What hay to avoid for horses?

Sorghum, Sudan, and Johnson grass hay. We do not recommend feeding your horses sorghum or sudangrass hay. This type of hay can have elevated nitrate levels and can be especially dangerous to horses if it is highly fertilized with poultry litter or conventional fertilizer.  Takedown request View complete answer on mannsvilleagcenter.com

What is the healthiest hay for horses?

Legume hays such as alfalfa and clover are members of the pea family. These hays are high in energy, protein, and calcium and can be used to boost the nutritional value of a grass-hay-based diet. It is not recommended to feed horses a diet solely consisting of legume hays.  Takedown request View complete answer on madbarn.com

Is Timothy or orchard hay better for horses?

Palatability and digestibility: Both grasses are known for their palatability, but some studies have suggested that orchard grass may have a slightly softer texture and higher fiber digestibility than timothy grass, which can be beneficial for horses with dental issues or those requiring additional fiber.  Takedown request View complete answer on foxdenequine.com

What is low quality hay for horses?

Poor-quality hay may be damp and moldy with a musty or fermented smell. Hay that appears weathered, straw-like, or brown is likely low in nutritional value. If hay has been cut late in maturity, seed heads will be apparent in grass hay and blooms will be evident in alfalfa hay.  Takedown request View complete answer on blueseal.com

What grass is not good for horses?

Types of Hay to Avoid for Horses

• Perennial ryegrass and rye. ...
• Dallisgrass.
• Argentine bahiagrass. ...
• Johnsongrass, Sorghum grasses/Sudangrass. ...
• Switchgrass, which causes photosensitivity, peeling skin, mouth ulcers and liver disease.
• Foxtail Millet (aka German Millet) and Meadow foxtail.

 Takedown request View complete answer on stablemanagement.com

What can horses eat other than hay?

What grass gives horses colic?

Grass colic often occurs in early spring, because new spring grass is abundant and washy, and it contains high levels of fructans, a type of sugar that is difficult for horses to digest.  Takedown request View complete answer on animals.mom.com

Does Bermuda hay cause colic?

Bermuda grass is associated with ileocecal colic, a type of colic that is not common in horses. However, it is hard to treat if it develops. The most common trigger for this colic is dehydration.  Takedown request View complete answer on conwayfeed.com

What does bad horse hay look like?

Color. Good, fresh hay for horses should appear greenish to yellowish in color. Any hay that is dark, grey, excessively brown, or even with bleached patches should be avoided.  Takedown request View complete answer on tributeequinenutrition.com

How can you tell if hay is horse quality?

Maturity - High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads. Condition - High quality hay will contain little dust or mold. Color & odor - High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.  Takedown request View complete answer on extension.unh.edu

How do you know if horse hay is bad?

Fresh smell and appearance

Good quality hay should have a fresh cut smell and appearance. Avoid musty, moldy or off-setting smelling hay, because it can reduce palatability and indicate poor quality.

 Takedown request View complete answer on purinamills.com

What type of hay do most horses eat?

Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices.  Takedown request View complete answer on sweetwaternutrition.com

Is brome or alfalfa better for horses?

Horses typically prefer alfalfa hay over grass hays, such as Bermuda or Brome hay. Alfalfa is easily digested and provides a good source of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals, making it ideal for horses that need a nutrient-dense diet.  Takedown request View complete answer on madbarn.com

Is orchard grass too rich for horses?

Orchard Grass is the emerging super star of the horse hay world. Orchard Grass is a highly palatable grass with a high nutrient content. Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass.  Takedown request View complete answer on standleeforage.com

What hay is best for older horses?

Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment. The small intestine loses some function - Older horses find it harder to digest protein in the small intestine.  Takedown request View complete answer on extension.iastate.edu

What is the best hay to prevent colic?

The best strategy for minimizing colic is to offer free-choice grass hay so a horse can “graze” intermittently through the day. Also, limit grain fed, while providing daily turnout and regular exercise.  Takedown request View complete answer on aaep.org

Is too much hay bad for horses?

Stereotypical behaviour such as cribbing and weaving are also more prevalent in horses fed forage-restricted diets. But over-feeding hay or providing hay that is too energy dense for your horse's needs can lead to weight gain and increased risk of equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis.  Takedown request View complete answer on madbarn.com

What is the most expensive hay for horses?

Dairy hay is the most expensive hay. It is bright green and leafy. Its protein levels range anywhere from 22 to 26 percent.  Takedown request View complete answer on thehaymanager.com

Should horses have hay all time?

Horses need a regular supply of food and water. In most cases, they need to have hay or pasture throughout the day, with additional grain feedings twice a day.  Takedown request View complete answer on humanesociety.org

Are seed heads in hay bad for horses?

Quick facts. Don't feed hay with moderate amounts of foxtail and sandbur seed heads, and/or ticklegrass seed heads and stems. These grasses can cause trauma to the mouth and gut of horses. Timely mowing can prevent seed head production of these grasses.  Takedown request View complete answer on extension.umn.edu

Will old hay hurt a horse?

Horses are uniquely sensitive to changes in feed, especially changes in hay. For this reason, do not feed hay of questionable quality or hay that looks old, dusty or moldy. Set it aside for examination or discard it. If your horse has eaten poor quality hay, monitor them for signs of intestinal or respiratory distress.  Takedown request View complete answer on horsesidevetguide.com

Can horses get sick from hay?

Molds commonly found in hay include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporum, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Rhizopus. These molds can produce spores that cause respiratory problems, especially in horses and, under some conditions, will produce mycotoxins.  Takedown request View complete answer on extension.psu.edu

Is it bad for horses to eat old hay?

If hay develops too much moisture, this can lead to mold growing in it. When this happens, feeding horses with such hay can become dangerous. If horses eat moldy hay, they can develop breathing or digestive problems.  Takedown request View complete answer on conwayfeed.com

Is alfalfa or bermuda better for horses?

Legumes, such as alfalfa or perennial peanut, generally produce higher quality forage than grasses, such as timothy, orchardgrass, and Coastal bermudagrass (Table 1). This is because legumes usually have less fiber, which results in greater energy (or calorie) content, as well as greater intake by the horse.  Takedown request View complete answer on extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu

What is better Bermuda or alfalfa?

Unlike alfalfa which is a legume hay, bermuda is a grass hay. So rather than the higher protein levels found in alfalfa hay, bermuda hay offers lower protein and higher fiber levels, promoting healthy digestion and making for a great base fodder for less active animals, or animals that have a tendency to be overweight.  Takedown request View complete answer on triplelfeed.com

Will horses stop eating when they are full?

Rather than eating until their stomach is full, horses need to eat small amounts continually until their caecum is full, to ensure optimum hindgut function and fermentation, so eating little and often is the way to go!  Takedown request View complete answer on castlehorsefeeds.com