Grass Hay Delivery

Grass hay is recommended as the staple of your horse’s diet. Again, if the horse is not pastured where there is plenty of healthy grass available, they will need hay supplied for them. All horses will need grass hay in some amount. Let’s look at some of the factors that will help you determine what your horse needs.

• Nutrient Needs – What stage of life is your horse in? What types of nutrients are important for this stage? You may want to talk with your equine vet to get clear information on this.
• Size and Age – The type of nutrients needed and the amount of nutrients needed will be determined in large part by size and age. Again, an equine vet will be able to give you detailed info concerning this.
• Cost – Cost will also play a part in what you purchase. You do want what is best for your horse, but there will need to be practical choices made as well concerning cost.

Grass hay is often categorized as cool season and warm season. As the name suggests, this is based on when the grasses grow during the year. All grass hay, both cool and warm, provides adequate protein for most horses as well as the vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Therefore, in the wild, grass is a horse’s natural food source.

Horses usually only need added nutrients if they are strenuously worked, are underweight or a higher protein feed is recommended by their vet.

There are different types of grass that can be purchased for hay grass. Let’s look at some of the most common types.

• Bermudagrass – This type of hay grass grows easily so that it can be produced in large quantities. It is a nutritious type of grass hay that grows well in the hot south.
• Crabgrass – Although most homeowners do not fancy crabgrass, horses can benefit from this high-protein grass hay. In fact, crabgrass has the highest protein rating.
• Timothy and Orchard Grass – Both types of grass hay come highly recommended for feed for horses. Timothy grass has a sweet taste, and many horses prefer it.

Almost as important as deciding what to feed your horse will be the decision of how much to feed it. When a horse is feeding in a pasture, this is not too much of an issue. The horse will graze and stop according to its needs. However, this can be very different when a horse is eating hay in a barn or stable. Many horses will overeat when they are not in a pasture. This means that it is your responsibility as the horse owner to ensure that your horse is eating the appropriate amount of feed.

The horse’s nutritional needs, however, will be based on its size and age. The best way to determine what your horse needs will be to sit down with an equine vet. A professional will be able to discuss with you your particular horse’s nutritional needs. You will also be able to discuss the horse’s changing needs as they age.

It is a good idea to make a connection with a reliable equine vet as soon as you become a horse owner. This way, you always have a professional on your side for important questions.