Tag Archives: horse care

Tips and more information for horse care from Klene Pipe Structures, creator of the Hay Saver Hay Feeder for horses and cattle.

How Much Hay Should You Feed Your Horse – and What Type Is Best?

Blogfeeding horses, hay feeding, horse care, horse hay

Feeding horses hay might seem simple, but choosing the right amount and type is one of the most important decisions you can make for your horse’s health. Hay forms the foundation of every horse’s diet, providing essential fiber, energy, and nutrients that keep the digestive system working smoothly. This can be crucial for maintaining good health and preventing health problems, such as horse colic.

How Much Hay Should a Horse Eat?

As a rule of thumb, most adult horses should eat 1.5%–2.5% of their body weight in hay (dry matter) each day.

A 1,000-pound (450-kg) horse needs 15–25 pounds of hay per day.
Horses that feed on rich pasture may do better with the lower end of that amount.
Performance horses, growing horses, or those in cold climates often need more hay..

Hay Should Be Measured in Weight – Not Scoops

Always weigh your hay instead of guessing by handfuls. Hay density can vary by bale type and forage type. A “flake” of light, fluffy grass hay can weigh half as much as one from a dense alfalfa bale, which can throw feeding estimates off by several pounds a day.

How to Adjust for Hay Amounts Your Horse’s Needs

Every horse is different. The right amount of hay depends on:

Body condition score (BCS): Keep most horses between a 4 and 6 on the Henneke scale.
Workload: Horses in moderate to heavy exercise burn more calories and may need additional hay or supplemental grain.
Weather: In cold or wet conditions, horses use extra energy to stay warm, increasing hay needs.

Choosing the Best Type of Hay

Hay quality is not just about appearance; the type of forage, harvest, storage conditions, and nutrient balance all affect how nutritious and safe it is.

Grass Hays — Ideal for Most Horses

Pros: Lower in protein and calories than legumes; good for maintenance or light work.
Best for: Easy keepers, ponies, and horses prone to laminitis or metabolic issues.

Legume Hays — High Protein, High Energy

Pros: Rich in protein, calcium, and calories — great for growing, lactating, or hard-working horses.
Cons: Too rich for idle or overweight horses.
Best for: Performance horses, broodmares, underweight or growing horses.

Mixed Grass-Legume Hays — Balanced Nutrition

Pros: Offers a good middle ground — more protein than grass hay but less than pure alfalfa.
Best for: Most horses, especially if you’re feeding a variety of activity levels.

How to Tell if Hay is High Quality

Good quality hay should:

Smell fresh and slightly sweet — never musty or moldy.
Feel soft and pliable, not brittle or coarse.
It should contain mostly leaves, since that’s where most nutrients are stored.
Be free of weeds, debris, or excessive dust.

Feeding Your Horses Outdoors

If feeding your horses outdoors, a hay saver feeder is a good option for maintaining hay quality and preventing waste. You can easily add a roof to the hay saver feeder, helping to further protect your hay feed from the elements.

Storing Hay

To maintain quality between feedings, horse hay should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area. Hay needs protection from moisture (both rain and condensation) and good airflow to prevent trapped heat.

Feeding your horse the right hay — in the right amount — is one of the simplest yet best ways to keep your horse healthy, happy, and performing at their best. Start with high-quality forage, feed by weight not scoop, and make adjustments based on your horse’s body condition and workload. When in doubt, consult an equine nutritionist or veterinarian — a little expert input can make a big difference in your horse’s long-term health and longevity.

The Benefits of Using a Hay Saver Feeder: A Smart Investment for Horse Owners

Blogfeeding horses, hay feeding, horse care

Feeding your horses efficiently is essential for both horse health and your bottom line. If you’re tired of seeing hay trampled, wasted, or soiled, a hay saver feeder is a great solution. Designed to reduce hay waste and improve feeding conditions, hay saver feeders offer many benefits for horse owners.

1. Reduce Hay Waste by Up to 30% or More

Traditional feeding can lead to significant hay loss as horses pull hay to the ground, where it gets trampled or soiled. Hay saver feeders are designed to contain loose hay while still allowing horses to graze. This minimizes the amount of hay that ends up on the ground – saving you money in the long run.

2. Keeps Hay Clean and Dry

Our hay saver feeders are elevated to allow moisture to escape while keeping hay off muddy ground. It also has a floor in it, which keeps your hay bale off of the ground and fresh. You can also easily add a roof to help protect hay from the elements. This can reduce the risk of mold and contamination of the hay.

3. Supports Horse Health

Cleaner, fresher hay means better horse nutrition. When hay stays unsoiled, horses are more likely to eat their fill. The patented fold-down grills of our horse hay feeder are designed to make it impossible for your horse and animals to bury their head into the bale, thus eliminating breathing problems from inhaling hay dust.

4. Saves Time and Man Power

Less wasted hay means fewer trips to the field to replenish it. Hay saver feeders often require less maintenance and refilling, freeing up time for other tasks. And, because they help keep hay more contained, there’s less cleanup needed. In addition, the grill on our hay feeder can be locked into the upright position to make it safe for the horse and animals when you are loading a new hay bale. This feature also allows you to discontinue feeding at any time, and it makes this hay feeder a breeze to clean out

5. Durability and Long-Term Hay Savings

Our hay saver feeders are built from sturdy materials making them resistant to rust, weather, and horse wear-and-tear. While the initial investment may be higher than basic feeders, the reduction in wasted hay often leads to a return on investment within a single season.

6. Environmentally Friendly

By reducing hay waste, you’re also reducing your overall hay demand, which can help conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of hay production and transport. Fewer trips to haul and distribute new hay also means reduced fuel usage.

A Smarter Way to Feed Your Horses

Whether you’re managing a small farm or a large-scale operation, a hay saver feeder is a smart, cost-effective tool to improve your horse feeding. It’s a win-win: your horses get clean, consistent access to hay, and you reduce costs, waste, and labor.

Looking to upgrade your feeding system? A hay saver feeder might be your best investment this season. Learn more about our Hay Saver Feeders.

Preparing Your Horse for Warm Weather

Blog, Tipsheat, horse care, horse shelter, portable shade, run in shelters, shelter, spring, summer

The temperatures are rising, the sun’s out, and we don’t have to worry about the snow anymore. Spring and summer are on their way! Without proper preparation, warmer weather can lead to dehydration, lethargy, and added stress for your horse. As the weather continues to get nicer, here are some tips and reminders for getting your horse re-acclimated to the warmer temperatures.

Take it Slow – Your horse just spent several months taking it easy as we waited out the cold winter. The worst thing you can do is jump right back into the saddle (literally) and expect to train as usual. Slowly incorporate more riding time throughout the next few weeks. The heat can be especially fatiguing even without physical activity involved. It is important to monitor your horse to ensure they acclimate to the physical activity and the heat well before increasing riding time.

Prepare for Bugs – Everyone likes being outside when the weather is nice, including bugs. Besides being annoying, insects can carry diseases and irritate your horses. Make sure to treat outdoor horse shelters and portable shade structures for insects to keep them away.

Provide Shade – If your horses are outside most of the day, provide some form of shade for them to escape the hot sun. Run-in shelters and portable shade structures are great ways to offer shade for your horses away from the barn. Run-in shelters are also great at keeping your horses dry during spring showers and summer rain.

Electrolytes and Cold Water – Make sure you are changing their water frequently as it can warm easily in the sun. Not only do horses not like warm water, but it can also pose health concerns if left for too long. Make sure you provide them with cool drinking water that is easily accessible. Drinking water isn’t enough to maintain healthy horses when the temperatures are hot. Make sure to provide a source of electrolytes, too, like a salt block for added minerals.

Even if you follow all these tips, make sure to closely monitor your horses in hot weather as heat stroke can sneak up on them. If you are concerned that your horse could be suffering from heat-related issues, bring your horse into a cooler environment and contact your vet.

Protecting Your Horse from the Elements

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Whether it is the dead of winter or peak summer, protecting your horse from harsh weather is important for their overall health and well-being. Here are some preventative measures you can take to keep your horse healthy when the weather isn’t great, along with things to look out for during the winter and summer months:

Horse Shelter Kits: Give your horse protection from the elements with a horse shelter kit. In the summer, it provides much-needed shade from the hot sun, and in the winter, it protects them from hail, snow, and rain. Whether you choose a portable shade or a run-in shelter, you can ensure that your horse is protected from unruly weather.

Horse Hoods, Turnout Blankets, and Coats: When the temperatures drop and it starts to snow, consider putting on extra layers for your horse. Although they have a natural coat that thickens in the month leading up to winter, they may still need extra layers to stay warm and dry.

Sun Cream for Horses: Horses with lighter pink or white skin on their nose and face are more prone to sun damage in the summertime. Along with a shade structure, like a horse shelter kit, sun cream can help protect your horse’s skin from sunburn.

Fly Protectants in the Warmer Months: When the weather gets warmer and the sun comes out, so do the flies. Although flies might seem like a mere annoyance, they can transmit disease to your horse, cause welts and skin irritation, and even cause damage to your horse’s hooves from aggressive stomping. Using a mix of fly repellent, like citronella, and leg bands can help keep flies away from your horses.

Keep Your Horse Hydrated: Dehydration is a big problem in the summer, but did you know that the winter can be just as dangerous to keep your horse hydrated? Horses get a lot of their hydration from grazing on moist pastures in the fall and spring, but that moisture is gone in the summer and winter.
- Summer- Just like humans, horses sweat when they overheat which, on its own, can lead to dehydration. But water can grow algae when it is hot outside, making it taste different, which means your horse may not drink it. To avoid this, make sure you are cleaning their trough regularly and checking it for debris. Also, make sure that the water is cool to encourage your horse to drink from it.
- Winter- Keeping your horse hydrated in the winter poses its own challenges. Water troughs are prone to freezing and horses don’t enjoy ice-cold water, especially when it is already cold outside. Make sure automatic pumps aren’t frozen so water can circulate. Adding a few apples can also help keep water from freezing thanks to the bobbing motion. Adding salt or electrolytes to their food can also encourage them to drink more water, but consult your veterinarian before doing so regularly.

Knowing how to spot signs of distress, dehydration, or discomfort when the weather changes is vital for maintaining your horse’s health. Having the right tools at your disposal helps you avoid the consequences of bad weather and sets you up for success come summer or winter. Along with the tips above, adding a horse shelter kit is a great way to protect your horse from bad weather.

Preparing Your Horse for Winter Weather

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As the temperature begins to drop, it’s time to start preparing your horse for the cold and snowy season ahead. Just as we humans bundle up and make adjustments for the colder months, our equine friends require some special care to ensure their comfort and well-being during the winter season. Here are some essential tips to help you get your horse ready for the colder months.

Horse Shelter and Bedding:

One of the most critical aspects of winter preparation is ensuring that your horse has adequate shelter. Whether it’s a well-insulated barn or a three-sided run-in shelter, your horse should have a place to escape the wind, rain, and snow. Provide plenty of clean, dry bedding, such as straw or shavings, to keep your horse warm and dry.

Horse Blanketing:

Horses are generally well-equipped to handle cold weather, but some may benefit from a winter horse blanket. The need for blanketing varies depending on the horse’s age, health, and coat thickness. Generally, very young and very old horses should be blanketed. Healthy adult horses typically are fine with their winter coat that comes in when the days get shorter.

Keeping Your Horse Hydrated:

In winter, it’s crucial to ensure your horse has access to fresh, unfrozen water. Invest in heated water buckets or trough heaters to prevent the water from freezing. Horses can become dehydrated in cold weather, so monitor their water consumption closely. Salt intake is important year-round, but especially in the wintertime. Salt intake during the cold months helps promote water consumption to keep your horse hydrated.

Proper Nutrition for Your Horse:

Horses require extra calories to maintain their body temperature in the cold. Consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to adjust your horse’s diet for the winter months. High-quality hay provides both essential nutrients and generates heat during digestion, helping to keep your horse warm. To decrease food waste, try a hay saver hay feeder.

Exercise for Your Horse:

Keep your horse active during the winter. Riding or turnout time in a safe, dry paddock is essential to maintain their physical and mental well-being. Stagnation in a stall can lead to stiffness and boredom.

With adequate preparation, your horse will transition into winter easily. Use these tips to keep your horse healthy this winter.