You can build the most detailed horse feeding plan possible, but if you do not know the nutritional value of your hay, you are still making educated guesses.
Hay often makes up 50–100% of a horse’s diet, and its nutritional content can vary dramatically depending on grass species, maturity at harvest, growing conditions, fertilization, storage, and weather. Two bales that look nearly identical may have completely different protein, sugar, and calorie levels.
A hay analysis is one of the most valuable tools horse owners can use to improve feeding accuracy. For roughly $15–30, a forage test can help you balance your horse’s diet, avoid nutritional deficiencies, and better manage conditions like obesity, insulin resistance, and laminitis.
Why Hay Testing Matters for Horses
Hay testing matters because two bales of "grass hay" from different farms can have dramatically different nutritional profiles:
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Protein: Can range from 6% to 16%
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Energy (DE): Can range from 0.7 to 1.1 Mcal/lb
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NSC (sugar + starch): Can range from 5% to 25%+ (critical for metabolic horses)
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Calcium-to-Phosphorus ratio: Imbalances can cause skeletal problems, especially in growing horses
Without testing, you're making feeding decisions based on assumptions. With testing, you know exactly what your horse is getting.
This becomes especially important for:
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Easy keeper horses
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Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
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Horses with insulin resistance
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Horses prone to laminitis
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Senior horses
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Growing horses
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Performance horses with higher calorie demands
Hay testing allows you to make informed feeding decisions instead of relying on visual appearance alone.
What Does a Hay Test Tell You?
A forage analysis measures the nutritional composition of your hay so you can better match it to your horse’s needs.
A typical hay test may evaluate:
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Crude protein
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Digestible energy (DE)
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NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrates)
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Fiber levels
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Moisture content
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Mineral levels
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Calcium-to-phosphorus ratios
For horse owners managing metabolic horses, NSC levels are often one of the most important numbers on the report.
Why NSC Levels Matter
NSC stands for Non-Structural Carbohydrates, which includes sugar and starch content in forage.
High-NSC hay may increase the risk of:
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Insulin spikes
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Weight gain
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Laminitis flare-ups
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Metabolic stress
For many horses with insulin resistance, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, or laminitis history, nutritionists often recommend hay with NSC levels below 10–12%.
Since sugar levels cannot be accurately determined by appearance alone, forage testing is the best way to identify whether hay is appropriate for metabolic horses.
How to Collect a Hay Sample
Collecting a representative sample is critical for accurate results.
Taking a single handful from one bale does not provide enough information to accurately reflect an entire hay batch.
1. Use a Hay Probe or Hay Corer
A hay corer collects samples from the center of the bale, where nutrients and moisture are more evenly represented.
Many county extension offices, feed stores, or agricultural programs offer hay probes for loan.
2. Sample Multiple Bales
Collect samples from approximately 12–20 bales from the same cutting or hay lot.
Sampling multiple bales helps create an average nutritional profile for the entire batch.
3. Combine and Mix the Samples
Place all hay cores into a clean bucket and mix thoroughly.
Then transfer approximately one quart of the mixed sample into a sealed plastic bag.
4. Label the Sample Clearly
Include:
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Hay type
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Cutting number if known
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Date collected
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Farm or supplier information
5. Send the Sample Promptly
Keep samples dry and out of direct sunlight before shipping to the lab.
Fresh, properly stored samples provide the most accurate analysis.
Where to Send Your Sample
Recommended forage analysis labs:
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Equi-Analytical (Ithaca, NY) — The gold standard for equine-specific forage testing. Offers the "Trainer" package designed specifically for horse owners.
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Dairy One (Ithaca, NY) — Same parent company, extensive testing options.
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Your state university extension service — Often offers affordable forage testing. Contact your local cooperative extension.
Request the Equine-specific panel which includes NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrates). Standard dairy panels often don't include NSC.
Understanding Hay Analysis Results
Once your forage report arrives, several key values help determine whether the hay is appropriate for your horse.
|
Measurement |
Ideal Range |
Why It Matters |
|
Dry Matter (DM) |
85-90% |
Basis for all other calculations. Under 80% means hay is too wet (mold risk). |
|
Crude Protein (CP) |
8-14% |
Below 8% for a working horse means protein supplementation is needed. |
|
ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber) |
30-38% |
Indicator of digestibility. Higher ADF = less digestible. |
|
NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) |
40-55% |
Indicator of intake potential. Higher NDF = horse eats less voluntarily. |
|
NSC (Sugar + Starch) |
<12% for metabolic horses |
Critical for horses with laminitis, Cushing's, IR, or PSSM. |
|
DE (Digestible Energy) |
0.8-1.0 Mcal/lb |
Caloric content. Higher = richer hay. |
|
Calcium:Phosphorus ratio |
1.5:1 to 2:1 |
Must be at least 1:1. Inverted ratios are dangerous for growing horses. |
What to Do With Your Hay Test Results
Once you understand your hay quality, you can make more accurate feeding adjustments.
Low Protein Hay
If protein levels are low, your horse may benefit from:
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A ration balancer
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Protein supplementation
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Higher-quality forage
High NSC Hay
If hay sugar levels are too high for metabolic horses:
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Soak hay for 30–60 minutes before feeding
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Drain thoroughly afterward
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Use slow feed hay nets to extend intake time
Hay soaking may help reduce sugar content by approximately 20–30%.
Low-Calorie Hay
Lower-energy hay may work well for:
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Easy keeper horses
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Horses on weight-loss programs
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Horses at maintenance
Performance horses or hard keepers may require additional calories beyond low-energy forage alone.
Mineral Imbalances
If calcium or phosphorus levels are unbalanced, targeted vitamin and mineral supplementation may help correct deficiencies.
How Often Should You Test Hay?
Hay should ideally be tested:
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Every time you purchase hay from a new supplier
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With each new cutting from the same field
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Whenever hay quality appears noticeably different
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At least once yearly for your primary hay source
Even hay from the same farm can vary significantly between spring, summer, and fall cuttings.
Build a More Accurate Feeding Plan
Knowing your hay quality makes it much easier to determine how much forage, grain, or supplementation your horse actually needs.
Our Horse Feeding Calculator helps you estimate:
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Daily hay intake
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Feeding amounts by workload
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Easy keeper adjustments
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Concentrate recommendations
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Supplement considerations
Use your hay analysis results alongside the calculator to create a more precise feeding program tailored to your horse.
Calculate Your Horse’s Feeding Needs →
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