Tips for Feeding New Hay

Be sure new hay is dry and free of dust and mold, and always introduce it to horses’ diets slowly.
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Last year’s hay is nearly gone, but the farmers have been busy growing and harvesting their hay crop. Before you know it, fresh new bales have arrived at your farm. Those bright green bales being stacked in your loft is a beautiful sight!

But some horse owners have concerns about new hay. Will the hay change cause horses to colic or founder? We’ve been warned against feeding grass clippings to horses, or hay that’s just been mown. So is new hay dangerous, too? Should it sit for a while before feeding?

The good news is that as long as it’s been properly cured, your new hay should be fine to feed.

To check that new hay in your loft, simply open a bale and take a look at it, smell it, and feel it. If it is dry and smells good, you’re fine. But if it is wet and/or smells musty, it has not been properly cured and is not safe to feed

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