Can Horses Eat Fresh Cut Grass?

While it is safe for horses to ingest fresh-cut grass, the grass should be discarded after six hours, because once the grass is cut it begins to ferment. Fermented grass causes colic and stomach upset in all horses and should be avoided at all cost. Although horses prefer grass over hay, it fresh-cut grass is not available there are several hays and foods that can provide necessary nutrients and foliage.

  1. Hays

    • High-quality grass hay can increase grazing time and decrease boredom.

      Horses will consume 1 percent of their body weight in food, with a good 20 pounds of that percentage in hay (three or four flakes). There are a few different types of hay and all offer something different nutrient-wise. Low-quality hays composed of weeds and brier along with dust and mold will cause several fatal health problems and therefore should be avoided. Standard clean grass hay smells sweet and is dry and light and can be fed in place of pasture. Higher-quality hays such as alfalfa is more dense and should make up a small percentage of the total grazing hays fed.

    Grain

    • Grain should be fed according to the horses daily activity level and weight. For horses that are pastured with no activity level, grain is not required as long as the horse has free access to quality pasture or grass hays. Feed horses weighing 1,000 pounds and performing low-impact activity such as 1 to 2 hours of pleasure riding 1 to 1.5 pounds of grain per hour of work. For moderate to high activity, which may last 2 to 4 or more hours, feed 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of grain per hour of work. Always feed the same brand and at the same time of day, which is optimally three small portions three times a day.

    Water

    • Clean, fresh water should be available provided the horse is cooled down from any previous activity or workout. If the horse is still hot and has yet to perform a cool down walk, offer a few sips of water to ensure the horse will drink after cooling off. Horses that drink or eat on a hot stomach can suffer from colic and other gastrointestinal discomfort. Clean water troughs often, and use heaters during the winter months to prevent horses from suffering dehydration from frozen water sources. Always prevent sick horses from sharing water troughs with healthy horses.

    Considerations

    • Horses are natural grazers and have a tendency to waste a good majority of hay. To reduce waste, consider using a tractor tire as a field manger. While cubed or processed pelleted hays are tempting horses eat them quickly and resort to other outlets due to boredom, thus cubed alfalfa should be a treat rather than a main food source. Additionally, extra nutrients provided daily in the form of a few carrots or an apple can also increase the bond between horse and rider.