Hay is the foundation of a horse’s diet. It supports digestion, maintains healthy weight, and provides essential fiber every day.

But for many horse owners, hay can feel confusing.

If you’ve ever stood in front of a stack of hay wondering if it’s actually good, or why prices suddenly jumped… you’re not alone.

What type should you buy?
How do you know if it’s good quality?
Why do prices change so much?
What happens during a shortage?

This guide brings everything together in one place so you can make confident, informed decisions for your horse.

 

In This Guide:

•  Types of hay
•  How to choose high-quality hay
•  When to test
•  What hay costs
•  Why prices change
•  What to do during shortages

 

Why Hay Matters So Much

Horses need to eat small, frequent amounts of forage throughout the day.

Hay helps:

• keep the digestive system working properly
•  reduce the risk of colic
• support a healthy weight
• provide steady, consistent energy

Most horses should eat about 1.5–2% of their body weight in hay each day. For a 1,000-pound horse, that’s roughly 15–20 pounds daily.

Because horses rely on hay so heavily, both quality and availability matter. This is where a lot of well-meaning horse owners run into trouble without realizing it.

 

Types of Hay

Not all hay is the same, and the right choice depends on your horse.

 

Grass Hay

Common types include timothy, orchard grass, and brome.

Best for:

• easy keepers
• horses at maintenance
• horses needing lower calories

Grass hay is often the safest, most balanced option for many horses, depending on its nutrition content.

 

Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa is higher in protein, calcium, and calories.

Best for:

• hard keepers
• growing horses
• performance horses

Some owners choose to mix alfalfa with grass hay to create a more balanced diet. Some horses may also need grain supplementation, depending on their workload, age, and condition. Finding the right balance often takes a little trial and observation.

 

How to Choose High-Quality Hay

Good hay is easy to recognize once you’ve handled enough of it, though testing is the most accurate way to assess nutritional value. It should look fresh, smell slightly sweet, have lots of leaves, and feel soft in your hands.

Avoid hay that is brittle, dusty, moldy, overly coarse, or stemmy. Dusty or moldy hay can lead to respiratory problems, while low-quality hay may not meet your horse’s nutritional needs.

Two bales can look similar and still feed very differently. And not all issues show up right away, which is what can make this tricky. For example, a horse may maintain weight on 20 lbs of poor-quality hay, but still lack proper nutrition, which can show up later in poor coat condition or hoof quality.

Choosing the right hay can take practice. If you want a deeper breakdown, read our full guide on how to choose high-quality hay for your horse.

 

When Should You Test Your Hay?

Sometimes, how hay looks and smells isn’t the full story.

A hay test can give you a clearer picture of what your horse is actually getting, especially when nutrition really matters.

You may want to test your hay if:

• your horse is losing or gaining weight unexpectedly
• you’re feeding a performance horse, senior horse, or growing horse
• your hay looks inconsistent from bale to bale
• you’re feeding large amounts of alfalfa or a rich hay
• you want to reduce or better balance grain and supplements

A basic hay test can show levels of protein, sugar, and overall nutrients. This can help you make more precise feeding decisions instead of guessing.

For many horse owners, testing isn’t something you need to do all the time. But during big changes, like a new hay supplier or noticeable changes in your horse, it can be a helpful tool.  When you request hay through services like HayBuy, you can ask for hay test documentation upfront as part of your quote request. When purchasing hay this way, it’s worth looking for platforms that include a buyback guarantee, so you have a fallback if something isn’t right.

Think of it as a way to confirm that what looks like good hay is also meeting your horse’s needs.

 

How Much Does Hay Cost

Hay prices change every year based on supply and demand.

According to Hay and Forage Magazine, as of April 2026, average Colorado prices per ton for hay were around:

• $225 for premium-grade alfalfa, $153 for good-grade alfalfa
• $210 for premium-grade grass hay, $128 per ton for good-grade grass hay

But local prices can vary widely. Two barns just a few miles apart can end up paying very different prices, depending on their suppliers.

During shortages, prices can rise quickly, sometimes reaching $300–$400 per ton or more, especially for horse-quality hay.

That’s why many horse owners keep a close eye on the hay market. Find out why hay prices may rise in 2026.

 

What Happens During a Hay Shortage

When hay becomes harder to find, it affects nearly every part of horse care.

For some horse owners, rising hay costs can become overwhelming. If you’re feeling that pressure, you’re not alone in it. Programs like the Leg Up initiative at Colorado Horse Rescue can offer temporary support to help horses stay in their homes during difficult times.

You may notice:

• rising feed costs
• limited availability of high-quality hay
• fewer choices in hay types

Barns, rescues, and families alike often have to adjust feeding programs carefully to stretch resources while still keeping horses healthy. This is often when feeding decisions become stressful instead of routine. For a deeper look at how shortages affect feeding and care decisions, visit our blog on how hay shortages affect horse care.

At Colorado Horse Rescue, hay is an essential, and we go through 2,000 pounds of it daily. There’s no pause button on feeding horses, even when costs rise. That’s why changes in cost and supply can directly impact how many horses can be cared for.

 

How to Prepare

While no one can predict the market perfectly, there are ways to stay ahead.

Securing hay early and working with a reliable supplier can make a big difference when prices begin to rise. Waiting too long is one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes.

For many horse owners, services like HayBuy save time by handling the supplier search and quote process, so you can focus on your horse instead of your phone. Having a trusted source now can remove a lot of last-minute stress later if prices fluctuate.

It helps to:

• Buy early when possible
• Store hay properly and consider using hay nets to prevent waste
• Build relationships with suppliers
• Monitor your horse’s condition regularly

A little planning can go a long way when supply tightens.

 

A Simple Approach to Feeding Hay

When it comes to feeding horses, consistency matters. Horses do best when their routine stays predictable, so securing stable relationships with hay providers is critical.

As a responsible horse owner, focus on providing good access to forage, choose quality over quantity, and plan to adjust and re-evaluate based on your horse’s needs.

Small, consistent choices will make the biggest difference for your horse over time.

 

Final Thoughts

Providing good hay is one of the simplest and most important ways to care for a horse. It’s more than just feed, it’s the foundation of your horse’s daily life. Everything else in your feeding program builds from here.

With the right information and a bit of planning, you can make choices that keep your horse healthy, comfortable, and thriving every day.

Want to Learn More About Hay for Horses?

If you want to go deeper, these guides break down key parts of feeding and planning:

• How to Choose High-Quality Hay for Your Horse
  Learn what to look for, what to avoid, and how to spot quality at a glance.
• Why Hay Prices May Rise in 2026
  Understand what’s driving costs and how to plan ahead.
• How Hay Shortages Affect Horse Care
  See how limited supply impacts feeding, budgets, and horse health.

 

Presented in partnership with HayBuy. HayBuy is a sponsor and partner of Colorado Horse Rescue.