What Kinds of Hay Do Horses Eat?

If you asked your horse his eating preference, he would probably point to an expanse of lush green pasture grass, where he could do as nature intended -- graze slowly and easily throughout the majority of his day. However, few owners are fortunate enough to offer their horse the recommended 2 acres of nutritionally suitable pasture forage, so they turn to their local feed store or hay farmer to find a suitable type of hay as a foundation for their feeding program.

  1. Grass Hay

    • Many types of grass are used for horse hay.

      Timothy hay is a popular hay choice for horses and can be grown in many states across the United States, although it is not drought-tolerant. Bermudagrasses are common in the southern states, with the taller coastal varieties used for hay production. Hay made from other grasses -- such as wheatgrass, bromegrass, oatgrass, Russian wildrye and orchardgrass -- are more common up north. Kentucky bluegrass is a favorite among horse owners and does well in the winter, but not in areas prone to dryness. Oat grass hay is another suitable choice for horses.

    Alfalfa Hay

    • Alfalfa, a favorite among horses and their owners, provides important nutrients.

      Alfalfa is a legume. Horses love alfalfa -- so much so that caution must be taken so they do not overeat and get obese, or worse, have digestive problems. Alfalfa is high in protein and energy, and provides your horse with important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C.

    Grass/Alfalfa Mix

    • Alfalfa can be grown with other hay grasses and baled together for a nice hay combination.

      Grass and alfalfa hay mixes are also popular and very good for horses, such as Timothy hay and alfalfa. Smooth bromegrass, wheatgrasses, and orchardgrasses also mix nicely with alfalfa for a quality hay that is palatable and offers excellent nutritional support for horses.

    Other Legumes

    • Other legumes such as clover are also commonly mixed with hay grasses for horse hay.

      Alfalfa may be the most common legume known to horse owners, but it is certainly not the only one that works well in horse pasture and hay cuttings. Red and sweet clover are very common in some parts of the U.S., and to a lesser extent, birdsfoot refoil and lespedeza. Legumes may cause your horse to salivate excessively -- sometimes referred to as slobber -- which, while it is not a health issue, may not be desirable for sale or performance horses.