WHAT THE HAY? CHEWING ON HAY RESEARCH: PREPARATION, DELIVERY, AND HORSE HEALTH

Hay may look like the simplest part of a horse's diet, but as University of Guelph professor Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller explains, it's the foundation of equine health and far more complex than it appears.

Horses are designed to graze for 14-18 hours a day, relying on a steady flow of forage to protect the stomach, fuel the hindgut, and support overall wellbeing. Whether we feed hay dry, soaked, or steamed, those decisions matter.

Each method shifts something, from dust levels to nutrients and even taste, and knowing the differences helps us choose what's best for our horses. In a University of Guelph study, Shoveller and her team examined how these treatments change the hay, how horses respond, and why the "right" choice depends entirely on the individual horse.