The best hay mix for most horses, without any health problems, is
one-half Alfalfa and one-half Timothy
. But each horse is different, so it’s best to adjust the portions based on their needs. Horses often need more protein than they get from grass hay. So you can add grain or legumes to give them more.
What is a good hay mix for horses?
The ideal mix of hay for your horse will depend on your horse’s nutritional requirements.
Timothy-Alfalfa, Orchardgrass-Alfalfa, and Timothy-Orchardgrass-Alfalfa mixes
are very popular since they have the added energy boost of a legume.
What kind of hay is bad for horses?
Some hay types are particularly prone to high nitrate levels and should be avoided if there are options. These include:
Sorghum, Sudan, Johnsongrass and Pearl Millet
. High levels of simple carbohydrate (sugars, starch) are an issue for horses with insulin resistance and can occur in virtually any type of hay.
Is timothy or alfalfa better for horses?
Alfalfa hay
is typically higher in protein and essential nutrients than timothy hay, making Alfalfa a better option for more active animals that need a high protein diet. Alfalfa also has more calories per pound than timothy, so it’s generally the preferred choice of sport horse owners.
What is horse quality hay?
Horse hay should be
bright green, leafy and fine textured, with a fresh, pleasant aroma
. Musty hay or other indications of mold or heating, and dust, weeds and other foreign material in hay can be unhealthy for an animal. Color is an indicator of quality and nutrient content; good hay is a bright green.
What hay can horses not eat?
Oat hay
has thick tougher stalks that some horses will not eat. Oat hay tends to be higher in nitrates and also high in sugar (NSC), so this hay is not an option for insulin resistant horses. Here’s a comparison chart so you can see the differences between alfalfa hay, timothy (grass) hay and oat hay.
Can hay be too rich for horses?
Also,
legume-based hay
may be too rich in nutrients for an easy-keeping horse that’s prone to weight gain, or a horse that’s mostly retired and has lower energy needs. Additionally, red clover is high in nutrients, but sometimes affected by a mold that causes harmless — but off-putting — slobber in horses.
Should horses have hay all time?
For the healthiest digestive system and the happiest horse, it is
best to have hay available all the times
. Most horses are self-regulating, but there are many that are not. These horses will need their hay diet restricted to prevent obesity. Feeding these horses means small, more frequent portions.
Are round bales bad for horses?
Even though square and round bales are typically baled at the same moisture content, round bales are more often stored outside. … Because of this, round hay bales have gotten an unnecessarily bad rap. But when they’ve been stored correctly
and kept dry they are perfectly safe to feed horses
.
How do you make high quality hay?
- Choose an appropriate field. …
- Plant the right seed variety. …
- Scout regularly. …
- Cut alfalfa at the best time. …
- Set yourself up for drying success. …
- Lean on moisture levels. …
- Be smart about bale storage.
Why is alfalfa bad for horses?
Alfalfa hay
can cause diarrhea in
a horse that overeats it because the hay is rich and full of nutrients. Overeating alfalfa can also cause a horse to have excess gas, develop laminitis, and founder.
Can you give a horse too much alfalfa?
It
can be detrimental
, however, to horses with impaired kidneys or liver. … “In California there are many cutting, reining, and other performance horses that eat a lot of alfalfa hay (due to its wide availability) and balancer pellets, and that’s their entire diet and they do fine.”
Is alfalfa bad for draft horses?
The following are general feeding guidelines for mature draft horses. Idle Horses: can maintain body condition on good quality forage such as grass pasture, grass hay, alfalfa hay or grass, alfalfa mixed hay. … Light work: horses typically can not maintain body weight without the additional calories provided by grain.
What should good horse hay look like?
Good quality hay should be
bright green in color with little fading
. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays. … In some cases, they can replace hay in the diet entirely.
Is there a difference between horse hay and cow hay?
Horse and cow hay are mainly different in how good quality it is; cow hay may have weeds in it,
horse hay usually doesn’t
. Horse hay is usually nice and green, where cow hay might have been rained on, and though dry, might be less green. Horse hay is not moldy, where some cow hay might be moldy.
Can a horse live on hay alone?
So to answer your question, yes,
a horse can live on just hay
and be perfectly healthy.
