Steaming vs. Soaking to Reduce Hay NSC Levels

Our nutritionist weighs whether steaming or soaking hay is more effective at reducing NSC levels for horses with insulin resistance.
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Soaking horse hay
When soaking hay it must be completely submerged, and it should be fed quickly after soaking so it does not mold. | Photo: Michelle Anderson/The Horse

Q:  My veterinarian just diagnosed my mare with insulin resistance and recommended I soak her hay because I haven’t had it tested. I’ve been doing some research and I’m wondering whether I could steam it instead?

A:  Horses with insulin resistance need to consume diets with low nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC, the sum of the starch and water-soluble carbohydrates in the diet) levels. Generally, nutritionists and veterinarians recommend that the diet should contain less than 12% NSC on a dry matter basis.

Since the majority of a horse’s diet should be forage, it is important to consider the forage’s NSC content. There is no point in carefully feeding a low-NSC commercial fortified feed if the horse’s forage is high in sugar

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Written by:

Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club.

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