What's the deal with hay? Hay access in the paddock or on pasture
Hay in the paddock is not just food.
It changes the horses' daily rhythm, their relationships in the herd and how much hay ends up in the mud.
We explain how to feed hay to a group so that it is safe and nothing goes to waste.
- Hay in the paddock lengthens eating time and reduces aggression in the group.
- Hay available at all times under a net gave the horses the daily rhythm closest to a natural one.
- There should be more feeding places than horses: with three times as many places, horses bit and kicked each other the least.
- Without a feeder, more than half of the hay is wasted. A good feeder cuts losses to a few per cent.
- You need to keep count on pasture too: an overweight horse can eat a lot of grass in a short time.
Many yards turn horses out into the paddock without hay, because “they move around out there anyway”. Others put one big bale in the middle and watch the boldest horse guard it from the rest.
Research shows that the way hay is offered in turnout matters for the horses' wellbeing, for their safety and for costs. Below are the key findings and how to apply them.
Hay in the paddock: what changes
In a study of 100 mares turned out for 6 hours a day on a bare paddock, two groups were compared: with hay and without hay. Mares with hay spent 65% of their time eating, and those without hay 30%. Mares with hay walked less, stood in alert tension less often, had more friendly interactions and showed aggression less often[1].
of their time in the paddock was spent eating by mares with access to hay. Without hay, only 30%, with more time spent walking and standing tensely[1].Benhajali et al., Animal, 2009
Hay all the time or in portions?
A 2025 study compared three feeding methods for 18 mares kept in groups: three two-hour meals during the day, six one-hour meals spread over 24 hours, and hay available at all times under a net. With hay under a net, the horses' daily time budget was closest to a natural one. Six short meals did not reduce aggression at feeding time and seemed more frustrating for the horses than three longer ones[2].
The authors' conclusion: in a herd, hay slowed down under a net worked better than hay rationed out in short portions[2]. This does not mean that long gaps between meals stop mattering. The point is that horses should be able to eat calmly and often, not in short windows that alternate with gaps.
Another study adds an important detail. Horses with ad lib hay ate and wasted the most and gained the most weight. With a slow feeder, they ate for a similar proportion of the day as when grazing, and gained almost no weight. An automatic feeder with restricted access was associated with the most aggression[3].
How many hay stations
Horses need space from each other when eating, too. In a study of net-covered hay racks that opened at set times, horses bit and kicked each other least when there were three times as many feeding places as horses. With 20% more places, or twice as many, there was more aggression, and salivary cortisol fell less during feeding[4].
In the same study, the horses' rank in the herd hierarchy did not change the result[4]. The number and spacing of hay stations affected the whole group.
Feeder or hay on the ground
Without a feeder, a lot of hay is wasted on the ground. In a study of nine round-bale feeders, losses ranged from 5 to 33%, and without a feeder they were as high as 57%. Horses without a feeder also ate less: about 1.3% of body weight instead of 2-2.4%. The feeder that paid for itself fastest did so in less than a month thanks to lower hay losses[5].
Feeders and nets placed low let horses eat with their heads down, in a natural posture. Nets hung high increased neck tension[6].
Pasture and the overweight horse
On pasture, it is easy to overlook how much a horse actually eats. The European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement points out that simply shortening time on pasture does little to limit intake: ponies were able to eat grass amounting to more than 0.9% of their body weight in dry matter in 3 hours[7].
- A grazing muzzle reduced grass intake by 77-83% compared with grazing without a muzzle[8] and lengthened eating time[7].
- At the start of a weight-loss programme for horses with insulin dysregulation, it is recommended not to turn them out on pasture at all for the first 6-12 weeks[7].
- When grass is scarce, for example in winter or during a drought, what matters is the total forage ration, and hay makes up for what is missing on the pasture[9].
How to put it into practice
- More stations than horsesSeveral hay stations, spread well apart. With net-covered hay racks, three places per horse worked best[4].
- A feeder or net instead of hay on the groundLess waste, more hay eaten by the horses[5].
- Nets low, mesh not too smallA natural eating posture and less frustration[6].
- Water in the paddock at all timesIn a study, lack of water in turnout was one of the factors that increased the risk of gastric ulcers[10].
- Watch the first few daysCheck that every horse can get to the hay. A horse standing off to the side needs an extra station or a different group.
- Overweight horse: ration, net, muzzleWeighed hay, a slow-feed net, and a grazing muzzle on pasture, after talking to your vet[7].
When to call the vet
- the horse stops eating in the paddock or stands away from the hay and the other horses,
- there are kicks at the hay, followed by a wound, swelling or lameness,
- an overweight horse is reluctant to move after going out on pasture, shifts its weight from foot to foot or has warm hooves,
- colic or diarrhoea appears after a change of hay or after going out on pasture.
Frequently asked questions
Does a horse on pasture need hay?
It depends on the amount of grass and on the horse. What matters is the total forage ration[9]. When grass is scarce, hay makes up the shortfall. With overweight horses it is often the other way round: grass needs to be restricted[7].
How many hay stations in a paddock?
More than there are horses. With net-covered hay racks opening at set times, aggression was lowest with three places per horse[4].
Is hay on the ground a bad idea?
Hay on the ground is quickly wasted: without a feeder, losses reached 57%[5]. A feeder or net at ground level keeps a natural eating posture and reduces waste[6].
Does ad lib hay make a horse fat?
It can. In a study, horses with ad lib hay gained an average of more than 23 kg in 15 days, while those with a slow feeder gained almost nothing, with a similar eating time[3].
Scientific sources
We checked every publication in the Crossref and PubMed databases. The numbers in the text link to the list, and the DOI links lead to the original articles.
- Benhajali H, Richard-Yris MA, Ezzaouia M, Charfi F, Hausberger M. Foraging opportunity: a crucial criterion for horse welfare? Animal. 2009;3(9):1308-1312. doi.org/10.1017/s1751731109004820
- Roig-Pons M, Bachmann I, Freymond SB. Impact of feeding strategies on the welfare and behaviour of horses in groups: An experimental study. PLOS One. 2025;20(6):e0325928. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325928
- Carvalho Seabra J, Hess T, Martinez do Vale M, Spercoski KM, Brooks R, Dittrich JR. Effects of Different Hay Feeders, Availability of Roughage on Abnormal Behaviors and Cortisol Circadian Rhythm in Horses Kept in Dry Lots. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2023;130:104911. doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104911
- Baumgartner M, Erhard MH, Zeitler-Feicht MH. Which animal-to-feeding-place ratio at time-controlled hay racks is animal appropriate? Preliminary analysis of stress responses of horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2023;9:1005102. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1005102
- Martinson K, Wilson J, Cleary K, Lazarus W, Thomas W, Hathaway M. Round-bale feeder design affects hay waste and economics during horse feeding. Journal of Animal Science. 2012;90(3):1047-1055. doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-4087
- Amaje J, Upton S, Garba UM, Jolayemi KO. The use of hay nets and slow feeders as feeding methods in horse management: A semi-systematic review. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2026;157:105762. doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105762
- Durham AE, Frank N, McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, Roelfsema E, Vervuert I et al. ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2019;33(2):335-349. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15423
- Longland AC, Barfoot C, Harris PA. Effects of grazing muzzles on intakes of dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates by ponies grazing spring, summer, and autumn swards, as well as autumn swards of different heights. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2016;40:26-33. doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2015.09.009
- Harris PA, Ellis AD, Fradinho MJ, Jansson A, Julliand V, Luthersson N et al. Review: Feeding conserved forage to horses: recent advances and recommendations. Animal. 2017;11(6):958-967. doi.org/10.1017/s1751731116002469
- Luthersson N, Nielsen KH, Harris P, Parkin TDH. Risk factors associated with equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2009;41(7):625-630. doi.org/10.2746/042516409x441929
Published . This article is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a vet.
