are sometimes fed in practice, this is not recommended as such small amounts of forage and large amounts of concentrates are not optimal for gut health and digestion in the horse. Concentrates should always be less than 50% of the diet, with the table below showing the ideal ratios.
When feeding forage, here are some important points to consider:
Evans, P. and McKendrick, S., 2010. Equine Nutrition: Concentrates. Utah State University Extension.
Frape, D., 1998. Equine Nutrition and Feeding. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
Jansson, A. and Lindberg, J. E. , 2012. A forage-only diet alters the metabolic response of horses in training. Animal Science, 12(6), pp. 1939-1946.
McDonald, P., 2009. Section 13: Horse Nutrtition and Feeding. In: Animal Nutrition Handbook. London: Pearson Education Limited, pp. 332-359.
Summer is here – apparently! Although the weather has not felt as warm and summery as some years, we still have more sunshine and lighter nights than the rest of the year. This causes changes to grass and consequently may see changes to feeding horses throughout summer. Here is some advice from the Equine Nutrition team at Bishop Burton College.
The first thing to consider is if the summer grass meets your horse’s nutritional requirements. Consider what you are feeding them and what work they are doing. Even if their work increases slightly in the summer, it does not always mean extra feed is needed. You may need to reduce hard feed or remove it altogether.
Hay or haylage may need to be provided in the field if the grass is of poor quality or for mares supporting a foal, horses in hard work or during poor weather conditions. Native ponies turned out all summer will not need extra forage.
If your horse's ration now only consists of forage, you may need to add a supplement to ensure their vitamin and mineral requirements are met. This is because UK soil can be deficient in certain minerals such as selenium (supports the immune system), zinc (needed for bone development, healthy hooves and coats) and copper (needed for bone and cartilage development). Ideally, a forage analysis of the grass should be carried out to determine which, if any, minerals are lacking.
Supplements can compensate for vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the horse’s forage-only diet. As supplements do not add calories to the diet, they are suitable for overweight horses and those who do not need the extra calories. They can be added to a small amount of low-calorie or straw chaff, or a salt/mineral lick can be used (Be cautious of the sugar content of some licks due to the molasses in them). Alternatively, a balancer can be used, but they do have a calorie value. They will also give added protein to the diet.
Good digestible energy, protein and improved nutritional quality of the grass can result in your horse gaining extra weight. Sometimes this is needed as horses may come out of winter needing to gain summer condition (Winter BCS 2.5/5 to Summer BCS 3.5/5). This is the horse's natural weight gain and weight loss cycle due to the changing seasons and nutritional value of vegetation; however, most horse owners mistakenly keep their horses at the same weight all year round. This means coming into the spring/summer, the horse does not need to put weight on, as they are already at their summer weight. When they gain weight because of spring grass or their ration has not been altered for summer, this can lead to obesity. Research shows that over 70% of some equine populations are obese and that obesity has become so common it is now seen as the norm. Obesity is a common risk factor for Equine Metabolic Syndrome, insulin dysregulation and laminitis. It can also lead to infertility, orthopaedic disease, hyperlipaemia, hyperthermia and poor performance.
Overweight - BCS 4/5.
A Body Condition Score of 4 or above is considered to be overweight.
Cuddeford, D., 2003. Equine Nutrition. Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd..
Frape, D., 1998. Equine Nutrition and Feeding. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
McDonald, P. , 2009. Section 13: Horse Nutrtition and Feeding. In: Animal Nutrition Handbook. London: Pearson Education Limited, pp. 332-359.
O'Beirne-Ranelagh, E., 2005. Managing grass for horses: The responsible owners guide. London: Cambridge Publishing Ltd.
Rendle, D., McGregor Argo, C., Bowen, M., Carslake, H., German, A., Harris, P., Knowles, E., Menzies-Gow, N., Morgan, R., 2018. Equine obesity: current perspectives. UK-Vet Equine, 2(5), pp. 1-19.
Owned and run by Fred and Rowena Cook, Equine Management and Training [E.M.T.] provides a complete and very thorough specialist, individual management and training service for the equestrian world.
Whether a horse is sent for training purposes or illness/injury care and the necessary consequential rehabilitation, every aspect of it's physiological, psychological and physical welfare is thoroughly assessed. This means that the most appropriate, progressive rehabilitative/training programme for the individual can be implemented. With meticulous attention to the most minute of details which many would view as inconsequential, literally anything and everything is picked up which may impact on a horse’s health and well-being and affect its ability and willingness to perform.
The E.M.T. philosophy is to train horses in such a way that they really enjoy what they are doing. A cheeky horse is a happy horse but a horse demonstrating negative behaviour/s is trying to say something is wrong.
E.M.T. ensure that a horse is not only physically ready and able to do what is asked of it but that it is actually mentally capable of coping too. Allowing time for mental development or acceptance is just as important as the physical aspects of training.
Originally backing and schooling were the base services but soon focus was directed to rehab work. E.M.T. saw more and more poorly performing horses the cause of which were often unaddressed and/or unrecognised physical issues. Rehab is an extremely vast but fascinating area of work; nothing is more rewarding than peeling back the layers and getting to the root cause of why a horse is not performing/behaving as it should.
Understanding the equine anatomy, analysing the biomechanics of a horse, its conformation and posture is not only fascinating but of course vital in accurate assessments. Individual foot placements, limb loading and muscling [e.g. atrophic, hypertonic, asymmetric, etc.] are all indicators of how correctly strong and conditioned a horse is, or is not, for its particular job. In essence training horses is not just about teaching what is required for a given discipline but attending to the myriad of elements that all factor in to produce a fit, healthy, athletic horse.
E.M.T. are involved in product research and development as well as various studies which ensures they remain at the forefront of advances across the equestrian industry and in a position to provide constructive help and advice. And being aware that not everyone is able to send their horse for a period of assessment and training, E.M.T. have a Consultancy service which is used not just by clients in the UK but also from around the world.
The vast knowledge, experience and understanding that E.M.T. have of all aspects of the thoroughbred, its management and training is unquestionable so they are very well-placed to work with horses in training or heading into training. Horses are strengthened and conditioned in a way that does not resemble the recognised pre-training methods but sees them better able to cope with the rigours that racing imparts.
Although not wanting to gain Charity status, RR is run on very similar lines to how the well-known ex-racehorse Charities operate in that no horses are ever sold nor can they be passed on without the pre-approval of RR and age and weight restrictions apply. There are also stipulations with regards to locations within the country and the actual yards horses at which horses will be kept. Whilst an intake donation does have to be paid, RR is primarily funded by the success of E.M.T; contrary to popular belief it does not receive any industry funding. RR is sometimes criticised for being too particular but is more than happy to accept this.
More information with regards to Equine Management and Training can be found at www.equinetraining.co.uk and Rehoming Racehorses at www.alifeafterracing.org.uk. Or of course either can be contacted by email [enquiries@equinetraining.co.uk or enquiries@alifeafterracing.org.uk] or by telephone 01780-740773 if you would like to know more about how we can help you but more importantly your horse. this led to other trainers and owners sending horses including Shadwell Stud who specifically liked both the training ethos as well as the unique and thorough rehoming program Fred and Rowena have adopted. Subsequently "Rehoming Racehorses – A Life After Racing", which is a non-profit organisation funded primarily funded by the success of Equine Management and Training, was born.
