Hay is a popular horse feed, especially when grass grazing is not an option. It’s a good alternative for forage, able to fill the bulk of a horse’s diet and provide key things like fibre and energy. However, you need to ensure you understand when to soak it and the importance of soaking time. Let’s have a look at that here so you can expand your knowledge.

Soaking

There are three crucial reasons to soak hay before you give it to horses. Firstly, it can minimise the amount of dust. Dusty hay can release clouds of spores into the air, including mould. This can lead to serious respiratory problems and make them worse; a horse will inhale the dust as they are eating and even just spending time close to feed stations.

Secondly, soaking hay can actually help with weight management. The main thing to remember is hays can include sugar and carbs (fructan and WSC). It can have a surprising amount of calories. If you soak it, this can actually decrease these levels, reducing the risk of weight gain, obesity, and health problems like laminitis.

Finally, if you have older horses with poor dentistry, soaking hay can be really helpful. It can soften it, making it easier to chew. It’ll help to ensure they continue to eat enough, preventing worrying weight loss. This may also mean you don’t need to switch to more expensive horse feed, such as pellets or cubes.

Timing is everything

How long you need to soak hay depends on what you are trying to achieve. In some cases as little as 30 minutes will be sufficient. For example, if you want to tackle dust to protect horses with respiratory problems, half an hour should be enough time.

If you’re soaking hay for weight management, including calorie reduction, you generally need to soak for longer. Short soaks will only have a small impact. An hour or two can work, but you may need to wait even more.

Soaking hay overnight to give it 10+ hours can work, but may be too extreme. You could cause excessive nutrient loss and ruin the horse feed. Worse, it will increase the bacterial count. You need to be careful, ensuring you choose good quality hay and the right conditions for longer soaks.

Two key things

If you want to get the best results when soaking hay, there are a couple of key details to keep in mind. First up, use enough water, ensuring it is clean. Increasing the volume can help to reduce the soak time.

Plus, think about the temperature. Warm water speeds up the losses from the hay (including sugar and calories). So, you likely don’t need to soak as long in summer. But, never leave feed soaking in buckets in direct sunlight.

Talk to us about horse feed and discover great products

If you want to ensure horses are healthy and happy, it’s essential you feed them properly. Think about their individual needs, including body condition and existing health problems. Then, consider how you can give them the best possible diet.

JS Hubbuck Ltd is happy to assist if you need help. We’ve been supplying animal feeds for years, providing quality products from top producers. You can learn more about each product from us, ensuring it will satisfy your needs. We always provide the friendliest service.

So, contact us to ask about horse feed or any other goods and services we offer.