What are the problems with feeding horses freshly cut haythanks

Horse myths include some long held but erroneous beliefs about feeding hay. If your hay is baled at an optimum moisture level of 16 to 20% it is ready to feed to your horse as soon as it is baled. It is dangerous to feed grass that is still drying (this includes lawnmower clippings you may be tempted to throw over the fence), as these can ferment in the horses gut and cause colic. Hay that is incorrectly dried will become mouldy while in storage and should not be fed for the same reasons. I have been feeding quality hay, straight off the field, for many years with no problems.

If you are not sure about the quality you can take a sample of the hay and get it analyzed to find out it's moisture content, and what else you will need to feed to your horse for optimum nutrition.

Horse owners and hay producers don't always agree on how to identify safe, good-quality horse hay. Here is a list of six key characteristics horse owners should consider when evaluating horse hay:

1. Buy hay baled between 15-17% moisture and it should be free of mold. With small square bales, you can sometimes get away with baling at 18-20% moisture without spoilage. More-dense big square bales should be put up below 16% moisture for safe storage. Hay baled above 25% moisture poses the threat of severe heat damage or spoilage, mold growth, and/or hay fires. Hay put up at 20-25% moisture and properly treated with organic acid preservatives can be fed safely to horses. Horses, however, may require a short adaptation period to readily consume this hay.