Vet-Approved Techniques for Feeding Hay to Horses 2025 🐴🌾

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Feeding hay is a fundamental part of every horse care routine—but the method you choose can impact not only your horse’s health, but also your feed budget. 💵 With hay prices rising in 2025 due to transportation and supply challenges, horse owners must be smarter than ever about feeding practices. In this guide, Dr Duncan Houston explains the best ways to feed hay to minimize waste, preserve quality, and keep your horses happy and healthy. 🐎🌿

1. Why Hay Feeding Method Matters 🧐

Hay waste isn't just messy—it's expensive. Hay that's trampled, soiled, or left uneaten quickly adds up. More waste means more frequent buying, which drives up your monthly costs. Beyond the economic impact, poor feeding setups can lead to:

• 🐾 Increased risk of colic or sand ingestion
• 😷 Respiratory issues from moldy or dusty hay
• ⚖️ Uneven weight gain or herd competition

Making small changes in how you feed hay can lead to big savings and better horse health. 💡

2. Study Spotlight: Ground vs. Feeder Feeding 🔬

A study conducted at Sam Houston State University tested hay feeding methods in stalled horses. Twelve 2-year-old Quarter Horses were fed coastal Bermuda hay for two weeks:

• 🥣 Week 1: Hay fed in traditional hay feeders
• 🪵 Week 2: Hay fed directly on the stall floor

📊 Results:

• Feeder-fed horses wasted just over 1% of hay
• Ground-fed horses wasted over 7%

That’s a 600% increase in hay waste just from the feeding method alone! 😱

3. Advantages of Using Hay Feeders ✅

• 🛡️ Reduces contamination: Less feces, urine, and bedding in hay
• 💵 Saves money: Significantly less hay goes to waste
• 🐴 Cleaner feeding: Especially important on sandy or dirty floors
• 📈 Encourages better intake: Horses are more likely to eat clean hay

While the study didn’t show nutritional deficiencies or weight differences between groups, the amount of hay wasted clearly favored feeder use. 🥇

4. Feeder Types: Which is Best for Your Barn? 🏡

There are various hay feeder styles depending on your space, horse population, and budget:

🔲 Wall-Mounted Feeders

• ✅ Great for stalls
• 🔒 Keeps hay clean and contained
• ⚠️ Must be installed at a safe height

🧺 Ground Hay Baskets

• ✅ Easy to move and clean
• ♻️ Good airflow around hay
• ⚠️ Needs secure base to prevent tipping

🕸️ Slow-Feed Hay Nets

• ✅ Mimics grazing, reduces boredom
• ⏱️ Slows consumption for better digestion
• ⚠️ May need regular untangling or refilling

🚜 Round Bale Feeders (for group turnout)

• ✅ Efficient for multiple horses
• 🌦️ Protects large hay quantities
• ⚠️ Needs supervision to prevent bullying

5. Feeding Hay on the Ground: Pros & Cons 🤔

In some cases, feeding hay on the ground may be unavoidable. Here’s how it compares:

✅ Pros:

• 🌾 Mimics natural grazing posture
• 🧺 No setup costs or equipment needed

❌ Cons:

• 💩 Higher contamination risk (manure, urine)
• 🗑️ Increased trampling and waste
• ⚠️ Greater risk of ingesting sand/dirt (sand colic)

If feeding on the ground is your only option, always use mats or rubber flooring to reduce contamination and sand ingestion. 🪵🧼

6. Cost Comparison: Feeder vs. Waste 🧾

Let’s break it down. If you feed 20 lbs of hay per day and lose 7% due to waste, that’s:

• 📆 1.4 lbs/day wasted
• 📅 ~42 lbs/month
• 💸 At $0.15/lb, that’s $6.30/month per horse

Multiply that by 5 horses, and you’re losing $378/year—more than the cost of a quality feeder. 💰

7. How to Further Reduce Hay Waste 🧠

In addition to using feeders, consider:

• 🧺 Feeding smaller, more frequent meals
• 🧱 Storing hay in dry, ventilated areas
• 🌡️ Soaking or steaming hay for respiratory horses (only feed immediately)
• 👀 Inspecting for mold, weeds, or contamination before each feeding

8. Feeding Tips by Setting 🌍

🏠 In the Stall:

• Use wall feeders or nets
• Keep hay off bedding to reduce mixing

🌳 In the Pasture:

• Use round bale covers or ground feeders
• Rotate feeding areas to prevent mud

🩺 For Sensitive Horses:

• Soak or steam hay to reduce dust
• Feed from elevated or netted sources to lower inhalant risk

9. Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston 💬

With hay prices high and budgets tight, small improvements in hay-feeding practices can add up to big savings—without sacrificing horse health. Using feeders significantly reduces waste, minimizes contamination, and keeps your hay investment where it belongs—in your horse’s belly, not on the floor. 🐎💰

Need help designing a feeding system for your barn or evaluating hay quality? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 to connect with an equine care expert anytime, anywhere.

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc