Forage is essential for your horse’s health, but do you know your haylage from your chaff? Here’s a quick guide to the main types…

Nothing is more important to your horse’s health than a supply of quality forage. It’s essential to maintain a healthy gut, help him stay warm, and keep him mentally and physically active. Left to roam, a horse will eat between two to three per cent of his bodyweight each day, and it’s vital we replicate this grazing pattern by offering ad-lib forage (for an average 500kg horse that’s at least 10kg a day). Grass, hay and haylage are the main types, but if your horse has trouble chewing, or you want to increase his uptake, think alfalfa, sugar beet and high fibre nuts, too.

IMPORTANT: Always seek the advice of a vet or qualified equine nutritionist if you are worried about any aspect of your horse’s digestive health, teeth, or he is prone to conditions such as laminitis.

Grass
Benefits: High in calories, fibre and protein.
Watch out for: A lack of trace vitamins and minerals. Grass is only as good as the soil it’s grown in and it can be low in copper and selenium, so feed a vitamin and mineral supplement to balance the diet.
Suited to: All horses, although laminitics must have very carefully controlled access (chat to your vet for advice if you’re worried).

Hay
Benefits: Feeding hay ad-lib mimics grazing behaviour in the stable and helps prevent boredom.
Watch out for: Dusty, mouldy hay poses a risk to the respiratory system. Even quality hay will contain some mould and dust, so it can be a good idea to soak it for 20-30 minutes. It may also contain poisonous plants.
Suited to: All horses (if soaked). Soak for longer – a minimum of 12 hours – for good-doers, as this reduces its calories.

Haylage
Benefits: Cut and baled within 24 hours, it’s high in nutrients, digestible fibre, calories and protein.
Watch out for: It has a higher moisture content than hay, so you need to feed more to give enough fibre (15kg of haylage is equivalent to 10kg of hay). Once opened, a bale soon spoils.
Suited to: All horses, especially those with dust allergies, though again speak to a vet or qualified nutritionist if you’re concerned about your horse’s weight, his teeth and ability to chew, or the risk of laminitis.

Straw
Benefits: Oat or barley straw is a low-calorie forage, ideal for mixing with hay.
Watch out for: Feeding straw was traditionally thought to cause impact colic, although if your horse’s teeth are good and he has access to water, this is unlikely. Chat to your vet if you have any concerns.
Suited to: Good-doers.

Alfalfa
Benefits: High in fibre, calories, digestible fibre and protein, studies have shown it can act as a ‘buffer’ to regulate acid levels, maintaining a healthy gut.
Watch out for: Weight gain (it can provide as much energy as a cool mix).
Suited to: Veterans and poor-doers, though take expert advice if your horse has any health issues.

Chaff
Benefits: Chaff (chopped straw) adds low-calorie bulk to feed and increases chewing time. Choose a low-sugar, low-starch product if your horse is a good-doer.
Watch out for: Hidden calories in mollassed chaffs.
Suited to: All horses, especially good-doers and laminitics (if unmollased).

High fibre nuts
Benefits: Low energy and balanced with vitamins and minerals, these can be fed as a hay replacer to horses who have trouble chewing.
Watch out for: The manufacturer’s instructions as some feeds require soaking before feeding.
Suited to: The majority of horses, especially veterans.

Sugar beet
Benefits: A source of easily digestible fibre, it’s ideal for horses with poor teeth, and can be used as a partial forage replacer.
Watch out for: It must be soaked.
Suited to: The majority of horses, especially veterans.