Hay Finder
What hay should I feed my horse?
The right hay for your horse depends on age, work level, body condition, health conditions, chewing ability, and even your region. Answer 7 quick questions and we'll match you to a hay type, or browse the table below.
| Result | Best for |
|---|---|
| Timothy or Orchardgrass Hay | For most healthy adult horses in light to moderate work |
| Low-Sugar Hay | For metabolic horses (insulin resistance, EMS, Cushing's/PPID) or those with a laminitis history |
| Alfalfa Hay | For young growing horses, nursing mares, or horses in heavy work |
| Grass-Alfalfa Mix Hay | For moderate work, older horses, or gastric-sensitive horses |
| Bermudagrass Hay | For horse owners in the Southeast and Gulf Coast |
| Hay Cubes or Chopped Forage | For horses that drop wads of hay, chew slowly, or have missing teeth |
How this quiz works
The Hay Finder asks seven questions: your horse's age, body condition, workload, whether it is pregnant or nursing, any health issues, how it handles hay and where you live. It scores the answers and points you to timothy or orchardgrass, low-sugar hay, alfalfa, a grass-alfalfa mix, bermudagrass or hay cubes and chopped forage. A chewing problem or a metabolic condition forces a result.
Why these questions
Hay supplies most of a horse's diet, so the type matters. Young, nursing and hard-working horses need more protein and calcium, easy keepers and metabolic horses need less sugar and fewer calories, older horses may need softer forage, and region decides what is available and affordable.
What the quiz cannot see
It cannot test your hay. Sugar and starch content varies within a hay type, so have hay for a metabolic horse lab-tested, and have a vet check dental issues that cause hay dropping. The Hay Calculator works out how much to buy, and the Feed Calculator checks the whole ration.
Before you decide
Look at the hay as well as the label. Good hay smells fresh and sweet, is the right color and free of mold, dust and weeds, and has leaves on the stems. Ask for a hay analysis when you buy in quantity or feed a metabolic horse. Introduce new hay gradually. Store hay dry and off the ground, and weigh a flake so you know what you are feeding.