Equine Nutrition Scientists Partnership with Performance Horse Nutrition
Equine Nutrition Scientists Partnership with Performance Horse Nutrition
Blue Mountain Hay in Partnership with Leading Equine Nutrition Scientists Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt
Blue Mountain Hay collaborates with Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt, internationally recognized equine nutrition scientists at Performance Horse Nutrition. Together, they bring decades of experience in forage evaluation, equine metabolism, and performance nutrition. Our hay is independently analyzed and reviewed to help ensure it meets the nutritional standards required for performance horses, breeding programs, and long-term equine health.
Dr. Stephen Duren
M.S. PAS Ph.D. Equine Nutrition & Exercise Physiology
Dr. Stephen Duren, a native of Soda Springs, Idaho, holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Idaho and both a Master’s and Doctorate in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky. His research explored fat supplementation in racehorses and blood flow changes during exercise. Recognized by the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and the Equine Science Society—where he served on the Board of Directors—Dr. Duren is widely respected in the field of equine nutrition. View full bio →
Dr. Tania Cubitt
Ph.D. Equine Nutrition & Reproduction
Dr. Tania Cubitt, a native of Queensland, Australia, holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Queensland and both a Master’s and Doctorate from Virginia Tech in Equine Nutrition and Reproduction. Her research examined environmental influences on growth and hormonal characteristics in Thoroughbred fillies as well as nutritional effects on ovarian function. Dr. Cubitt currently serves as a nutrition consultant with Performance Horse Nutrition and focuses on feeding strategies for horses with metabolic conditions, developmental orthopedic disease, gastric ulcers, senior horses, and broodmares. View full bio →
Independent Hay Nutrition Analysis
This analysis was conducted and reviewed by equine nutrition scientists Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt. The values shown represent average as-fed nutrient levels based on laboratory analysis.
Below is a side-by-side nutrient comparison based on recent lab analyses (as-fed values).
↔ Scroll to view full nutrition comparison
| Nutrient | Timothy 2024 | Timothy 2025 | Alfalfa 2025 | Teff 2024 | Teff 2025 | Orchard 2024 | Orchard 2025 | Meadow 2025 | Blue 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Matter % | 91 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 92 | 93 | 88 | 90 |
| Protein, % | 10.8 | 13.2 | 17.7 | 10.7 | 12.2 | 12.95 | 13.2 | 6.76 | 6.9 |
| ADF, % | 32.2 | 30.7 | 25.4 | 32.1 | 32.2 | 30.87 | 30.3 | 34.3 | 39.4 |
| NDF, % | 50.7 | 44.5 | 31.1 | 53.5 | 52 | 51.3 | 51.3 | 50.2 | 61.9 |
| ESC, % | 9.5 | 11.9 | 8.4 | 9.84 | 5.9 | 8.97 | 7.12 | 9 | 6.6 |
| WSC, % | 11.6 | 13.7 | 10.1 | 11.6 | 7.7 | 9.93 | 10.68 | 10.5 | 8.05 |
| Starch, % | 1.49 | 1.43 | 1.42 | 1.49 | 1.36 | 1.08 | 0.83 | 3.2 | 1.17 |
| NSC, % | 13.3 | 15 | 11.6 | 13.1 | 9.06 | 11 | 10.34 | 12.98 | 9.2 |
| Fat, % | 3.5 | 4 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Omega 6, % | 12.2 | 11.9 | 14.7 | 12.53 | 11.5 | 11.1 | 7.63 | 7.8 | 14.89 |
| Omega 3, % | 52.2 | 53.5 | 45.7 | 50.9 | 52.7 | 54.1 | 58.9 | 44.87 | 48.17 |
| Calcium, % | 0.47 | 0.49 | 1.26 | 0.38 | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.47 | 0.42 | 0.3 |
| Phosphorus, % | 0.2 | 0.28 | 0.31 | 0.24 | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.26 | 0.19 | 0.21 |
| Values are as-fed and reflect average laboratory results. Analysis conducted and reviewed by Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt of Performance Horse Nutrition. | |||||||||
Horse Hay Nutrition Guides
Hay School Blog
Explore expert insights from equine nutrition scientists Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt, covering hay types, nutrition, and feeding strategies to support optimal horse health and performance.
Expert Video Guides
Watch educational videos from equine nutrition scientists Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt explaining hay types, nutrition, and feeding strategies for horses.
Most horses eat between 1.5% and 2% of their body weight in hay per day.
A 1,000 lb horse typically eats 15–20 lbs daily.
Keep hay off dirt floors and away from weather exposure. A dry, protected space maintains freshness and nutrient value.