How to Feed Horses With Fresh-Cut Hay

The sweet smell of fresh-cut horse hay is a horse lover's favorite perfume. However, horses are very sensitive to feed changes, so all hay changes must be made slowly to avoid colic. Always keep back some of your old hay to mix in with your fresh-cut horse hay. This will help transition the horse to the new hay which will be richer than the older hay. Fresh-cut horse hay should always be checked to make sure it is free of moisture before feeding it to horses or stacking it in your barn.

Things You'll Need

  • Older horse hay
  • Fresh-cut hay
  • Hay moisture meter (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      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.

    • 2

      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.

    • 3

      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.