Ask the Expert

Our Experts explain the nuts and bolts of equine nutrition.

with Dr. Ed Ott

A. Yes, oat hay is an excellent hay for horses. Like any other hay its nutrient content depends on the timing of the harvest. If it is partially green in color and the seed heads are not fully developed it will be very palatable and nutritional. Oat hay has been used for many years for horses. In the North, many farms that did not grow their own hay crops would set aside part of the oat field for horse hay for the winter. It was the hay of choice before farms started including grass/alfalfa mixtures into their crop rotation program.