Is prairie grass hay good for horses?

Asked by: Rabiah Galicia

GRASS HAYS A good-quality grass hay may meet most of the adult horse’s basic nutritional needs. Mature horses require 10 to 12 percent CP (crude protein) in their diets. Many native or prairie grass hays contain just 6 to 8 percent.

What is the best grass hay for horses?

Best Hay Types for Horses

• 1.) Alfalfa. Alfalfa hay is high-protein legume hay from the ‘pea’ family. …
• 2.) Clover. Clover hay is the other legume hay suitable for horses but not as popular with horse owners. …
• 3.) Timothy Grass. …
• 4.) Orchardgrass. …
• 5.) Fescue. …
• 6.) Reed Canary Grass. …
• 7.) Bluegrass. …
• 8.) Bromegrass.

What is the best hay mixture for horses?

What is the best hay mixture for horses? Mixed or mixed-grass hay usually means that it has different types of grasses in it. Common mixes are timothy/alfalfa, orchardgrass/ alfalfa, and orchardgrass/clover. The best hay mix for most horses, without any health problems, is one-half Alfalfa and one-half Timothy.

What cut of hay is best for horses?

Mid- to late-maturity hays are best for horses with low nutrient requirements, because the horses can eat more to satisfy their appetites without overeating and becoming fat. Horse owners also ask whether first or second-cut hay is better. There is more variation within a cutting than between cuttings.

What is the preferred grass hay of most horse owners?

Oat hay is the most common cereal hay fed in the United States, and if harvested at the right time, it is quite palatable to horses. For some horse owners, the gold standard among grass hays is timothy due largely to its extreme palatability.

What hay can horses not eat?

Oat hay has thick tougher stalks that some horses will not eat. Oat hay tends to be higher in nitrates and also high in sugar (NSC), so this hay is not an option for insulin resistant horses. Here’s a comparison chart so you can see the differences between alfalfa hay, timothy (grass) hay and oat hay.

What hay is best for older horses?

A reduction in fiber fermentation means that older horses receive less nutrients from forage resulting in higher quality forages being required. Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment.

Is grass hay or alfalfa better for horses?

Alfalfa is a very common choice for horse owners to feed. It contains more nutrients than grass hay including protein, calcium, and energy.

How many bales of hay does a horse need?

A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).

What is horse quality hay?

So what is good horse hay? It is soft, dry, clean, and should have a good stem to leaf ration. 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 to 20 percent.

How can you tell if hay is a good quality horse?

Stems smaller in diameter or finer are also indicators of higher quality horse hay. Small stems mean the plant was less mature when cut. To test stem size, grab a handful of hay and give it a squeeze. Good quality hay is soft and pliable, and feels good in your hand.

How do you know if hay is good for horses?

Good hay should smell somewhat sweet. Make sure that the hay doesn’t smell like mold or mildew – if it does, refuse the hay. Shift the hay through your fingers and look to see how much dust is released. Hay which is very dusty is not good to feed to horses, especially if your horses have respiratory issues.

Is timothy or orchard grass better for horses?

The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass. The high nutrient intake delivered by Orchard Grass hay translates into potentially less grain the horse would need to eat to satisfy energy and protein requirements.

What hay has the lowest sugar content?

Low sugar hay is extremely important in a horse’s diet due to its health properties and the enormous benefits it can offer. While lucerne usually has lower sugar than a lot of grass hays, it more often than not tests HIGHER in sugar, starch & protein compared to our Low Sugar Hay.

Is Bermuda grass good for horses?

Bermuda hay is a nutritious option that you can use for feeding your horses. For horses in training and back yard horses, Bermuda hay, in combination with alfalfa, will promote their optimal health.