Nutrition

10 Tips for Choosing the Best Hay for Your Horse

High-quality hay should be the most important feed in your horse’s diet. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5% of its body weight a day, and for optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at least half of this should be roughage such as hay.  For a 1000-pound horse, that means at least 18-20 pounds of roughage each day. 

Hay generally falls into one of two categories – grasses or legumes.  Legume hay is higher in protein, energy, calcium and vitamin A than grass hays. It has a higher content of alfalfa and clover. Grass hay typically is a mixture of Timothy, Rye, Orchard… Michigan hay typically is a mixture of the two

            Once you’ve determined the best category of hay for your horse, most people select hay based on how it looks, smells and feels.  Use the following tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners to select the best hay for your horse:

1. It’s what’s inside that counts.  Ask that one or several bales are opened so you can evaluate the hay inside the bales.  Do not worry about slight discoloration on the outside, especially in stacked hay or hay that has been exposed to sunlight.
2. Choose hay that is as fine-stemmed, green and leafy as possible, and is soft to the touch.
3. Avoid hay that is overcured, excessively sun-bleached, or smells moldy, musty, dusty or fermented. 
4. Select hay that has been harvested when the plants are in early bloom for legume hay or before seed heads have formed in grasses.  Examine the leaves, stems and flowers or seed pods to
5. determine the level of maturity.
6. Avoid hay that contains noticeable amounts of weeds, dirt, trash or debris.
7. Examine hay for signs of insect infestation or disease.  Be especially careful to check for blister beetles in alfalfa, especially if the hay was imported from out of state.  Ask the grower about any potential problems in the region.
8. Reject bales that seem excessively heavy for their size of feel warm to the touch, as they could contain excess moisture that could cause mold, or worse, spontaneous combustion.
9. When possible, purchase and feed hay within a year of harvest to preserve its nutritional value. Certain nutrients decrease significantly over time.
10. Store hay in a dry, sheltered area out of the rain, snow and sun, or cover in the stack to protect it from the elements.
11. When buying in quantity, have the hay analyzed by a certified forage laboratory to determine its actual nutrient content.

Remember that horses at different ages and stages of growth, development and activity have different dietary requirements.  Consult your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist when formulating your horse’s ration.  He or she can help you put together a balanced diet that is safe, nutritious and cost-effective.

      For more information about choosing hay, ask your equine veterinarian for the “Hay Quality and Horse Nutrition” brochure, provided by the AAEP in partnership with Educational Partners Bayer Animal Health and Purina Mills, Inc.  More information about nutrition also can be found online at the AAEP’s horse health Web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.