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Thunderbrook Hay Flakes vs Hay Cobs: which should you choose?
Thunderbrook Hay Flakes and Hay Cobs are both forage feeds made from grasses and herbs. Their main practical difference is preparation: Hay Flakes must be soaked and soften in around five minutes, while Hay Cobs offer a firmer cob that can be fed dry in specific circumstances or thoroughly soaked into a mash.
If your horse is leaving hay, dropping partly chewed forage or finding meals difficult, the first question is whether they can comfortably eat enough fibre. Choosing the right texture can help, but a change in eating behaviour also needs a dental or veterinary check.
Hay Flakes and Hay Cobs compared
| Feature | Thunderbrook Hay Flakes | Thunderbrook Hay Cobs |
|---|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Meadow grasses and herbs | Dried alpine grasses and herbage |
| Format | Loose flakes that soften quickly | Compressed cobs |
| Dry feeding | No: always soak before feeding | Only where the horse can chew thoroughly; feed separately and never dry to a horse prone to choke |
| Preparing a mash | Approximately five minutes in cold water, checking that the feed is fully softened | Allow much longer. Thunderbrook's detailed guide recommends at least three hours, preferably overnight, and checking for hard centres |
| Useful consideration | Convenient when a quickly prepared, soft forage feed is needed | A flexible forage option when the preparation method suits the horse and the yard routine |
Follow the current bag instructions. Soaking times can vary with water temperature and the amount prepared; the finished texture matters more than the clock.
When might Hay Flakes be useful?
Thunderbrook Hay Flakes 20kg can be useful for an older horse with worn teeth, a horse that finds long-stem hay difficult, or an owner who needs a soft fibre feed that is quick to prepare. They can also provide a palatable fibre base for an appropriately balanced bucket feed.
The course describes a blend of more than 60 meadow grasses and herbs, without alfalfa or added molasses. The flakes soften into a short-fibre mash. This makes them worth considering when a horse struggles with the physical texture of hay, rather than simply needing a larger conventional bucket feed.
For a horse with poor teeth, weigh what is actually eaten as well as what is offered. A full haynet does little for a horse that can no longer chew its contents effectively.
How to prepare Thunderbrook Hay Flakes
- Weigh the required amount of dry feed.
- Measure one part flakes to two parts water by volume.
- Mix and leave for approximately five minutes.
- Check that the whole portion has softened before feeding.
Hay Flakes must always be fed soaked. Introduce a new feed gradually and keep clean drinking water available alongside the soaked ration.
How should Hay Cobs be fed?
Thunderbrook Hay Cobs 20kg can be fed dry to a horse with suitable teeth that chews them thoroughly. The manufacturer's instructions say to offer dry cobs separately, rather than mixing them into a mash or sprinkling them on another feed. Do not feed them dry to a horse prone to choke.
For poor dentition, prepare a fully softened mash. Allow ample soaking time and check for firm centres. If you are choosing mainly for speed of preparation, Hay Flakes have the clearer advantage.
A 5kg Hay Cobs trial pack is also listed at Chestnut Mill for owners who want to assess acceptance before buying a larger bag.
Can these feeds replace hay?
Thunderbrook describes both products as options for partial or complete hay replacement. That means replacing the forage portion of an appropriately planned diet; it does not mean either product supplies every vitamin and mineral a horse needs.
If your horse cannot eat enough hay or grass, ask an equine nutritionist to calculate the replacement ration. The amount must reflect bodyweight, condition, intake and the rest of the diet. Weigh feed dry before adding water, divide substantial amounts into several meals, and check how the horse manages the increased volume.
What if the horse also needs to gain condition?
Difficulty eating forage and needing extra calories can occur together, but they are separate feeding considerations. A softer forage source helps with intake. A conditioning feed may be useful where the total ration also needs more energy and protein.
Thunderbrook Gentle Gain is designed for maintaining or improving condition and contains sainfoin and rice bran. It should be assessed alongside the forage ration, rather than treated as interchangeable with Hay Flakes or Hay Cobs.
Does “no added molasses” mean suitable for every horse?
No. Grass-based feeds contain naturally occurring sugars, and different products have different analyses. For a horse with insulin dysregulation, laminitis or another condition requiring dietary management, use the current label and professional ration advice rather than relying on a broad “natural” or “low sugar” description.
Compare the current Hay Flakes and Hay Cobs listings for pack details and availability. For the wider reasons to consider soft forage, read our guide to soaked hay replacers.