07/17/2025
🌧 Rained-On Hay: Is It Still Good for Horses? 🐴
Lately, many horse owners and hay suppliers have been battling rain while making hay. Don’t be too quick to write off hay that was rained on in the field, dried, and then baled — it may still be suitable forage for horses.
The quality of rained-on hay depends on a few key factors. Forage quality tends to be greatest if:
✅ Rain fell soon after cutting, before much drying occurred;
✅ It was a single rain event, not prolonged or lasting several days;
✅ Rain was intense but short, rather than long and light; and
✅ The hay hasn’t been rewetted multiple times
Interestingly, rained-on hay often has reduced carbohydrate content and may be a safer choice for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic disorders.
As always, we recommend testing hay for its nutrient content, which can be especially helpful when determining the quality of rained-on hay. 🌾🔬
How to sample hay ⬇️ 🎥
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJMyvYyYZekr
Learn more about rained-on hay ⬇️🌐
extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/rained-hay
