What is hay?

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Hay is a mixture of grasses and legumes dried until only about 18% of the moisture remains. It is most nutritious if cut before the seed heads fully develop, and is usually baled in either small square bales preferred for stabled horses, or large round bales usually fed to cattle, but often used in feeding horses kept outdoors. Bags of hay cubes can also be purchased at feed supply stores. Grasses commonly cultivated for hay in North America are timothy, brome grass, and orchard grasses. The mixture of grasses will depend on what is native or hardy in any given area. In some places marsh grasses are used. Legumes commonly grown with hay grasses are alfalfa and red clover. The legumes provide more protein than grasses. Mixtures of legumes and grasses are the best for horse hay, with the grasses making up the larger part of the mixture.​

 

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What alternatives to hay are available?

What do you do when hay is in short supply?
A.

Hay cubes provide the next best fodder if baled hay is not available. Greedy eaters have been known to choke on cubes but soaking the cubes in water for 30 minutes to soften them can eliminate this danger. Be careful in hot weather that soaked cubes do not start to ferment.

Historically straw the (stems and leaves of grain plants such as oats, barely, or rye) was used as fodder, but this is no longer recommended. There is little nutritional value and straw can contain fungus dangerous to horses.

Wheat bran is a traditional supplement and rice bran is now available, but both can cause mineral imbalances if fed in large quantities.

Lawn clippings are dangerous. They can contain toxins from lawn chemicals, toxic weeds, and can ferment quickly in hot weather causing gastric distress, inflammation in the horse’s hooves, and even death.

Beet pulp is the left over pulp of sugar beets.
It's mixed with molasses and formed into pellets that can be fed dry, or soaked in water to make a mash. Supplementing a horse's diet with beet pulp will reduce the amount of hay consumed, but it is not a replacement.​

 

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Can a horse live on hay only?

Yes and no. Many people feed only hay to their horses. But hay, in the drying process looses some of its nutritional value. Most horses would benefit from even a small amount of grain concentrate that contains extra vitamins and minerals. Hay will not contain enough salt, so loose salt should be available to your horse. Many owners provide a mineral mix that horses can help themselves to at any time as well.​

 

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My hay is only a bit dusty or moldyis it okay to feed?

Never feed dusty or moldy hay. Even if you wet the hay with water, the horse can breath in enough mold spores to seriously damage its lungs. One winter of feeding moldy hay can turn an athletic riding or driving horse into a horse that few people will want. There is no cure for damaged lungs and drugs can only partially alleviate symptoms. Most horse sports will not allow a horse to compete if drugged.​

 

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How much hay should you feed?

Having hay available mimics the natural grazing instincts and is healthiest for your horse's mind and body.
A. According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture a full-grown horse should eat about 12-15 pounds of hay a day. This is a very rough average and horses will require more or less depending on their metabolism, workload, time of year, and what else they may be eating. Ponies will require considerably less, while large draft breeds can eat 30 pounds a day or more. For the healthiest digestive system and the happiest horse it is best to have hay available all the times. Most horses are self-regulating. There are some that will need their hay diet restricted to prevent obesity.​

 

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Ive heard you shouldnt feed a horse freshly cut hayis that tru

This is a long held bit of lore that is untrue. If your hay is baled at an optimum moisture level of 18 to 20% it is ready to feed to your horse. It is dangerous to feed grass that is still drying (this includes lawnmower clippings you may be tempted to throw over the fence).​

 

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How long does hay keep?

Is it okay to feed those old bales at the back of the barn? Yes, if they have been properly stored.
A. Hay should always be stored in a clean dry environment. An airy, leak-proof building is best. Properly sheltered it can be kept about two years. If you have to choose between hay that is grown during an unusually wet year, and contains molds or brownish or yellow hay, the two year old hay may be the better choice. Supplementing your horse’s or pony’s diet with a concentrate should fulfill all of its nutritional requirements.​

 

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What should I look for when buying hay?

Good hay looks and smells appealing--to you and your horse.
A.

* Hay should smell fresh, be bright green in color, and free of weeds.
* There should be no sign of dust or mold. Hay that was baled too wet will mold. A horse that breathes mold spores from hay can quickly develop permanent lung damage.
* Hay that is freshly baled will be warm and dry feeling when you stick your hand into it. Hot hay may mean there is too much moisture. Hay that is heating excessively can combust and should not be stored in a barn, or fed to horses.
* The seed heads should be closed and the leaves intact. Broken leaves indicate that hay was baled too dry, and will be less nutritious.
* Hay that is yellow or brown has been rained on or sun bleached. In either case the nutritional quality will be lower.
* Many farmers test their bales for moisture content with a special gauge.
If you are unsure about how to judge the moisture of freshly baled hay, ask to see the reading on a gauge.​