Hay Soaking Fact Sheet

Soaking hay in water prior to feeding it to horses can control dust and pollen exposure, limit non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), and remove–for good or bad–protein and minerals.

Recent research shows soaking hay before feeding it to horses can help manage many important equine health conditions, including:

  • Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, heaves);
  • Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing’s);
  • Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS);
  • Insulin resistance (IR);
  • Laminitis (founder);
  • Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM);
  • Obesity; and
  • Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.

Learn about the potential benefits of soaking your horse’s hay, methods for soaking, and what to do with the remaining liquid (hint: don’t use it to water plants) in this information packed fact sheet.