Hay & Forage: The Foundation of Every Horse's Diet

Hay isn't just filler — it's the engine of equine digestion. Here's how to judge hay quality, choose between alfalfa and grass hay, and store it well in Indian conditions.

Ask any equine nutritionist what the most important part of a horse's diet is, and the answer is always the same: forage. Long before grain or supplements, it is the quality and quantity of hay and pasture that determines whether a horse thrives. In India, where good grazing is often limited, getting hay right is even more critical.

Why forage matters so much

The horse's hindgut is a giant fermentation vat that turns fibre into energy and heat. A constant fibre supply keeps this microbiome stable, buffers stomach acid to prevent ulcers, and keeps the horse mentally settled. Remove forage and the whole system destabilises within hours.

Legume hay vs grass hay

• Alfalfa (lucerne): a legume, high in protein, calcium and energy. Excellent for growing, working and lactating horses — feed as part of the ration, not the whole.
• Grass hays (oat, timothy-type, meadow): lower in protein and calories, higher in fibre. Ideal as the everyday base for most horses and easy keepers.

Most horses do best on a grass-hay base with alfalfa added according to workload. EquiOne offers both premium alfalfa and grass forage options, plus convenient hay pellets and chaff for horses that need dust-free or measured fibre.

How to judge hay quality

• Colour: green rather than yellow or brown (sun-bleaching means lost vitamins)
• Smell: sweet and fresh — never musty, mouldy or fermented
• Leaf-to-stem ratio: more soft leaf, fewer coarse woody stems
• Cleanliness: free of dust, mould, weeds and foreign objects

“Feed the best hay you can source. No supplement can rescue a horse from poor-quality forage.”

Feeding rates & storage in India

Offer 1.5–2% of body weight in forage daily, split so hay is available for most of the day. Store bales off the ground on pallets, in a dry, well-ventilated space away from monsoon damp — mould is the biggest enemy of hay in Indian conditions. Slow-feed nets extend eating time and reduce waste.

When hay pellets and chaff help

Hay pellets and chaff are invaluable for senior horses with poor teeth, for controlling intake, and for reliably measuring forage when baled hay quality is inconsistent. EquiOne hay pellets deliver clean, dust-free fibre with a consistent nutritional profile all year round.