🐴 Choosing Hay for Horses: A 2025 Guide to Optimal Forage Quality 🌾🧠

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Forage makes up 50% to 90% of a horse’s diet, and hay is the cornerstone of nutrition—especially during the winter months. In 2025, understanding hay quality helps horse owners make informed choices that support digestive health, energy needs, and palatability. 🧠🐎

🌿 Why Hay Quality Matters

Poor quality hay can lead to:

• 🩺 Digestive upset
• 📉 Poor weight maintenance
• 🌬️ Respiratory issues from dust or mold

High-quality hay is digestible, nutrient-dense, and free of contaminants. Let’s break down how to evaluate your hay before it hits the feeder. ✅

🌱 1. Plant Maturity at Harvest

The stage of growth at which hay is harvested is the #1 factor determining its nutritional value. 👇

• 🌾 Younger plants = higher protein, softer texture, better digestibility
• 🌾 Older plants = more stems, lower nutrients, tougher fibers

Tip: Look for hay with small stems and no seedheads—this indicates it was cut early and is nutritionally rich. 🌿

🍃 2. Leaf-to-Stem Ratio

The more leaves a hay sample contains, the better:

• 🍃 Leaves are where the nutrients are stored
• 🌿 Stems are fibrous and lower in digestibility

Good hay has a high leaf-to-stem ratio and small, soft stems that are pliable—not brittle or woody. 🪵

🤏 3. Texture Test

Squeeze a handful of hay:

• ✅ Good hay: Soft and springy
• 🚫 Poor hay: Feels like a bundle of sticks or wire

If it hurts your hand, it's likely too harsh for your horse’s gut. 🫱

👃 4. Smell Check

Hay should have a fresh, sweet, grassy aroma. Avoid:

• 🚫 Musty or moldy smells
• 🚫 Chemical or ammonia-like odors

Musty hay can cause respiratory irritation and is often less palatable. 🌬️🧪

🧼 5. Dust and Contaminants

• 💨 Minimal dust = safer for lungs
• 🧫 Avoid bales with dirt, weeds, mold, or foreign debris

Shaking a flake of hay lightly should not release clouds of dust. If it does—don’t feed it. 🚫

🟩 6. Color Matters (But Isn’t Everything)

• 🟩 Bright green hay is ideal and signals freshness
• 🌫️ Faded or brown hay may still be okay—but check smell and texture

Don’t judge on color alone—but bright green hay is often a good sign of quality and proper curing. ✅

📦 Bonus: Hay Types for Horses

Legume Hay (e.g., Alfalfa):

• ✅ Higher in protein and calcium
• 📈 Good for growing horses, lactating mares, or hard keepers

Grass Hay (e.g., Bermuda, Timothy):

• ⚖️ Lower in calories and protein
• 🩺 Better for easy keepers and metabolic horses

Tip: Mix hays or add a ration balancer if feeding only grass hay. 🧬

📲 Ask A Vet for Hay Quality Consults

Need help selecting hay for your horse’s needs? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App to schedule a hay evaluation, forage testing, or feeding plan update. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can help interpret forage tests, adjust concentrates, and recommend hay for every life stage. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, hay remains the foundation of equine nutrition. Choosing the right hay means evaluating leaf content, softness, smell, and color—and ensuring it's free from dust and mold. Your horse’s health starts with the forage you feed. 🐎🌱

Need a hay quality checklist? Visit AskAVet.com to download yours 🐴🌾