Hay generally falls into one of two categories - grasses or legumes. Horse hay is often a mixture of the two. What is readily available and most cost effective generally depends on the part of the country in which you live. Hay's nutritive value and palatability (i.e. how much your horse enjoys eating it) will depend on a number of factors, such as: Plant Species, Level of Plant Maturity at Harvest, Weed Content, Growing Conditions (rain, weather, insects, disease), Curing & Harvesting Conditions, Soil Conditions and Fertility, Moisture Content, Length & Method of Storage.

The ILPH is often asked questions such as "How do I feed my horse or pony, and what feed should I provide?" Before answering these questions, let us consider why an animal requires food, how it feeds in its natural state, and what are the basic rules of feeding.

What factors affect the nutrient requirements of horses? How do you assess body condition in horses? What is the most common sign of energy deficiency or energy excess in the horse? What class of horse has the highest energy and protein requirements? Do performance horses need lots of protein? Do pregnant mares need a more nutritious diet? Do lactating (milking mares) need a more nutritious diet? What is the recommended minimum data needed from a feed analysis? And many other FAQs.

Ask the Experts: Adult Horse Hay Needs, by Dr. Carolyn R. Simmelink. A veterinarian provides advice on daily hay, grain and grass portions for adult horses.

Articles on Horse Feeding and Nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia. Feeding Wheat to Horses in a Drought; Drought Feeding and Management for Horses; Pastures for Horses PDF; Feeding the Brood Mare PDF; Practical Feeding of Horses; Feeding the Working Horse; A Bin for Storing Horse Feeds; Feeding Horses in Australia; Practical Horse Nutrition

Basic Horse Feeding Facts, Feeding Grain and Hay and Watering Safely - by Cheryl Sutor August 1997. Horses have small stomachs and short intestines, therefore, they cannot handle large amounts of grain at one time. Horses should be fed frequently, but in small amounts (3+ times daily). Horses cannot vomit. This means that whatever a horse eats - whether it be oats, molasses, moldy hay, or rusty nails - it must go all the way through his digestive system. This inability to vomit is the most common reason colic is a big problem with horses.

Compared to other classes of livestock, there seems to be more myths and wives' tales when it comes to feeding horses. Many of these myths are long-held "traditions" that have been passed down unquestioned from horseman to horseman. Some myths are based on fear of causing harm to the horse. Other myths stem from lack of understanding of either the feed or how the horse may digest it.

Feed ingredients needed for horses are the same as for other livestock. They are carbohydrates, fats, protein, minerals, vitamins and water. The first three of these can yield energy. Major sources of energy and protein are grains and roughages, including pasture. An artile by Melvin Bradley and W.H. Pfander, from the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia.

Making premium hay is both an art and a science. While much of the success of a hay field can be attributed to such technical factors as seed selection and fertilization, the critical moments of when to mow and bale require somewhat of a sixth sense. Luck, especially with the weather, also plays a large part in making good hay. By Cherry Hill, 1998.