Soaking your horse’s hay might seem strange or unnecessary if you haven’t done so before. However, there are several reasons why you might want to soak your horse’s hay based on the benefits that have been discovered by equine research.
In this article, you’ll gain a better understanding of why you might need to soak your horse’s hay, how long to properly soak hay, the equine health conditions soaking hay can help and forage alternatives when hay soaking may not be the best option.
Why Soak Your Horse’s Hay?
One of the most common reasons for soaking hay is to reduce the amount of sugars and starches (non-structural carbohydrates; NSC) in the forage. The types of sugars measured in forages are called water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Ultimately, soaking hay can help horses that are insulin resistant, overweight or have certain diseases.
While soaking hay will decrease NSC, it does not guarantee it will decrease it to a low enough concentration for all horses, depending on how high the NSC of the hay is before soaking. For that reason, it is beneficial to have hay tested before and after soaking.
If the hay is already lower in NSC (less than 10% NSC), soaking it is likely unnecessary. Alternatively, not all hay that is soaked will become low enough in NSC to be appropriate for horses with NSC sensitivities.
The varying structural composition of hay impacts how much sugar will be removed by soaking. This means, it is difficult to give a firm cut off for the number at which hay is too high in NSC to be safe—even if soaked. As a rough rule of thumb, hay that tests greater than 14% NSC (WSC + starch) before soaking should be tested post-soaking to ensure that NSC is decreased adequately enough.
Another reason to soak hay is to minimize the amount of airborne dust and debris within the hay and help make the remaining dust particles heavier and less likely to be inhaled. Soaking hay significantly decreases the amount of respirable dust particles, including mold spores, bacteria, and plant fragments, which can trigger respiratory issues when inhaled.
What Equine Health Conditions Does Soaking Hay Help?
For many horses, forage, such as hay, is the primary source of NSC in their diet. Because soaking hay can help remove some of the NSC, this can potentially help make hay safer for horses with sugar and starch sensitivities.
Soaking hay is ideal for horses with conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome and PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy) Type 1, both of which require a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) diet.
Since soaking hay also helps decrease dust particles, certain respiratory conditions can reap benefits from soaking hay. Some of these conditions include equine asthma, heaves and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
How To Properly Soak Your Horse’s Hay
To properly soak hay, it should be fully submerged in fresh, cool water. A clean trash can or large bin can be used for soaking hay for horses. Many people find the easiest method is to place the hay into a hay net first and then submerge it in water.
If hay is being soaked for the purpose of decreasing mold spores to help horses with conditions like Equine Asthma, soaking hay the wrong way can add too much moisture, which can encourage mold growth, furthering health complications. Hay that is soaked for the purpose of decreasing mold spores should be consumed in a short period of time after soaking, especially in hot weather. Soaking hay out of direct sunlight in hot weather is also recommended
When finished, the water used to soak the hay should be disposed of and fresh water should be used the next time you soak your horse’s hay. Hay should also be rinsed after soaking to remove excess water and any residual soluble sugars that leach out into the soaking water.
Removing excess water from the hay after soaking might make it more appealing for horses that are picky eaters.
How Long to Soak Your Horse’s Hay?
The length of time you soak your horse’s hay partly depends on what condition for which you are soaking the hay. Typically, hay should be soaked in cool water for 15 to 60 minutes and then fed right away to prevent the growth of mold. Soaking hay for up to an hour can reduce sugars by roughly 30% to 40%.
Soaking hay for longer than 60 minutes may remove more sugars, but after 60 minutes, the undesirable loss of other nutrients begins to occur. For example, mineral losses begin after 60 minutes, but more importantly, the fiber components of the hay also begin to leach out as well.
Soaking hay for around 10 to 30 minutes is recommended to reduce small particles that can enter the horse’s airways by up to 90% for about 1 to 2 hours after soaked.
For horses with HYPP, soaking hay in water for 15 to 60 minutes can reduce the amount of potassium in the hay by 30% to 65%.
Forage Alternative Options
Soaking hay can be a great way to help horses with certain health conditions. However, soaking hay does have the downsides of being labor intensive and requiring the hay to be consumed quickly to prevent mold growth from the additional moisture.
Options like beet pulp, hay cubes, hay pellets, and complete feed can be used as substitutes. A guaranteed low NSC, commercial bagged forage is an easy alternative option for horses that require a low NSC diet.
In particular, Tribute Nutrition’s Seniority Pellet was designed to be a complete feed and provide all the necessary nutrients when used as the sole forage source. This can be helpful for horses needing a high fiber diet, as well as those with dental issues since it’s soft, and thus, easily chewable.
If you have questions about your horse’s diet, especially for those struggling with any of the conditions mentioned above, you can contact us for a free, personalized feeding plan!
