Why do some hays keep horses calm — and others fire them up
Hay is the foundation of every horse’s diet — it fuels their body, supports gut health, and even influences behaviour. Yet not all hay is created equal. The type you choose can make the difference between steady condition and weight loss, a calm horse and a restless one, a healthy gut and a colicky one.
Across Australia, horse owners are spoiled for choice: lucerne, meadow, oaten, teff, rye, clover, wheaten, Rhodes… but understanding which suits which horse is where the real feeding knowledge begins.
Understanding NSC — and Why It Matters
You’ll often see hay described with a number like 10–16% NSC. That stands for Non-Structural Carbohydrates — basically, the total sugars and starches in the hay. These are the fast-release energy sources that can affect weight, energy levels, and metabolic health.
| NSC % | Sugar Level | Typical For | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|
| <12% | Low | Mature grass, teff, lucerne | Laminitis-prone, PPID, metabolic horses |
| 12–18% | Moderate | Ryegrass, clover, mixed hay | Most horses in light–moderate work |
| >18% | High | Oaten, wheaten, lush spring hay | Performance or underweight horses |
A simple rule of thumb:
* Low NSC = cool energy and metabolic safety
* Moderate NSC = steady condition and everyday balance
* High NSC = quick energy, but risky for “good doers” or laminitic horses
Types of Hay Commonly Found in Australia
Lucerne Hay (1st, 2nd & 3rd Cut)
Typical NSC: 10–16%
Upsides:
High in protein, calcium, and digestible energy; supports topline, recovery, and ulcer prevention. Later cuts (2nd or 3rd) are finer, leafier, and often higher quality.
Downsides:
Too rich for easy keepers or metabolic horses. Calcium:phosphorus ratio can be unbalanced if fed alone.
Best for:
Performance horses, lactating mares, ulcer-prone or underweight horses.
Lucerne Cuts Explained
Lucerne can be harvested several times a year, and each “cut” has slightly different nutritional qualities:
| Cut | Typical NSC | Traits | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Cut | ~14–18% | Coarser, higher sugar, more stem | Horses needing bulk & slow chew time |
| 2nd Cut | ~10–14% | Leafy, balanced, consistent quality | Most horses in regular work |
| 3rd+ Cut | ~8–12% | Soft, fine, very leafy, lower sugar | Ulcer-prone, metabolic, or sensitive horses |
1st cut lucerne is grown in cooler weather, so the plant stores more sugar and fibre — making it slightly higher in energy and starch. Later cuts grow under warmer, stable conditions and are leafier, lower in sugar, and often easier to digest.
Meadow or Grassy Hay
Typical NSC: 8–12%
Upsides: Soft, varied mix of native or pasture grasses; gentle on digestion; excellent for horses at rest or those maintaining weight easily.
Downsides: Nutritional content can vary dramatically; late-cut bales may be stemmy or low in protein.
Best for: Retired horses, ponies, and those on weight-control diets.
Teff Hay
Typical NSC: 7–10%
Upsides: Naturally low in sugars and starch; safe for laminitis-prone, PPID or insulin-resistant horses. Good fibre source with balanced mineral profile.
Downsides: Slightly lower in protein than legume hays; quality varies between growers. Some horses find it less palatable when first introduced.
Best for: Metabolic horses, ponies, and easy keepers needing safe, consistent forage.
Oaten Hay
Typical NSC: 22–30%
Upsides: Widely available, sweet-smelling and highly palatable; great for horses needing extra energy or weight.
Downsides: Often high in sugars and starch; risky for laminitis or PPID horses. Quality depends heavily on when it’s cut — late-harvested hay can be coarse and dusty.
Best for: Horses in moderate to heavy work, young growing horses, or those needing condition.
Wheaten & Beardless Wheaten Hay
Typical NSC: 18–25%
Upsides: Slightly less sugary than oaten; offers good fibre and moderate protein. Beardless varieties reduce the risk of awns irritating the mouth or eyes.
Downsides: Still too high in NSC for metabolic horses; can be seedy or coarse if over-mature.
Best for: Hard keepers, working horses, or mixed with grass hay for balance.
Ryegrass Hay
Typical NSC: 10–18% (variable with season)
Upsides: Leafy and palatable; good all-round hay for most horses.
Downsides: Sugar levels fluctuate depending on climate and cutting time. In some regions, perennial rye can carry endophytes that irritate sensitive horses.
Best for: Average-work horses, growing youngsters, or mixed with lucerne for balance.
Clover Hay
Typical NSC: 12–18%
Upsides: High in protein and calcium, soft and sweet-smelling; ideal for encouraging appetite or supplementing low-protein grass hay.
Downsides: Moist and dense leaves can trap humidity, making it prone to mould; sugar levels vary; occasionally linked to photosensitivity when contaminated with certain fungi.
Best for: Young or underweight horses when carefully stored and balanced.
Rhodes Grass Hay
Typical NSC: 8–12%
Upsides: Low sugar and moderate protein; gentle on digestion and well-tolerated by sensitive horses. Grown widely in Queensland and northern NSW.
Downsides: Can be coarse if cut late; sometimes lower in minerals such as calcium and zinc.
Best for: Laminitis-prone, insulin-resistant, or easy-keeping horses.
Rye/Clover Mix
Typical NSC: 12–18%
Upsides: Combines the palatability and softness of clover with the bulk and fibre of rye; versatile and generally well-accepted.
Downsides: Nutrient balance depends on the ratio — higher clover content can increase sugar and mould risk.
Best for: Horses in moderate work or paddock situations needing balanced forage.
Testing Hay (Made Simple)
If you’re feeding from a large stack or buying hay by the tonne, it’s worth sending a sample to a feed testing lab such as FeedTest (VIC), NSW DPI, or Forage Lab Australia. These labs can analyse sugar (NSC), starch, protein, and mineral balance — helping you match hay to your horse’s needs.
But for most owners buying 4–20 bales at a time, lab testing isn’t always practical or necessary. The good news is that many reputable feed stores and hay suppliers already have analysis results for the batches they sell — just ask!
If the supplier can’t provide results, look for these quick checks instead:
-
Colour: soft green or golden, not brown or grey
-
Smell: clean, sweet, never musty
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Texture: leafy and soft, not brittle or sharp
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Leafiness: more leaves = more nutrition
Even without a lab report, these simple observations tell you a lot about hay quality — and your horse will often tell you the rest.
Quick Comparison Table
| Hay Type | Typical NSC | Energy Level | Best For | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucerne (1st–3rd cut) | 10–16% | High | Ulcer-prone, performance horses | Too rich for easy keepers |
| Meadow / Grassy | 8–12% | Low–Mod | Ponies, retirees | Variable nutrition |
| Teff | 7–10% | Low | Metabolic or laminitic horses | Lower protein |
| Oaten | 22–30% | High | Weight gain, hard workers | High sugars |
| Wheaten / Beardless Wheaten | 18–25% | Mod–High | Working horses | Coarse if late cut |
| Ryegrass | 10–18% | Mod | All-rounders | Sugar variation, endophytes |
| Clover | 12–18% | Mod–High | Growing horses | Mould risk |
| Rhodes | 8–12% | Low–Mod | Easy keepers | Coarse texture |
| Rye/Clover Mix | 12–18% | Moderate | Mixed herds | Sugar variation |
Putting It All Together
The best hay for your horse depends on more than just what’s in stock — it’s about matching energy, protein, and sugar levels to the individual horse. A metabolic pony thrives on low-NSC teff or Rhodes; a show jumper might need lucerne blended with rye or wheaten; an ulcer-prone horse benefits from the buffering calcium of lucerne alongside a lower-sugar grass hay.
Now if you would like all the data about your hay you can have it tested
Whatever you choose, always check for freshness, smell, and leafiness, and introduce new hay gradually. And remember: forage comes first — supplements fine-tune the rest.
At Equidae Botanicals, we believe the foundation of a healthy gut and calm mind begins with what’s in the hay net. Our blends like GUTonic and NUTRIblend are designed to complement forage-based feeding, supporting digestion, nutrient absorption and natural resilience — because good health starts from the inside out.
