An Intro to Hay Feeding:
We all love that contented noise of horses munching away on their hay, but as those by then not so crunchy fibres makes their way through their system, will it translate into healthy equine companions? Feeding the correct forage for your individual horses is THE determining factor to see them thrive. Getting it wrong could be come an upsetting affair.
Why? Simply put the numbers of kilos horses consume in forage on a daily basis far outweigh, or at least should, any type of hard feed we offer them.
Not all hays are created equal. Nutrients, consistency and quality vary. Hays can be as beneficial, as they could cause digestive upsets.
Let’s take a quick glance at what is out there, and what to watch out for.
Understanding hay types can enhance your horse’s health dramatically.
Depending on where you live, you will find primarily grass, cereal and/or legume hays.
We will go into detail about the nutrient value of different kinds of hays in another article.
Broadly speaking hay should have the ideal protein, fibre, carbohydrate and mineral content to keep your equine friend happily ticking over, without having to heavily supplement with hard feed and vitamins & minerals.
I am saying should have, as much depends on when the grass was cut (harvested), early to late in bloom makes a huge difference, especially when it comes to sugar and digestible fibre content.
How would you know? Looks matter, but asking the provider whether the hay was a first, second or third cut, and ideally a hay analysis goes a long way to make sure we can properly balance our equine friend’s diet. More on that here.
The main types of hay in a nutshell
- Grass Hay
My favourite usually offering a balanced nutrition - Alfalfa (Lucerne)
Great to supplement with if your horse needs more quality protein in their diet - Cereal Hay
Quality and nutritional content varies wildly. Not my go to option.
I will go into detail on the types of hay in another post. Simpler digestion serves our brains as much as our horses 😉
Sniffing out Hay Quality
Never mind which available hay you choose to feed, quality is an important factor. Your equine friend may well turn his nose up at below par offerings. I have seen more than one instance where hay was just thrown around and wasted, or eaten in desperation, reflected in an unhealthy equine appearance, breathing and intestinal issues.
TIP: Feed more than one variety
There are several reasons why mixing hays is a good idea, even if they are from the same type.
- Nutrient diversity leads to a more balanced diet
- Availability is an important factor, it is easier to feed more of something when the horse is already used to it. Changing diets abruptly upsets tummies.
- Do you have a fussy eater? Our equine friends prefer variety as much as we do.
Quality check:
- Nutritious leafy, green and softish versus harder to digest yellow, brownish and stalky
- Fresh smelling with no dust tickling your nose versus unpalatable mouldy smell and dust cloud (harvest has been rained on, or storage was inadequate).
- Presence of flowers in grass hay and alfalfa no worries. In the case of cereal (oat, wheat and barley) detecting seed heads is not ideal. (late cuts lead to a less desirable nutritional value, barley and wheat get stuck in your equines gums, ouch)
In general watch out for weeds, some are poisonous!
Other Forage Options
You can use other forages to supplement your hay if need be. You may have a horse with dental issues, often the case with older equines. Or you simply can’t get hold of as much quality hay as you need.
- Hay also comes in cubes and pellets, grass and alfalfa. Soaking is preferable to prevent choke.
- Beet pulp (unmolassed), always feed soaked until it has absorbed all the water. Dry, it will blow up in your horses stomach and cause colic.
Your equine friends will thank you!
Investing time, and yes it may cost a little more, in selecting the best hay for your horses will not only reflect in their health, balancing out the cost, but create energetic and happy partners!