What kind of hay to feed horses

Horses like clover and will select the highly palatable clovers from the pastures and hay. The digestible energy content of lush clover is also very high. White Dutch or common white clover is a low growing plant less than 5 inches which grows well in pastures but is too short to harvest for hay.

In a fresh state it is very high in carbohydrate content and low in fibre content. Ladino clover is a tall white clover but is easily killed by Ontario winters. Red clover is a biennial which means it will live for about two years and then will die off unless it is allowed to re-seed itself. As a hay crop, clover is hard to dry and becomes moldy.

These molds can contain estrogenic properties which can interfere with the reproductive cycles of mares. Clovers are particularly useful because they can be used to improve pastures and hay fields by frost seeding. The clovers, however, can also produce slaframine which is known as the "slobber factor.

This is commonly seen in some parts of North America. Red clover has also been associated with red urine in some horses. Porphyrins are excreted into the urine and will oxidize and turn red. This is usually seen during the winter when horses urinate on the snow.

Alsike clover must be differentiated from the other clovers because it can cause photosensitivity and hepatic failure in horses. Horse pastures and hay fields should not contain alsike clover.

Trefoil is a perennial which can spread throughout pastures and hay fields, increasing each year. It is promoted as a permanent pasture because of this tendency to increase. It also does well on poorly drained soils. However, it contains a bitter tannin which many horses dislike and refuse to eat. Some horses, which have been accustomed to it, graze it readily. Grass hay commonly consists of one or more of the following grasses: timothy, bromegrass, orchard grass, reed canary, perennial rye, Canada or Kentucky bluegrass and fescue.

Most of the grasses grown in Ontario produce a seed head early in the season, before the time that the weather is reliable enough to cure hay. For the grasses to be harvested at their highest nutrient content, e.

This is often when the weather can't be relied upon to make good hay. Common Hindgut Problems in Horses. Proper nutrition is vital for overall health, and critical nutrients play an essential role in your […] Read More. She runs a […] Read More. The Gut-Hoof Connection. Blog Categories:. We just need a little more information. Please fill out the rest of the form below.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Some horses may require higher protein and more energy, while others may need hay that is lower in protein and is not as rich. For example, a retired senior horse that is turned out in pasture is not going to have the same nutritional requirements as a high-level performance horse during show season. So here is a consolidated overview of some of the differences between hays to help you decide which is the best hay to feed your horse.

Nervous Horse? There are quite a few different types of hay that people feed to horses, but hay generally falls into one of two categories — legumes and grasses. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U. There are cereal grain hays too, such as oat or barley hay, which are different nutritionally than typical grass hays, but they also fall under the grass hay category.

Of course, when trying to select the best hay to feed your horse, geography will play a big part in your selection. For example, alfalfa, timothy and orchard grass hays are popular in Kentucky, while coastal Bermuda grass hay is popular in Southern U. The nutritional profiles of different types of hay can vary considerably, especially when measuring fiber, protein content, digestible energy and mineral composition. To get started, here are some common terms used when evaluating hay:.

Crude Protein CP : Protein levels in hay can vary widely, depending on the type of hay and when it was harvested. The younger the hay is when it was cut, the higher the protein level will be. Horses that are in training are going to need more protein to support increased muscle development and replace nitrogen that is lost during exercise. Calcium Ca and Phosphorus P : The balanced ratio between these two minerals, which varies among different types of hay, is very important because the two work closely together.

Ideally, the calcium to phosphorus ratio in horses should be between to In other words, a horse needs at least as much calcium in his diet as phosphorus, never the reverse. Does your horse need Joint Support? So now that you know some of the basic terms used, here are some differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay that can help you decide which is the best hay to feed your horse.

Higher Protein Content One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. If a horse is fed hay that contains more protein than they can utilize, the excess will be broken down and the waste will be eliminated in the urine as urea , which is then converted to ammonia.

For horses kept in stalls, this could be a problem if the stalls are not properly cleaned and well ventilated. Alfalfa hay typically has more calories per pound than grass hay, so if you are feeding your horse alfalfa hay, he may need to consume less hay to maintain his body weight.

This difference is related to the fiber content of the hay; alfalfa hay is lower in fiber, while grass hay is higher in fiber which allows the horse to eat more hay without putting on extra weight. For this reason, many people who want to reduce the calorie intake of their horse will feed grass hay instead of feeding alfalfa hay.

Higher Calcium Levels Another major difference between alfalfa and grass hay is the mineral profile. Alfalfa hay typically has higher levels of calcium when compared to the amount of calcium in grass hay. The phosphorus content, however, usually is not that different between the two hays.

And, of course, the mineral content in all hays will vary depending on the region in which it was grown as well as the soil conditions. If you select alfalfa hay, then inspect it for blister beetles which could cause colic in horses. You can buy square, round, pelleted, or hay cubes. Some horses find pellets boring, and to satisfy their chewing instinct, they might shift to chewing other stuff. It would be best if you store your hay in a clean, dry area without direct rain or sunlight.

Also, make sure the storage area is well-ventilated to avoid mold formation. There are different types of hay available for horses, and they all vary in their nutrition levels, palatability, and weed content.

Your vet can guide you to the best hay for your horse. Once you find a good hay producer or farmer, stick with them. This way, you can ensure high-quality hay with a prompt supply. Both types are great for horses. Timothy hay is a popular choice because of its easy digestibility and may be more suitable for certain life stages.

However, alfalfa hay has higher calcium to phosphorus ratio, which makes it unsuitable for younger horses. Timothy hay has a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio. Orchardgrass and timothy hay are both excellent, but orchard grass gets the nod as the best of the two.

It has a higher protein and calorie content and balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus. Legume hay Alfalfa. Grass hay bermudagrass. Which hay is better for horses: timothy or alfalfa? Is orchard grass better than timothy hay?

Horse Breeds: The Ultimate Guide. Very high protein content. Ideal for horses with laminitis. Promotes shiny coat, good digestion, and better bowel movements.