Which Roughage Suits Which Horse? 

There is no general difference in hay feeding between stallions and mares. For stallions during breeding season, who may be more nervous and often experience dual demands from both breeding and sport, a generous roughage supply can have a calming effect. Roughage satisfies the horse’s natural need to chew and provides occupation. It also helps prevent gastric ulcers by ensuring there is always forage in the stomach.

As horses age, their cells shrink and retain less water. This leads to a decrease in metabolism and reduced ability to store nutrients. Many older horses find it harder to eat dry hay due to worn teeth and slower intestinal movement. In these cases, soaked hay is often the easiest to consume.

For horses kept in open stables, roughage should be offered in multiple covered racks on a dry surface inside a pasture shelter.

How to Recognize High-Quality Hay

“It’s important that the grass is harvested at the right time, not when it’s still young, but once it’s in bloom, as that’s when the raw fiber content is higher,” emphasizes Katja Wagner from the Equine Husbandry Division at the Chamber of Agriculture Schleswig-Holstein. “Only then the first cut should take place. Horses need this fiber for healthy digestion. Chewing and salivation should take as much time as possible.”

Feeding Smart: Quantity, Timing & Structure

Roughage should make up at least 70 percent of a horse’s daily feed intake, especially for sport horses or breeding stallions. Depending on the horse’s workload, this share can increase to up to 100 percent, such as in the case of lightly ridden leisure horses or senior horses. Feeding breaks should never be too long, as this can unnecessarily stress the stomach and intestines.

As herbivores and animals originally adapted to life on the steppe, horses would naturally spend 16 to 18 hours a day grazing with their heads lowered and their backs rounded. Offering hay on the ground most closely replicates this natural feeding posture. However, some horses tend to scatter their hay across the floor, contaminating it and trampling it. This can lead to losses and, in outdoor settings, mixing with sand, which may cause colic. For horses that gain weight easily, caution is needed with freely accessible hay. In these cases, tightly meshed hay nets (with mesh sizes under three centimeters) or special hay boxes and feeders are better options.

In general, 1.5 kilograms of roughage should be fed per 100 kilograms of body weight per day. If a horse’s body condition score is above six (on a scale of one to nine), feed adjustments may be necessary. To determine this, the horse’s weight must be accurately measured.

Conclusion: Choose Roughage Thoughtfully – For a Healthy Horse Life

To keep your horse as healthy as possible, it’s important to take a close look at the quality of roughage and to offer the best available option. In most cases, simple tests are enough to detect whether forage is spoiled or contaminated. In certain situations, feeding haylage may be the better choice. However, soaking or steaming hay, as well as feeding hay cobs, can also serve as effective alternatives.

During the summer season, horses should consume as much roughage as possible directly from pasture. As a general rule, more than 70 percent of the daily ration should consist of roughage.