Best Forage Choices for Horses with Metabolic Disorders

For horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), insulin resistance (IR), Cushing’s disease, also known as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), or a history of laminitis, forage selection is one of the most important nutritional decisions an owner can make.

Horses are designed to consume forage throughout the day, so simply feeding less hay is usually not the best solution. The goal is to select hay that provides appropriate fiber, controlled sugar and starch, moderate calories, and consistent quality.

The challenge is that not all hay is created equal. The type of grass, growing conditions, harvest maturity, curing process, and storage can all affect its nutritional profile.

What Makes Hay Suitable for Horses with Metabolic Disorders?

Hay for horses with metabolic concerns should generally be:

• Lower in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC)
• Moderate to lower in calories
• High in fiber
• Clean, digestible, and free from mold and excessive dust
• Consistent in nutritional quality
• Appropriate for the horse’s body condition, workload, and medical needs

Many equine nutritionists target hay with an NSC level below approximately 10–12% for horses with significant insulin dysregulation or a history of laminitis. However, the appropriate level depends on the individual horse, its overall diet, and veterinary recommendations.

Hay should be tested, not guessed.

Whether you are feeding Teff Grass Hay, Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass Hay, Meadow Hay, or Alfalfa Hay, laboratory analysis is the most reliable way to evaluate NSC, calorie content, protein, fiber, and mineral balance.

1. Teff Grass Hay

Teff Grass Hay has become a popular forage choice for horses with metabolic concerns because it frequently tests lower in NSC than many cool-season grass hays.

Potential benefits of Teff Grass Hay include:

• Moderate calorie content
• Fine stems and a soft texture
• Good palatability
• Potentially lower sugar and starch levels
• Support for controlled feeding programs

Teff Hay may be appropriate for:

• Easy keepers
• Horses that need weight management
• Horses with insulin resistance
• Horses with EMS
• Laminitis-prone horses

However, Teff Hay is not automatically low in sugar. NSC levels can vary significantly according to growing conditions, harvest timing, weather, soil fertility, and storage. Each batch should be evaluated before being selected for a horse with metabolic disease.

2. Timothy Hay

Properly tested Timothy Hay can be a dependable, high-fiber forage for some horses with metabolic concerns.

More mature Timothy Hay may provide:

• Higher fiber levels
• Moderate calorie content
• Longer chewing time
• Improved satiety
• A consistent daily forage source

Timothy Hay can still vary in NSC. Cool-season grasses may accumulate substantial sugar under certain growing and weather conditions, so the name of the hay alone does not determine whether it is suitable.

A forage analysis should be used to confirm that the hay matches the individual horse’s nutritional requirements.

3. Orchard Grass Hay

Orchard Grass Hay can provide a soft, leafy, and highly palatable forage option for horses that need encouragement to maintain consistent forage intake.

Potential benefits may include:

• Soft texture
• Good palatability
• High fiber content
• Support for natural chewing behavior
• Suitability for horses that prefer softer grass hay

Orchard Grass Hay is not automatically low in NSC. Its sugar and calorie content can vary according to maturity, climate, harvest timing, and growing conditions.

For horses with insulin resistance, EMS, PPID, or a history of laminitis, Orchard Grass Hay should be selected based on laboratory results rather than appearance or texture alone.

4. Is Alfalfa Hay Safe for Metabolic Horses?

Alfalfa Hay is often misunderstood in feeding programs for horses with metabolic concerns.

Although Alfalfa Hay is generally higher in calories, protein, and calcium than many grass hays, it is not necessarily high in sugar.

In carefully controlled amounts, Alfalfa Hay may help:

• Improve dietary protein quality
• Support muscle and topline maintenance
• Increase palatability
• Buffer stomach acid
• Balance selected forage programs

For many metabolic horses, the key is not necessarily complete avoidance. The important considerations are portion control, calorie intake, mineral balance, and the composition of the total diet.

Alfalfa should be included only when it is appropriate for the individual horse and balanced with guidance from a veterinarian or qualified equine nutritionist.

Does High-Altitude Hay Benefit Metabolic Horses?

High-altitude growing conditions can influence forage quality. Cooler temperatures and a shorter growing season may support slower plant growth, fine stems, leaf retention, and highly palatable hay.

However, high-altitude hay is not automatically low in NSC. Elevation alone cannot determine whether a forage is suitable for a horse with insulin resistance or laminitis risk.

The nutritional value of high-altitude hay still depends on:

• Grass species
• Harvest maturity
• Time of cutting
• Weather conditions
• Plant stress
• Curing and storage

High-altitude hay should therefore be tested in the same way as forage grown in any other region.

Should You Soak Hay for a Metabolic Horse?

For horses with significant insulin dysregulation or active laminitis risk, soaking hay may help reduce some water-soluble carbohydrates.

However:

• The reduction in carbohydrates can vary considerably
• Important nutrients may also be lost
• Soaking does not replace laboratory hay testing
• Wet hay can spoil quickly if it is not handled properly

If a hay repeatedly tests too high in NSC, replacing it with a more suitable forage is generally preferable to relying on soaking as the permanent solution.

Forage Is Only Part of Metabolic Management

Even carefully selected low-NSC hay cannot fully compensate for other risk factors, including:

• Obesity
• Excess pasture intake
• Lack of appropriate exercise
• Overfeeding grain or concentrates
• Unbalanced mineral intake
• Inconsistent feeding practices

A successful metabolic management plan usually combines:

• Appropriate, laboratory-tested forage
• Controlled calorie intake
• Regular movement when medically appropriate
• Veterinary monitoring
• Proper vitamin and mineral balance
• Consistent feeding and management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hay for horses with metabolic disorders?

There is no single best hay for every horse with metabolic disease. Properly tested Teff Grass Hay, Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass Hay, Meadow Hay, and other grass hays may all be appropriate depending on the horse’s NSC tolerance, body condition, workload, and medical history.

What hay is best for an insulin-resistant horse?

Hay for an insulin-resistant horse should generally be tested for NSC and selected for moderate calorie content, high fiber, cleanliness, and consistency. Many nutritionists prefer hay below approximately 10–12% NSC for horses with significant insulin dysregulation, although individual recommendations may vary.

Is Teff Hay good for horses with laminitis?

Teff Hay may be suitable because it frequently tests lower in NSC than many cool-season grasses. However, every batch must still be laboratory tested before it is considered appropriate for a laminitis-prone horse.

Is Timothy Hay suitable for horses with EMS?

Timothy Hay may be suitable if its laboratory analysis shows appropriate NSC and calorie levels. The maturity and growing conditions of the hay can significantly affect its nutritional composition.

Is Orchard Grass Hay low in sugar?

Orchard Grass Hay is not automatically low in sugar. NSC levels vary based on growing conditions, harvest timing, maturity, and plant stress. Testing is necessary before choosing it for a horse with metabolic concerns.

Is Alfalfa Hay too high in sugar for metabolic horses?

Not necessarily. Alfalfa may be higher in calories and protein than grass hay, but it is not automatically high in sugar. Controlled inclusion may be appropriate when the total diet is carefully balanced.

Does soaking hay make it safe for horses with insulin resistance?

Soaking may lower some water-soluble carbohydrates, but the effect varies and nutrients may also be lost. Laboratory analysis remains the most reliable way to determine whether a hay is suitable.

The Bottom Line

There is no single perfect hay for every horse with EMS, PPID, insulin resistance, or a history of laminitis.

The best forage programs generally focus on:

• Lower NSC
• Moderate to lower calorie content
• High fiber
• Clean and consistent forage quality
• Laboratory testing
• The individual horse’s needs

For many horses, properly tested Teff Grass Hay can be an excellent option. Other horses may do well on tested Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass Hay, Meadow Hay, or another appropriate grass hay. Carefully controlled Alfalfa Hay may also have a place in selected feeding programs.

The goal is not to feed the least hay possible. The goal is to feed the safest and most appropriate forage for the individual horse.

 For horses with metabolic disorders, consistency, laboratory testing, and individualized nutrition matter more than the forage name alone.

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt, internationally recognized equine nutrition scientists at Performance Horse Nutrition

Content produced in collaboration with
Petzbe Agency