Grass, hay and how you feed

What is in the forage — and how you feed it — drives much of your horse's health. A few insights on grass, hay and feeding.

Haylage is not suitable for insulin-resistant horses — whatever the label says

Haylage tends to produce a bigger insulin response than hay of the same measured sugar-and-starch content. For a horse with confirmed insulin dysregulation, haylage is best avoided regardless of the figure printed on the bale.

The same field can be safe at dawn and risky by afternoon

Grass makes sugar in sunlight, so its sugar content is lowest before dawn and can be several times higher by mid-afternoon. For a sugar-sensitive horse, early-morning grazing on a given field carries much less risk than turning out on the same field later in the day.

Soaking hay removes sugar — but also minerals

Soaking hay for about an hour in cold water can wash out up to half of its sugar and starch. It also leaches out water-soluble minerals such as potassium, magnesium and sodium, so a soaked-hay diet needs its mineral balance adjusted to compensate.

Stored hay loses its vitamins

Hay is not a reliable vitamin source once it has been stored. Vitamin A (from beta-carotene) falls to negligible levels after about six months, and up to 88% of a hay's thiamine (Vitamin B1) can be lost over the same period. Faded, non-green hay is a poor vitamin source — one reason a balanced supplement matters.

Dried alfalfa carries far more Vitamin E than grass hay

Alfalfa holds on to much more of its Vitamin E through drying than grass hay does — roughly 90–130 IU/kg compared with 15–60 IU/kg for grass hay. It is one of the most underused forage-based sources of this important antioxidant.

This is general information. It does not replace the individual feeding plan your EVN vet prepares for your horse after assessing it.