\nTwenty years ago, when we built my barn, each stall came with a raised hay feeder that made
\nhay feeding a snap. However, back then, I didn\u2019t know that horses should not eat with their
\nheads raised for extended periods of time. Feeding hay from a lowered position is best because
\nit supports their natural grazing behavior, places less strain on the skeletal structure and soft
\ntissues, and allows horses to clear inhaled dust.<\/p>\n
#2 Not Feeding Enough Hay<\/strong> #3 Not Using Slow Feeders for Easy Keepers<\/strong> #4 Feeding Low-Quality Hay<\/strong> Hay really is for horses, but to best support them, avoid these five common hay-feeding The problem is that many of us get stuck in a rut, feeding hay in the same manner year in and year out. It\u2019s important to stop and think about what\u2019s best for our horses though. Sometimes, that means we might need to make some changes.For example, here are the top 5 mistakes people often…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farm"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMany people see hay as a filler instead of an important nutrient source, and this can be a
\nproblem, especially when high amounts of grain or concentrates are fed when compared to the
\namount of hay. Horses should eat at least 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in forage per day. This
\nmeans that a 1000 pound horse needs at least 15 pounds of hay each day. Feeding less than
\nthis can increase the chance of developing digestive problems like gastric ulcers and colic.<\/p>\n
\nIf you have a horse that tends to stay fat on air, it may be tempting to withhold hay from them.
\nHowever, starvation isn\u2019t the solution. In this case, it\u2019s best to slow down their consumption so
\nthat they can maintain normal blood glucose levels. This is best done with a slow feeder such as
\nthe Hay OptiMizer\u00ae or InStall Hay OptiMizer\u00ae.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-IMG_9220.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-16-106-hay-optimizer-hay-feeder1_1.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHay can be a great source of both protein and minerals and buying good-quality hay can
\nactually save you money in the long run because you won\u2019t need to feed as much grain. Good
\nquality hay should be green in color and smell and appear fresh. Also, keep in mind that hay
\nquality diminishes over time, so after it has been stored for a year or more, it\u2019s not going to be
\nnearly as nutritious.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_0320.heic\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_0320-1.heic\")
\nThere are a lot of benefits to feeding alfalfa, one being that it\u2019s high in protein and several
\nimportant minerals. However, problems can occur when alfalfa is the only type of hay fed, as it can
\ncause a calcium\/phosphorus imbalance. Likewise, too much protein can be hard on a horse\u2019s
\nkidneys. And yet a third issue is that a diet high in alfalfa has been linked to enteroliths.<\/p>\n
\nmistakes!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/AdobeStock_533655180-Large.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"