Last updated on October 8, 2024
The 3 Different Kinds of Hay for Horses: Which is Best for Your Horse?
When it comes to water cooler- or should we say “sale barn” talk- in the equine world, nothing comes up more faithfully than getting enough rain, and what kinds of hay for horses are the best. And while different types of livestock require different amounts and types of forage to maintain optimum health, one thing is for sure- horses need good hay- and lots of it.
What are the best kinds of hay for horses? How much hay does a horse need? Why do horses need SO much hay? And what is the difference in all the types of hay? We will answer all of these questions and more in this article.
What Are the Best Kinds of Hay for Horses?
Hay is a fairly broad term and can be made up of different forages depending on the animal eating it. Hay for cattle generally looks very different from hay for horses. The kinds of hay that horses eat are classified into 3 different categories: legume hay, grass hay, and legume/grass mix. Each type of hay has different nutritional components. For example, legume hay like alfalfa, has a higher protein content than grass hay. Grass hays, like timothy, orchard grass, and fescue, have a lower crude protein but higher fiber content.
The nutritional components of legume/grass mixes depend on the ratio of alfalfa to grass, and the type of grass. Mixed hay is usually a good intermediate between the two types. For a great informational chart on hay nutrition, check out this article from the Equine Sciences Department at the University of Florida.
Match the Hay to the Horse
Every horse is going to have different nutritional needs. Performance horses need higher-protein, higher-energy forages than retired horses living in a pasture. Lactating mares need the most protein and the highest quality of hay, while overweight horses need the least and could do well on a later cut/lower quality hay.
What to Consider When Buying Different Kinds of Hay for Horses
When getting ready to purchase hay, consider your horses’ needs and match that to the type, quality, and nutritional value of the hay. Many horse owners focus on which cutting the hay is from, but due to weather factors that can’t necessarily determine the quality of the hay. Instead, look at the maturity of the hay when it was cut. Very mature hay will have thick woody stems, lots of flowers or seed heads, and will lack nutrition and palatability. Too young or super leafy “rabbit hay” won’t have as much fiber as mature hay and will have a higher starch content.
Check for Mold & Weeds
Regardless of the type of hay you are purchasing, it’s important to check it for mold or toxic weeds hiding in the bales. If the hay was baled while wet or left out in the elements, mold can grow deep within the bale. It’s not always visible so pay attention to smell as well as physical appearance. Mold spores in hay can produce dust that causes respiratory problems like the heaves, or Recurrent Airway Obstruction. In severe cases, mold and fungus in super wet hay can produce mycotoxins that can cause neurological issues, colic, and paralysis.
There are a variety of toxic weeds and grasses that can wiggle their way into a hay field, and consequently get cut, baled, and dried right along with the nutritious hay. (Check out this blog to see which weeds pose the most threat.) Inspect a few bales of hay before purchasing if possible to make sure that it contains clean, fresh, hay ESPECIALLY if you are unfamiliar with the area where it was grown.
Keep It Fresh
Remember that the nutritional value of hay decreases as it ages, so feeding old hay that’s been sitting in a field or in your barn will not provide optimum nutrition. Your horse will tell you everything you need to know about the quality of the hay. If they don’t clean it up and just pull it out of their feeder and stomp on it all over their stall, it’s probably not great quality hay.
How Much Hay Do Horses Need?
As stated in many of our other articles, horses need to have access to forage- either hay or pasture grass- constantly. On average, a single horse will consume anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds of hay per day, depending on the size of the horse and the quality of forage. Horse owners should feed hay as the primary energy source for equine athletes and then use grain to balance deficiencies and provide extra vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, fat, etc. Feeds and grains should not be the primary feedstuff for your horse on a daily basis.
Hay is for Horses, But so Animal Element
Many horse owners have also noticed that faithfully feeding Foundation Daily Detox and NuTrack Digestive Support can help reduce your feed bill. Thanks to their healthy gut, horses on FDD and NuTrack absorb more nutrients from their feed, reducing the amount needed.
Hay (and/or grazing) should still be offered 24/7 to prevent ulcers and promote a healthy gut, as equine stomachs produce acid non-stop. If there isn’t fibrous material in the stomach for the acid to break down, it will damage the sensitive stomach lining, causing ulcers.
For more information on how a horse’s stomach works read this blog. And for an in-depth look at how ulcers develop read this one.
Please remember, that no supplement program will fix a poor-quality feed program- which starts with high-quality hay and constant access to forage. If you are looking for a little outside help on developing a healthy, and sustainable feed program for your barn, reach out to Mark Kaylor at 509-301-1798.
All content is intended for educational purposes only. Proudly written for Animal Element by the team at FaithHanan.com
Resources:
1. Smarsh, Danielle. “Mold and Mycotoxins in Horse Hay.” PennState Extension, 27 June 2023.https://extension.psu.edu/mold-and-mycotoxins-in-horse-hay
2. Urricelqui, Valley. “5 Common Types of Hay Found in the U.S.” Ag Daily, 03 March 2021.https://www.agdaily.com/crops/list-of-types-of-hay-found-us/
3. Warren, Lori. “Selecting Hay for Your Horse.” Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2006. https://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/media/extadminifasufledu/cflag/image/docs/fl-equine-institute/2006/SelectingHay.pdf