Soaking Hay, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products

Soaking hay before feeding is one way to lower the sugar levels, but it reduces more than sugar.

Photo courtesy of Kentucky Performance Products

Soaking hay is one way to reduce the amount of sugar in the hay, but it should only be used as a stopgap method until a more appropriate hay can be found.

It is recommended that you soak hay for short periods of time: 30 minutes when soaking in warm water and 60 minutes when soaking hay in cold water. The hay must be completely submerged in the water during soaking and completely drained before being fed.

While soaking hay can result in lower sugar levels, it also decreases the amount of minerals and calories the hay provides. Magnesium and phosphorus are particularly susceptible to leaching during long periods of soaking (over 1 hour). This loss of minerals can cause imbalances in your horse’s diet. A decrease in dry matter can result in weight loss due to lack of sufficient calories.

Owners of sugar-sensitive horse should purchase hay with a known sugar level or have their hay analyzed. It is impossible to tell the sugar level in a hay by visual inspection.


About Kentucky Performance Products, LLC:

Fight back against dangerous dehydration and electrolyte imbalances with Summer Games® Electrolyte.

Summer Games is a unique blend of both electrolytes and trace minerals specifically formulated to replenish critical electrolytes in the proper ratios. Summer Games supports healthy electrolyte balance so horses stay hydrated, perform at optimal levels, and recover faster after exercise or in stressful situations.

Summer Games contains a research-proven electrolyte formulation that was originally developed for the horses competing at the 1996 Olympics. Formulated using the results of extensive research studies investigating the composition of sweat, Summer Games contains both key electrolytes and trace minerals in the actual amounts that are present in the sweat.

  • Adjustable serving rates allow you to easily meet your horse’s individual electrolyte needs.
  • Affordable price allows you to consistently replenish key electrolytes in appropriate ratios.
  • Concentrated formula ensures your horse receives both critical electrolytes and trace minerals, not sugar and other fillers.
  • The unique ingredients in Summer Games support optimal performance and speedy recovery during exercise or stressful situations.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.