What type of forage is best for my horse?
This largely depends on your horse’s bodyweight and energy needs. For good doers or horses in light work, sources of fibre that are less digestible and therefore less energy-dense are most suitable, as you can feed more without promoting weight gain. These include late-cut hay, as well as straw. Grazing also needs to be managed in order to keep weight down. For laminitis-prone horses it’s advisable to get forage tested and, if possible, select one that supplies less than 10% sugar and starch added together. Conversely, performance horses or those that struggle to maintain weight need more-digestible forages or energydense sources of fibre. These include earlier-cut hay or haylage and additional fibre sources like sugar beet and alfalfa. Sugar beet provides 1112MJ/kg of digestible energy, which is comparable to a medium to high-energy mix, while alfalfa supplies 10MJ/kg. If alfalfa is combined with oil, it can supply up to 12.5MJ/kg digestible energy, which is equivalent to a conditioning mix/cube but without the starch. For the performance horse, good respiratory health is also vital. Steamed hay, haylage and high-temperature dried forages offer a more hygienic fibre source compared to those that are sun-cured, such as hay and straw.