Does anyone feed Orchard Grass?

[Ariesgrl131]

I currently am feeding my guys whatever is affordable. Which means pellets and a horrible cut of timothy/something mix that my friend gave me. Well a buddy of mine found Orchard grass for $200/ton (CHEAP!) I like they way it smells and looks but what is it really? Is it safe for preggers mare?

[WashingtonBay]

I feed Orchard grass from Eastern Washington.

The hay I buy is *excellent* hay. Nothing could be better.

But like always, the quality of hay is in the handling of it, as much as the type of it.

(oh - and I fixed your typo in the title :))

[FlitterBug]

I have fed orchard and orchard mixes. I never have any problems with it. I do know some horses that will get the squirts when fed orchard. I'm not sure why, but I have read something about it as well.

[mandisue]

We feed orchard grass all the time. I've had ten horses total over the last four years that have been on it, no problems with any of them.

[vicklynn]

When I lived in WA, I fed Orchard Grass, its good stuff man. Sorry your Timothy isnt any good, must be a bad cutting, cause Timothy from what I remember is also a good grass.

[walkinthewalk]

Fescue is what you definately want to keep your pregnant mares away from.

Where I live, orchard grass abounds and I have also seen fescue in the pastures and hayfields.

I am pretty sure orchard is safe for mares in foal, but I would call the vet to be sure.

Orchard grass and fescue seem to be compatible, so I would want to be sure there isn't any fescue in the orchard hay you want to buy. From what I have read, there is supposed to be a new fescue seed that doesn't contain the endophytes (sp?) that cause mares to abort, but I still wouldn't trust it --- JMO:)

The first winter my horses spent in Middle Tennessee, I didn't know where to look for hay and ended up buying from a farmer whose fields were predominantly orchard grass. He said horses love that hay. That was five years ago and, to this day, my Persnicketts still don't like orchard hay.

Point-being, if you find out for sure your pregnant mare can eat orchard hay, try to buy just a few bales to see if she will eat it.

I agree you must've gotten some bad timothy/mix hay because three of my four horses were raised on timothy when I lived on the OH/PA border. It is that area's main staple of hay mix:)

[vicklynn]

walkinthewalk, from what I remember, fescue dosnt grow up there. I may be wrong, but sure never heard of it until I moved SouthEast.

[WashingtonBay]

I think maybe you're right Vicklynn.... I never heard of people taking pregnant mares off pasture till I started logging on to forums and talking to people elsewhere in the country.

[vicklynn]

I think maybe you're right Vicklynn.... I never heard of people taking pregnant mares off pasture till I started logging on to forums and talking to people elsewhere in the country.

As far as I remember, we had Orchard, Timothy, which were the top 2 grass hays in that area, Alfalfa, a red clover mix, Alf mix of various grass types, and a couple different local hays. Of course, the top hay in the area also depended on who was cutting it, but that is any where, with any hay.
Here, Brome is like Orchard or Timothy in Wa. Some very nice stuff, depending on where you get it. I have found Brome growing rather sparce in quality the past yr, and have found some grass hay that beats the Brome big time. Mix it, in the cold of winter, with a flake of Alf, and the horses will be in heaven.

[mare]

I fed orchard grass when I lived where there were orchards. Seemed like fine feed. $200/ton! Yikes!

[gaited07]

Hey aries,

I would feed my mare orchard hay(compressed bales) when IFA was out of timothy. It's a nice change for her.
As for being safe for your preg. mare, I would say yes.
Where did you find your orchard hay?

[Tiz]

So far, I have never met a horse that liked orchard grass hay. If you have a patch of it in your pasture, that's where they poop. Same goes for fescue.

[WashingtonBay]

I think there might be a few different definitions of "Orchard Grass". It's the premium hay in this state.

Mine looks like this (second or third cutting - first cutting often has seed heads in it)

[vicklynn]

I know in WA state, Orchard grass is one of the top grass hays. Im sure it depends on who is growing what and where. Ive seen Orchard grass here that dosnt look at all the quality I saw in Wa.

[Tiz]

Orchard grass has a blueish tinge, has broad leaves, and smells kind of perfumey. If you chew it, it tastes kind of like soap. It's a premium price, for people who think alfalfa is poison, but still haven't seen a horse really go for it.

[Stalknndashadows]

My boys love Orchard grass, especially Final. If any is growing in the pasture it disappears quickly. We used to get a Orchard/Bermuda mix that was like candy to Final. lol

I feed rounds now and my hay guy doesn't have orchard in rounds.

[WashingtonBay]

Orchard grass has a blueish tinge, has broad leaves, and smells kind of perfumey. If you chew it, it tastes kind of like soap. It's a premium price, for people who think alfalfa is poison, but still haven't seen a horse really go for it.

Not my experience at all. What you're describing sounds like what I call Canary grass on the West side. Lately I've been seeing ads for "local" "Orchard Grass". I'm sure it isn't. I think they're just trying to call it that. In all my years looking at local hay, there was never local orchard grass until this year, when prices for good orchard grass from Eastern WA went way up.

[mandisue]

Tiz I agree with WB I think you're thinking of another"Orchard Grass" I live in Central PA and my orchard grass ( we grow our own ) looks like WB's. Around here it's common for Timothy and Orchard to be mixed also Aries. But if you find Orchard that meets WB's definetion it should be fine. My mom and I have both fed preg mares on it.

My girls think Orchard is candy. They whinny when they see the truck coming with a round bale.

[vicklynn]

Tiz and WB are both right, but in different parts of the US, Orchard grass is so different.

When I purchased it in WA, it was one of the best hays, full fields planted just for Orchard grass, very nice stuff.

I bought Orchard grass here in MO once, and it is actually was an orchard of crap grass. I never bought it again. I have purchased grass hay that had some in it, but it wasnt enough to hurt the bale of hay.

Here, Fescue can either be a field or partial fields. I use it, but I buy the good seeds, non fermenting, cost a bit more, and I dont breed, but still I prefer the Fescue that is top quality. Myst LOVES it, so did City. It has a great root system. I usually plant Fast Pasture seed which is a mix of seeds, Orchard, Rye, Timothy, Legumes, Fescue, and mix it with more Fescue seed(sloped field, I need the root system).

Some of you may remember my green field! Wish it looked like this today, after the dry summer we lost it, have to replant when we get back from vacation. Now were getting rain, :(

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a155/vicklynn/100_1286.jpg

[CaddoCinnamon]

When my mares were pregnant I fed them orchard. Even when my horses aren't pregnant I feed orchard and timothy mix. I really like that hay.

[Gliderider]

Orchard and timothy mix is the only type of hay I have ever feed my horses.Never had one turn its nose up at it yet. Even horses I bought from far piece off that ate other types of hay. People here I know feed it to prego mares with no problems. Its the main hay you can get here.