Avoid feeding hay out where it can get trampled into the mud. For most horses, Lucerne is a supplement, and an imbalance can cause trouble in horses. If you really want to know what is in your hay, have it tested! This typically indicates that it has a good flavor. Contrary to the name, this is not the leftovers from harvesting peanuts. Lucerne Hay and Grass Hay being the most popular. For some horses, this may be more than they require. This grass can be nutritious and tasty if cut at the right time. When you’re first starting out with horses, the topic of hay can seem overwhelming. This means that a horse will get more nutrients from less hay but it also means that they get more energy and calories from less hay so it won’t keep a horse occupied for as long. They sure can! They are difficult to dry, so areas that have high humidity and frequent rain may not be suitable for their use as a hay crop. Orchardgrass – a perennial, does not do well in drought. with the sport decades later. But, these characteristics do not make or break hay. It is recommended that purchased hay be fed out in a restricted part of each paddock. This is a great choice or the average horse owner. What if the horse owner does not have good pasture? This grass is common in northern pastures, but if you want it for hay make sure it was cut early. Lucerne Hay is a favourite hay for horses and contains ample protein (between 15% – 18%). Feeding a mid- to late-maturity hay will provide fewer nutrients, which might be desirable for easy keepers. Color can vary based on grass type and exposure to sunlight. Some tests have shown it tends to be low in protein and can have inverted calcium to phosphorus ratio. Let’s take a look at grass hay and the different varieties available. Timothy, Fescue) and legume (e.g. Even if you find “high quality” Kleingrass hay, it can cause liver damage in horses. The small intestine works on digesting the hay before it lands in the cecum. Since a mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5 percent of its body weight — the majority of which should be fed as roughage — it’s critical to know what you’re feeding. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You should also shake a few handfuls of hay to observe how much dust flies off. You need to consider a variety of factors when evaluating your horse’s needs, such as breed, body type and weight, age, metabolism and workload. Timothy grass hay is very popular, but there are many other options available. Timothy, Orchard, or Coastal are all great options. Selection of an appropriate feed for adult horses can be difficult and will depend on numerous factors such as the size of the horse, what type of horse it is, the horse’s temperament, how much work the horse is doing, whether the horse can tolerate grains, and whether the horse needs to …