Good nutrition starts with the basics: roughage. For horses and donkeys, that usually means hay but what exactly makes hay “good”?

Anyone searching for the right hay quickly encounters terms like meadow hay, seed hay or alfalfa hay. The options are many, and the differences in quality even greater.

That’s why Metazoa Horses and Hay to You have joined forces to bring clarity.
Not all hay is the same — and your horse deserves roughage that supports its natural needs.

1. Why roughage matters so much

Horses are natural grazers. In the wild, they spend up to 16 hours a day grazing:
small bites, rich in fibre, slowly digested, producing a steady flow of saliva and continuous gut activity.

Good hay takes over this role when pasture access is limited:

• It provides fibres for healthy digestion
• It brings structure and calm to the digestive process
• It keeps energy levels stable

But the quality of the hay determines how much your horse truly gets from its diet.

    A. MEADOW HAY: the closest to nature

Meadow hay comes from a variety of grasslands and can therefore vary widely in composition.

The best meadow hay is:

• High in structure
• Low in sugar
• Diverse in grass species

Hay to You selects hay from production meadows with poor soils and moderate fertilisation. This most closely resembles what horses would eat in nature: balanced, modest and naturally varied.

When buying meadow hay, always check:

• The origin and method of fertilisation
• Sugar levels (ask for an analysis)
• Avoid ecologically managed herb meadows (risk of toxic plants such as ragwort)

    B. SEED HAY: ideal for easy keepers

Seed hay is a by-product of grass seed production and consists of dry, fibrous stems of a single grass species.

This makes it:

• Low in energy
• High in structure
• Less palatable (so horses don’t overeat)

Perfect for easy keepers or overweight horses. Do alternate with meadow hay or different batches to maintain sufficient variety.

    C. ALFALFA HAY: a powerful supplement

Alfalfa is not a grass but a legume, naturally rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and calcium. Alfalfa hay is ideal for horses needing extra nutritional support, such as:

• Sport horses
• Young horses in development
• Horses recovering from injury or intense work

Use it as a supplement, not a complete replacement for grass or meadow hay.

The perfect addition to quality hay

Both NaturalFit HayCobs and NaturalFit Care are:

• Grain-free
• Free from soy and molasses
• Made from pure Timothy grass
• Suitable for sensitive horses

They complement quality hay and help fill nutritional gaps when hay alone is not enough.

3. What suits your horse?

Every horse is different. Breed, age, workload and health all influence which roughage source is best.

Our tips:

• Analyse your hay regularly
• Rotate types of hay for natural diversity
• Use supplements like BalanceFit, HayCobs or Care to complete the ration

4. Together for healthy horses

At both Metazoa and Hay to You, everything revolves around one mission:
feeding horses as nature intended: pure, honest and in balance.

With the right combination of hay and balanced nutrition, you support:

• A healthy digestive system
• Feeding that aligns with the horse’s natural needs
• A stable and calm energy supply

Because good feeding starts with good roughage. And good roughage starts with knowledge, trust and collaboration.

Want to know more?
Explore Hay to You’s roughage selection or contact Metazoa for personalised feeding advice for your horse.