Forage is defined as any natural food source found by a horse in the wild. It should be included in the diets of all horses, and some horses’ diets should be entirely comprised of forage. Hay and grass are the most common forage sources, but many horse owners use chopped hay, as it offers a variety of benefits. This article will show you how to chop hay for horses.
Chopped hay can be a complete replacement for your horse’s forage intake, and it is the closest you can get to regular hay – but more beneficial to your horse. Chopped hay is precisely what it sounds like: hay that has been chopped into smaller pieces.
Advantages of chopped hay for horses
Chopped hay has numerous advantages. First and foremost, it is ideal for older horses who may be unable to chew grass. Chopped hay also contains a good level of fiber and calories, allowing horses to exercise and maintain body weight while also aiding in metabolic issues.
It is also safe for horses with respiratory problems because it removes harmful mold spores, dirt, and dust that can cause respiratory allergies. Chopped hay is also easier for a horse to digest, especially for older horses. Chopped hay can also be less expensive if you are able to chop your own hay.
If you want to make your chopped hay, first, you will need to purchase a hay chopper. A hay chopper can be purchased online or in stores.
Best hay choppers for horses
The best-known hay chopper in the market is the WORX WG430 13 Amp Electric Mulcher which you can chop your hay into tiny pieces.
This hay chopper is listed at around $144.99 on Amazon.
Pros:
- It has a compact design.
- It is easy to use.
Cons:
- It constantly needs to be cleaned.
You can also try the Sun Joe SDJ616 Electric Shredder, which is sold at a lower price, around $109.00, but it still does the job well.
Pros:
- It is eco-friendly.
- It is easy to set up.
Cons:
- It gets clogged easily.
Once you have purchased a hay chopper, you can follow the steps below to chop hay for horses at home properly.
How to Chop Hay for Horses
To chop hay for horses, choose the grass, prepare barrels, set up hay chopper, start chopping, and lastly feed the hay to your horse.
Step 1: Choose your grass.
Check that your hay isn’t dry and dusty. High-quality chopped hay cannot be made from stalky bales of hay. It simply does not make sense. Because most horses that eat chopped hay are seniors or special needs horses, you must ensure that the hay being chopped for them is of good quality and soft. You can also use any type of hay, as long as it is of good quality.
Step 2: Prepare your barrels.
Prepare some barrels in which to store your chopped hay. You can use bins or buckets to store your chopped hay in.
Step 3: Set up your hay chopper.
Set up your hay chopper outside where it is away from your animals. Hay choppers may make loud noises, so you want to make sure that you are away from anyone disturbed by the noise or from animals that may get scared due to the noise. Make sure that you put on gloves before you start to chop the hay.
Step 4: Start chopping your hay.
Feed the hay chopper small pieces of hay that have been broken up. Alternate between different types of hay to provide a balanced diet for your horses. I recommend a mixture of timothy and alfalfa hay to get all the nutritional benefits from the different kinds of hay. This can help prevent a grass affected horse.
Step 5: Feed the chopped hay to your horse.
You have finished chopping your hay, and you can now feed it to your horses. Make sure your hay is small enough, and if it is good quality hay, it should be chopped up nicely. It is also important that your horses have a fresh clean source of water near the hay. This is is important for hydration as well as digestion. A great way to feed hay to a horse is with a slow hay feeder.
Where to buy chopped hay for horse?
You can also buy pre-bagged chopped hay to save time, but many owners have complained that the pre-bagged hay is subpar. While chopped hay is expensive, it’s not difficult to find. Chopped hay is available at local feed stores and commercial farming supply stores. Chopped hay can also be purchased online from distributors and shipped directly to your home.
If you want to save money, cutting your hay is preferable. While it may take more time than purchasing pre-bagged chopped hay, it is unquestionably better in the long run. Because it is cut into smaller pieces, a horse does not have to exert as much effort when chewing chopped hay.
Conclusion
Horses benefit significantly from forage, such as chopped hay. As their owners, we must go above and beyond to ensure that our animals are happy and healthy. Hopefully, this article has taught you how to chop hay for horses and that you understand the process isn’t complicated; it can just be time-consuming.
