Horses eat hay!

We all know horses eat grass, right? Feeding horses is a complex process, and each horse must be approached as an individual to find the correct balance. The different types of grass are suitable for different horses, each with their own requirements in terms of work and temperament.

The basics

Horses are hindgut fermenters - which refers to their digestive process. Simply put, horses have a single-chambered stomach and caecum (hindgut) that allows cellulose to be digested with the aid of symbiotic bacteria.

Unlike ruminants (cows and sheep), horses digest small portions of food throughout the day. They evolved to be on the move constantly, and their stomachs digest food very quickly. Therefore, they extract more nutrients out of smaller quantities of feed.

In most cases, grazing makes up 50% of the daily food intake, and hay makes up the rest. Depending on the work they do, horses may also be fed concentrates and vitamin supplements in addition to roughage.

What is hay?

Hay in agriculture includes grass hay, legume hay, cereal hay and other foliage used as animal feed. The material is usually cut when it is still green and is either dried in the field or mechanically by blowing hot air onto the cut material. An excellent quality hay crop is cut at the correct time in the plant's growth cycle and handled so that the leaves remain intact. The harvest is then cured to prevent spoilage and discolouration. Adequately cured hay, if stored correctly, can last for months without spoilage.

Up until the middle of the 19th century, hay was cut by hand using sickles and scythes. These ancient tools consisted of a curved metal blade with a wooden handle. Due to their simplicity and low cost, they are still used today in some areas. Harvesting with these tools is labour intensive and time-consuming.

Towards the end of the 19th century, early mechanical cutting devices were developed. They were often pulled by oxen or horses. Today massive harvesters and other large machines are used to cut, arrange, bale, load, stack, pelletise, and wafer the hay, making production faster and safer.

Legume hay

Legume hay has a high energy, protein, and calcium content. These plants use bacteria in their root systems to fix nitrogen in the soil, which results in higher protein levels in the plant. Legumes are a high-quality and nutritious food source for horses. They are perfect for lactating mares, growing foals and horses in work. Lucerne and clover are common in horses' diets, depending on their individual requirements.

LUCERNE (ALFALFA)

Lucerne

Lucerne has excellent nutritional value, is highly palatable and is suitable for many animals. For horses, lucerne contributes to their daily nutritional requirements as it's high in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

During dry months when pasture grazing is limited, horse owners can supplement lucerne to increase horses' roughage and nutrient intake. However, lucerne should not exceed 50-60% of the total daily roughage consumption.

Lucerne should be combined with other roughage feeds, such as teff or eragrostis, to keep the digestive tract healthy. It can be a good choice for horses that suffer from gastric ulcers as it increases the pH level in the stomach, making it less acidic.

Note: If you have a horse that suffers from digestive issues, ensure you chat with your vet about which roughage is best suited to their diet. Again, each horse is an individual and will have his own veterinary needs.

Note: Horses are sensitive to a sudden change in feed and the presence of moulds and toxins, so it is important to keep consistent with the type and quality of feed you give them.

CLOVER

Clover

Clover hay is another type of legume used as feed. It can be great for working horses. Clover is seldom found on its own and is often mixed in with other grasses when harvested and baled. It is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, fibre, and calcium.

Clover is not as popular as lucerne because of its high moisture content. It can be difficult to dry and bale, is more prone to moulding, and may cause horses to salivate excessively when fed in large amounts.

Grasses

ERAGROSTIS TEF (TEFF)

Eragrostis tef, also known as teff or love grass, is one of the earliest domesticated plants. This commonly fed grass originated from the Horn of Africa and is still one of the staple crops in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Eragrostis tef

If grown correctly, teff can have a high protein level, adequate fibre digestibility and higher energy value than other grasses used for roughage. The variable qualities available can influence the nutrient quality and palatability. Care must be taken when purchasing and storing it as it can spoil easily.

ERAGROSTIS CURVULA (ERAGROSTIS)

Eragrostis curvula

Eragrostis curvula, known as weeping love grass or simply eragrostis, has a lower protein, fibre digestibility and energy value compared to teff. However, the quality can be just as good if grown and harvested correctly. The factors that affect the quality of grasses are the stage of growth when harvested, fertilisation, and environmental factors.

RHODES GRASS

Rhodes grass

Rhodes grass is an excellent alternative roughage if teff and eragrostis are in short supply. It's a moderate to highquality source of roughage for horses, and when cut at an early stage, has a high fibre digestibility value and is highly palatable. You can also use Rhodes grass to add variety to your horse's diet.

Cereal hay

OAT HAY

When harvested at the right time, oat hay is a good alternative for horses when teff or lucerne is in short supply and, therefore, expensive or during dry months when grazing is unpalatable and low in nutrients. Oat hay is a good quality feed, and horses love the taste. However, more is needed to keep your horse in good condition.

Oat hay is high in energy and roughage but low in protein and calcium. It also has high phosphate levels. You will need to supplement your horse's diet with a good quality concentrate or balancer, which is high in protein and calcium.

Oat hay

BARLEY HAY

Barley can be used as feed in three ways— as grain, grass, or hay. When feeding horses barley grain, it is essential not to feed them the whole dry grain. Rather cook, soak or crush it to avoid digestive problems.

Barley grass is the green, immature grass, and barley hay is harvested as the grain starts to develop. Barley hay has roughly the same nutritional value as other hays but does lack certain nutrients which should be supplemented.

Barley hay is considered the 'candy' of all hays due to its high sugar content, so feed with discretion. If barley hay has been harvested too late, it has lower nutritional value and the fully developed seed awn is sharp and can get stuck in the teeth or cause ulcers in the mouth.

What should you feed your horse?

We've touched briefly on some of the available roughage you can feed your horse. New feeds, concentrates and mixes are coming onto the market all the time. Feeding horses correctly is a complex and challenging subject, often best left to professionals with extensive experience.

If you're concerned about your horse's weight or the quality of his feed, reach out to your vet or equine nutritionist for more information on how to supplement his diet correctly. Still, the more information we have about our beloved horses, the better, and a basic understanding of what your horse eats is always beneficial.