Things You'll Need
- Older horse hay
- Fresh-cut hay
- Hay moisture meter (optional)
Instructions
Check several bales of the fresh-cut horse horse hay with a hay moisture meter. If the meter shows a moisture content of more than 22 percent, do not feed the hay. It will have to cure (dry) longer. If you don't have a hay moisture meter, use your hand to feel inside the middle of the bale for dampness or moisture. Properly cured hay should feel dry and never hot or warm to the touch. If the bale of horse hay is damp or wet, cut the bale open and let it air-dry for at least 24 hours before feeding.
Mix some of your old horse hay with the fresh-cut hay at a ratio of 2-to-1 before feeding it to your horse.
Increase the proportion of fresh-cut horse hay to old hay gradually over the next seven days. By the end of the seventh day, you should be feeding your horses all fresh-cut hay.