Prevent Toxic Hay from Harming Your Horse

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:25:09 +0000

Few things have more potential to seriously damage your horse’s health than his feed. Whether it’s moldy or dusty hay, toxic plants, or simply the type of hay, what your horse ingests will have serious implications on his overall well-being. It is important, first and foremost, to feed your horse hay that is compatible with his body’s needs. Different types of hay will have different levels of proteins and sugars, and not all are good for every horse. For instance, if your horse is prone to episodes of laminitis, then it is best to feed a low sugar and low protein hay, such as a local grass hay or even timothy. However, if your horse is working hard and in competitive training, you may need to feed a higher energy feed such as alfalfa. Usually you will wind up feeding some type of combination, but just be aware that what you are feeding your horse could be making him sick. Check with your veterinarian about the best type of hay for your horse.

Once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, you’ll need to find a supplier. Be sure to inspect their bales for evidence of mold or toxic plants. Walk their fields if at all possible to look for toxic plants that grow in your area. Hay bales should be weed free, but if you do find plants in your hay, remove anything that you aren’t sure of. You can also try over-feeding your horse slightly, as he will have some ability to choose not to eat the toxic plants. If you are feeding alfalfa, be aware of blister beetles – horses only need to ingest a few of these poisonous insects to become seriously ill. Don’t buy alfalfa that has been crimped – in this process the beetles are crushed, causing the toxin to spread into the hay.

The best hay bales will be green, sweet smelling, and free of unwanted plants.

How to Buy and Store Hay

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:23:03 +0000

For many new horse owners, there is potentially nothing that puts you out of your depth more than feeding decisions. Buying and storing hay is no exception, and has the added difficulty that it can be a major investment, especially when buying large amounts to last the winter months. To reduce the chance of mold infestation that could cost you your entire investment and inflict serious harm to your horse, you will need to ensure that your hay is dry and mold free from start to finish.

When you are considering where to purchase your hay, be sure to inspect the quality of their products prior to laying down a lot of money. Take an experienced horse person with you who can help identify the signs of mold – bales that are dusty, discolored, darker than usual, or even white. Feeding dusty hay to a horse can cause serious problems, so be sure that the hay you are purchasing is dust-free. Talk to the seller and confirm that the hay was cut when it was dry. Physically check the bales to see if they seem dusty, damp, or if you can see any signs of discoloration or mold. You might want to smell the bale as well – good hay should smell sweet and look clean.

Do not have your hay delivered in wet weather – even if the hay is covered with tarps it will likely get wet as you transport it from the truck to the storage area. Also make sure your storage area or hay loft is clean and dry. If stacking on the ground, put your hay on pallets first. Try to avoid stacking hay against barn walls that may become wet with condensation. If you live in a particularly damp climate, or have a storage area that is difficult to keep dry, you might consider covering your stacked hay with a tarp, and using dehumidifiers and fans.

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Prevent Toxic Hay from Harming Your Horse

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