Horse Hay The Key to a Healthy and Thriving Equine

Alfalfa hay likes heat and does well with irrigation. Right now we are in southern California and alfalfa hay is less expensive than grass hay. So, for years my understanding was that alfalfa was too “hot” for most horses, only good for race horses and lactating mares. The color of good horse hay is bright and it is free of weeds and mold. The stems of such hay can be fine, medium or heavy. Its protein level should be from 14 ... The compromise for most US horses is a good quality grass-alfalfa mix hay. An inexpensive hay analysis will tell you the level of crude protein, total ... Cow hay is usually horse hay that has been damaged in some way. Like it got rained on, was at the bottom of the stack and has dirt or mud, some moldy areas, ... Cattle are ruminants and are able to breakdown fiber very efficiently, whereas horses are monogastrics with a functional large intestine (hindgut fermenters) ... Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the US, while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. Hay will store well and retain its nutritional value for up to 2 years if kept in a clean, dry area. So if you find good, clean, nutritionally sound hay, feel ... Equine Forage Education Video Series: Video 2: Choosing the Right Hay (Types of Forage). 2.2K views · 3 years ago ...more ... Feed your horse based on its nutritional needs, which include digestible energy, carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and water.