Hay Replacers for Horses

Hay replacers for horses - your questions answered

What can I feed my horse instead of hay?

We offer a variety of quality forage options in different formats, which you choose may be dependent on your horses age or dental ability. The most commonly used options are: soaked forage pellets such as HayCare, chops such as Timothy Chop or Organic Lucie Stalks, compressed forage blocks such as MeadowBrix, or soaked PuraBeet. All are pure forages with nothing added, so they can be fed generously.

Which hay replacer is best for older horses or those with poor teeth?

A soaked pelleted forage is the kindest option for worn, loose or missing teeth. HayCare soaks quickly into a soft mash that needs virtually no chewing, and there is no limit to meal size when feeding forages - big buckets can be left with the horse to graze on just like hay. Read more in Finding a hay replacer for older horses.

How much hay replacer should I feed?

Feed the same dry weight as the hay you are replacing - to replace 5kg of hay, weigh out 5kg of dry HayCare before soaking. It looks like a lot once soaked, but forage meals have no upper size limit.

Do hay replacers need soaking?

Pellets do: use around 2.5 parts water to one part feed, or 3 parts for a wetter mash, and feed once no lumps remain. Chops and forage blocks need no soaking - just dampen chops a little at feed time.

What is the cheapest hay replacer?

Good quality always pays, but PuraBeet - our unmolassed beet pulp pellets - is hard to beat on price. It soaks up to five times its volume, so a bag goes a long way. Our guide to our best hay replacers compares the options.

Is there a low sugar hay replacer?

HayCare is made from Timothy grass harvested at a mature stage, giving nutrition close to high fibre, low sugar hay - and analysis is published on every product page. For horses needing the lowest sugar and starch options, see our low sugar horse feeds.