Equilage haylage is 100% natural forage for horses and ponies. Made from selected grass mixtures, Equilage provides a dust free forage which is healthier for your horse or pony and more convenient for you.
The selected grass pastures are grown and carefully managed in the Vale of York. All production is closely supervised so that we can trace every single bale from the field to the bag.
Every bale of Equilage carries a quality guarantee.
Equilage is the forage chosen by leisure riders and competitive riders alike.
Original Ryegrass
Timothy & Ryegrass
Hi-fibre Ryegrass
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Original Ryegrass
Equilage® Original Ryegrass is made from selected ryegrasses cut at the beginning of the summer at an early stage of growth to provide optimum protein and energy levels. It is suitable for competition horses and ponies, hunters, heavy horses, young stock and breeding stock. It can also be fed to enable horses to gain weight and improve condition.
Typical Analysis
72% Dry Matter, 9.1% Crude Protein
9.6MJ/KG - Metabolisable Energy, 59D Value
Timothy & Ryegrass
Equilage® Timothy and Ryegrass is made from a mixture of ryegrasses and Timothy Grass. Timothy Grass is higher in fibre and lower in protein than many other grasses making it suitable for leisure horses and ponies, native ponies, veterans and those that are resting. Timothy Grass has a similar nutrient analysis to Hi-Fibre Equilage®, but is highly palatable, making it ideal for fussy feeders or simply to add variety to the diets of those already being fed Equilage®.
Typical analysis
72% Dry Matter, 8.0% Crude Protein
8.5MJ/KG - Metabolisable Energy, 55D Value
Hi-Fibre Ryegrass
Equilage® Hi-Fibre Ryegrass is made from a selection of ryegrasses cut later on in the summer at a later stage of growth to attain higher fibre, lower protein and lower energy levels. It is suitable for riding and pony club horses, native ponies, veterans and those that are resting. It also provides an excellent fibre source for competition horses being fed high levels of concentrates.
Typical analysis
72% Dry Matter, 7.8% Crude Protein
8.2MJ/KG - Metabolisable Energy, 55D Value
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Why Choose Equilage
Mould spores in hay can cause severe long-term respiratory health problems. Because there is very little moisture in hay (about 10%), the spores become airborne and can be inhaled, which can be a cause of an allergic respiratory disease 'Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease' (COPD) - more commonly known as broken wind, dust cough or dust allergy.
Equilage is ideal for horses and ponies with dust allergies. Because of the way it is made, it contains very few mould spores. Equilage is ideal for horses and ponies with dust allergies. Because of the way it is made, it contains very few mould spores. Equilage is natural grass, cut and spread out like hay, but instead of being allowed to dry out completely, it is baled when the grass is just wilted.
The wilted grass is then pressure packed into small, manageable sized bales (on average 20-25kg) and heat sealed into strong plastic bags. This excludes air from the bale and protects the haylage.
Natural fermentations occurs within the sealed bag, reducing the pH and giving Equilage its distinctive sweet smell.
Equilage retains up to 85% of the feed value of fresh pasture. (Unlike hay which loses many of the nutrients in the hay making process).
Equilage has a higher digestibility energy value and digestible crude protein (DCP) than traditional 'English Hay'.
Equilage is treated with Biotal additive, which is approved by the Soil Association and accepted by the Jockey Club, to restrict mould growth and reduce yeast.
Why Feed Forage
Horses are natural forage eaters and need to eat large amounts of long-stemmed fibre in their diet to keep their large intestine working properly and satisfy their need to chew.
A horse who spends a lot of time in a stable is prone to boredom, so an ad lib supply of forage will help to combat the problems boredom can cause.
Traditionally, for the stabled horse or pony, the bulk of this fibre has been supplied via hay.
Finding a supply of hay of consistent quality has always been a problem and horses can be fussy feeders who will reject poor quality, mouldy hay.
Poor Quality hay is low in nutrients, so can be uneconomical to feed.
Benefits of Equilage over hay
- Dust free
- no need to soak
- healthier for the horse
- no heavy, wet haynets to lift
- Packed in denser bales
- less storage required
- Packed in plastic bags
- Can be stored outside
- More palatable than hay
- less wastage
- horses prefer it
- Higher in nutritional value
- need less hard feed so more economical
- Closer to grass in texture
- more natural for horses
- Made only from selected grasses which are specially chosen for making haylage for horses
- higher feed value than species of grass found in traditional hay
Feeding Guide
Ad lib forage is an excellent feeding regime for most horses and ponies who spend a long time in the stable. For animals at risk from laminitis, it is best to check with your Vet for the most appropriate feeding regime. Equilage is high in digestible fibre, so can lessen the likelihood of starch overload. For horses where weight gain is required, can also benefit from high digestible fibre to provide extra energy. Ensure that the forage intake is at least 50%, by weight of the total daily feed intake. For horses and ponies at rest or in light work, the forage intake could be as high as 80-100%. For horses in hard work, use forage which provides the most digestible source of energy, such as Equilage, sugar beet and alfalfa. Ensure that vitamin and mineral requirements are met and always change a horse's diet gradually.
If you are changing from hay to Equilage, do so over a period of at least seven days, to allow the flora in the hind gut to adjust. Ensure clean, fresh drinking water is always available. A horse's daily intake of feed, as a percentage of its bodyweight can vary from 1.5% to 3% depending on the type of horse, his condition and workload.
| Type of horse |
Total daily intake as % of body |
Equilage as % of daily feed |
Concentrated feed |
| Horse in hard work |
2.5 - 3% |
65% |
35% |
| Horse or pony in light/medium work |
2 - 2.5% |
70% |
30% |
| Mature horse at rest / maintenance |
1.5 - 2% |
80 - 100% |
20 - 0% |
