what to feed horses instead of hay

Hay Substitutes for Horses

• Beet Pulp. Beet pulp is a by-product of the sugar beet and is often fed to horses. Many horse owners notice that when...
• Straw. If you read books about horse care in bygone times, you might be aware that straw was commonly fed to horses.
• Hay Cubes. Hay cubes may be an alternative to bales. Grass and legume hay are dried and chopped and pressed...
• Old Hay.

Full Answer

What type of hay should I Feed my horse?

Types of feeds

• Long stem hay is the traditional baled hay. It is cut, cured, and baled. ...
• Hay cubes are about an inch wide and 1- to 3-inches long.
• Hay pellets are ground hay compressed into 2 inch by ½ inch pellets.

Which Hay is the best for horses?

Important Aspects to Consider When Choosing hay for horses:

• Cost. Cost and performance are essential factors to consider when acquiring a hay for horses. ...
• Branding. A brand with high-quality products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for hay for horses.
• Specifications. ...
• Design. ...
• Customer Ratings. ...
• Stability and Control. ...
• Comfort. ...
• Durability. ...

Which is better for horses hay or grain?

• Hay provides the fiber necessary for optimal digestive system function, reducing the risk of colic and other gastrointestinal problems.
• Hay is a good source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals at varying levels, depending on forage species.
• Hay encourages healthy hindgut microflora vital to fermentation and digestion.

More items...

What type of hay do you feed your horses?

type of hay for horses – Grass Hay

• Timothy Hay. Timothy hay is a common favorite among horses and owners. ...
• Orchard Hay. Orchard hay is another common type of grass hay – it usually has a thicker blade than timothy hay but can be softer in texture.
• Brome Grass. ...
• Bermuda Grass. ...
• Oat Hay. ...
• Rye Grass. ...
• Fescue Hay. ...

Can a horse survive without hay?

Horses can adapt to balanced rations that do not contain hay or pasture, but the absolute minimum of fiber necessary has not been established. However, low fiber/high concentrate rations have been documented to increase the risk of colic, gastric ulcers, and wood chewing behavior of horses.

Can alfalfa cubes replace hay?

Alfalfa cubes are chopped and compressed but not pulverized like pellets. Therefore, they provide some benefits of long-stem forage and can safely replace hay in an equine diet.

What to feed an old horse who can't eat hay?

Worn molars cannot chew hay and the horses have a difficult time swallowing and digesting the hay. Alternative forges like hay cubes and pellets can be fed to horses with poor teeth. Sugar beet pulp and soybean hulls can also be fed to increase fiber intake.

Can hay pellets replace hay for horses?

Like forage cubes, forage pellets can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio to replace hay. Forage pellets are the fiber choice for horses that have lost teeth or have poor dentition since forage pellets can easily be soaked in water to form a mash or slurry.

Can you feed a horse just alfalfa pellets?

Therefore, alfalfa pellets can be used to add pellets to a horse's diet but it is not necessary. The impact that pellets have on a horse's diet is minimal. Alfalfa pellets for horses usually come in fifty-pound bags and can be found at almost any feed store.

Can you feed hay pellets instead of hay?

Horses often eat hay pellets faster than traditional hay because the smaller, ground particles are easy to chew and swallow. Hay pellets also do not provide any long-stem forage. However, for horses with poor teeth, soaking these pellets can still provide important fiber and nutrients.

What is the best thing to feed an old horse?

Good quality grass hay and corn or a complete pelleted ration for mature (not aged) horses are the feeds of choice. Avoid legumes (alfalfa and clover), wheat bran and beet pulp due to high calcium (legumes, beet pulp) or phosphorus (wheat bran) content.

Can I feed grass clippings to my horse?

Feeding lawn clippings will dramatically upset the balance of microbes in the hindgut, potentially leading to colic or laminitis, as the amount of highly fermentable carbohydrates in regularly clipped lawns is dangerously high. Excessive intake results in a high rate of fermentation in the hindgut.

Can you replace hay with beet pulp?

In summary, beet pulp is a good dietary supplement for "hard keepers", as a forage or fiber replacement for poor quality hay, and for older horses with problems chewing or digesting hay. The digestible energy content of beet pulp is greater than hay and less than grain.

Is it cheaper to feed hay or pellets?

More Expensive ​Pelleted, cubed and chopped forage costs more per pound than baled grass hay.

Do horses need hay if they have grass?

We know horses need to eat either grass or hay. When horses eat grass, you will need to keep an eye on their condition and make sure that they are neither eating too much nor too little. Horses can overeat grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat from eating hay.

Why do horses stop eating hay?

Horses go off their feed for a variety of reasons which can include illness, unpalatable feeds or gastrointestinal disturbances such as hindgut acidosis.

Choosing Horse Feed Hay Replacements

If you are going to use a fiber supplement, then I recommend using those that have shorter chopped fibers. This way, the food will feel more substantial in your horses mouth.

How Long can Horses go without Hay?

Horses are herbivores, which means they eat primarily grasses and other plant material. In the wild, horses graze on pasture for up to 18 hours a day.

Will a Horse Stop Eating when Full?

The question of whether or not a horse will stop eating when they are full is one that many horse owners struggle with. Some horses refuse to stop grazing, eat their hay and other food at the same time, and then go back for seconds. Other horses will only eat until they are about 3/4 full before walking away from their food source.

What can replace all of your horse's hay?

Bagged chopped forage. It can replace all of your horse's hay, if necessary. 2. Hay cubes. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. Soak cubes to reduce risk of choke. 3. Hay pellets.

Can horses eat soybeans?

The hulls-- not the soy beans--are high in fiber, relatively digestible, provide about 12 to 14 percent protein and are accepted well by most horses. They can replace all hay but, again, a lack of long-stemmed fiber may lead to wood chewing and similar behavior.

Why should you avoid haylage?

Haylage and silage should also be avoided. These forages are sealed in airtight containers with increased moisture content to promote fermentation of the forage. Because of the moist, airtight environment, the bacteria that cause botulism might grow if the forage is improperly baled or stored.

Is beet pulp good for horses?

Beet pulp, produced by sugar beet processing, is a popular fiber source for horses because of its digestibility and palatability. Studies have shown that a horse's diet can contain up to 55% beet pulp without negative effects. It's important to remember, however, that beet pulp's digestibility is higher than most grass hays, so ensure the horse's diet is balanced properly when making the switch.

What is complete feed for horses?

COMPLETE FEED – These have been specially developed to give your horse the right balance of grass, forages, vitamins and minerals and can be fed instead of hay if they have at least 15% fiber. They’re much higher in calories so it’s important to read the label before giving to your horse.

Why do horses eat?

Unlike most animals (including cows) horses need to continually eat, this is because of the way their whole digestive system works. Right from their gastrointestinal tract that is designed to always be digesting small amounts of food around the clock to their hindgut which is where most of their energy comes from.

Why do you need to increase forage for horses?

This then means that you need to increase the forage you’re giving them because they’re not able to get so much of it themselves. If, however, your horse doesn’t normally have access to pasture then there’s nothing to make up for during the winter.

Why is silage so hard to make?

The big drawback to silage though is that the production of it can be difficult because the bags mustn’t be torn at all, if they are then the horse is at risk of contracting botulism ( Food poisoning caused by bacteria growing on food not properly sterilized ).

How long do horses graze?

Left to their own devices horses will spend up to 17 hours a day grazing but this isn’t because they’re being greedy. They’re don’t have gall bladders so aren’t able to store bile for digestion this, coupled with the small stomachs, means that they can only digest small amounts of food at a time. On top of their grazing horses should be fed ...

How much can a horse eat?

Horses are born grazers that can eat up to 25lbs (11kgs) a day so you can imagine that if you’re keeping a horse without any natural grazing you’ve got a lot of making up to do. That doesn’t mean that you can just increase the amount of food you give him, it means that you need to replace the grass he’s not able to eat with more forage.

Can you soak alfalfa before feeding it?

The disadvantage of them though is that they can often be quite expensive and if you don’t soak them beforehand then there’s also a risk of your horse choking on them. ALFALFA – Alfalfa shouldn’t be used to completely replace hay but instead fed in combination with it .

Is hay cured or dehydrated?

Hay is forage that is cut, sun cured and baled. For hay cubes, the forage can be either sun cured or dehydrated. Typically using timothy, alfalfa, or a combination of both, the forage is cut at an early stage of maturity and only partially dried in the field before being shipped to the processing plant and dehydrated.

Is hay and straw toxic to horses?

It may also be used as something the horse can chew for an extended period of time. The quality of chaff can often be a concern, so it is important to check that it’s not contaminated with any molds or other substances that could be toxic to horses.

Is beet pulp good for hay?

It is a popular supplement because of its low sugar content, high calcium and moderate protein levels (8%). In general, one pound of beet pulp is fed for every one-and-a-half pounds of hay that it replaces.

Is wheat bran good for horses?

Although wheat bran is often fed as a fiber supplement, it is not beneficial to horses, especially in large quantities over long periods of time. Bran has an inverted calcium to phosphorous ratio that can cause imbalances, as well as debilitating problems from the high phosphorous content. Rice bran has also been promoted as a source of fiber and energy (fat) for horses. However, rice bran has an even higher concentration of phosphorous than wheat bran. Neither rice nor wheat bran are recommended as a forage substitute.

Is concentrate a complete feed?

Concentrates are sold as “complete feed” and some are labeled as a complete forage substitute. They can contain a mixture of hays, grains, beet pulp, and vitamin and mineral supplements, and are developed around various standard nutritional profiles (i.e., growth, maintenance, performance, broodmare). However, complete feeds don’t have the required fiber to maintain a horse’s health. It’s better to use them as a supplement to forage, not as a complete replacement.

Why do you need weed free feed for horses?

If you’re going trail riding for the day or overnight in a preserved wilderness area, weed-free feed is required to prevent the introduction of nonnative plant species. Additionally, manure from horses fed weed-free feed might be easier to dispose of with companies that need manure for compost. Pellets are usually less dusty than hay.

Why is it easier to chew hay?

Easier to chew. This can be a huge benefit for horses with poor dentition that are no longer able to chew long-stem hay well. Being unable to properly chew hay causes quidding (dropping wads of partly chewed feed from his mouth) and can lead to an increased choke risk. Easier to digest.

Why is it important to chew hay?

Because the hay is chopped prior to pellet formation, it takes far less chewing to consume a set weight of pellets compared to the same weight of hay. Chewing is important because it causes release of saliva, and saliva contains high concentrations of calcium and sodium bicarbonate, both of which act to buffer stomach acid. Horses evolved to eat for the majority of hours in the day and as a result secrete stomach acid constantly whether they’re eating or not. In their natural setting, this constant stomach acid release is countered by the almost constant release of calcium and bicarbonate in saliva. When saliva production is reduced due to reduced chewing, the horse has less buffering capacity against the stomach acid and is potentially at a greater risk of developing gastric ulcers.

Why do hay pellets take up less storage space?

Due to their condensed nature, hay pellets take up less storage area than an equal weight of baled hay. This can be a real benefit if storage space is limited and you want to buy bulk quantities of feed. You might even be able to secure a lower price when buying in bulk.

Why do horses get bored?

Increased boredom risk. Because it takes less time to eat pellets than hay there’s the chance of your horse getting bored. When they get bored, some horses develop stereotypical behaviors such as cribbing, weaving, or box walking, which are undesirable. Greater feed utilization.

What is fortified hay?

Fortified hay pellets. Some companies fortify their hay pellets, essentially creating a complete feed. Unlike feeding hay alone, this insures that trace mineral and vitamin needs are met and removes the need for additional micronutrient supplementation.

Is pelleted hay good for horses?

A nutritionist weighs the benefits and drawbacks of feeding horses pelleted hay. Q: What’s the difference between feeding baled or pelleted hay? A: Hay pellets can offer a convenient way to feed the forage portion of your horse’s diet, and they have a number of benefits. However there are some important cons to consider.

How to determine the best hay to feed a horse?

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.

What is the best hay for horses?

Legume Hay for Horses 1 Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A. Alfalfa is very palatable to horses, so they tend to waste less of it compared to grass hay. Its high protein and mineral content may prompt your horse to drink more, keeping him better hydrated overall. 2 Downsides: It may be necessary to add a high-phosphorous mineral supplement to better balance the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio found naturally in legume hays. 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. It’s also prone to being dusty. Finally, due to the high calcium content, alfalfa may contribute to enteroliths in breeds that are particularly susceptible. 3 Best for: Horses that require an energy- and nutrient-dense hay, such as lactating mares, growing foals or horses that need to ingest a plentiful amount of calories. Performance horses in heavy work often benefit from legume hay that can provide calories and energy while satisfying their forage needs.

What is the best legume to eat?

Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.

How much should a horse eat?

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. Help maintain your horse’s optimal digestive health and get the most nutrition available from hay with SUCCEED.

What is mixed bale?

A mixed bale (or feeding a flake from each type of bale) provides medium energy and protein counts, adds relatively high (compared with solely grass hay) calcium, and a more appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio than straight alfalfa.

Is it better to feed hay or grass to a horse?

And sure — it’d be nice to have access to green pastures year-round, but feeding your horse hay is nearly as good (and sometimes better) than feeding grass. It’s convenient to feed, helps your horse maintain a healthier digestive system, and can help keep him happy and occupied if he does have to be stall-bound.

Is grass hay good for horses?

Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. Since it’s less nutrient-dense than legume hay, horses have to eat more grass hay to fill their bellies, which makes grass hay a good tool for keeping a stall-bound horse from getting bored.