As you start your “checklist” for the next trail riding adventure in the Northwest, you’ll want to consider how you are going to provide feed to your livestock. Certified weed free forage is not only required and enforced in all national forests, but is also a good stewardship practice for horse owners utilizing any public land.

• First, and the most obvious, is to buy certified noxious weed seed free hay bales. These hay bales are distinguished by a unique color twine, and represent a hay field that has been inspected by the state agriculture department for noxious weeds. Some horse owners will supplement this hay with some sort of processed, pelleted feed for additional calories.

• The second method is to purchase certified noxious weed seed free pellets or cubes. Most simply, processed feeds include pelleted or cubed timothy, orchard, or alfalfa hay. This is just a hay bale that has been either chopped into a cube or ground and heat-pressure treated into a pellet. The next step up from processed hay is a complete feed (usually in large or small pellet form) which is ground hay balanced with grains for energy, vitamins, minerals, and sometimes digestive aids for improved gut efficiency. These “complete” feeds are designed to replace 100% of the hay or pasture diet.

            You are probably now wondering why you would choose one method over another, and trust me, you are not alone. The answer is…drum roll…your personal preference. There are several advantages and disadvantages for either feeding hay bales or a processed feed in a bag, but there are small variances from a nutritional basis. Consider for yourself the following points about each method, and make your decision by prioritizing your concerns and preferences.

 Let’s start with certified weed free hay bales. IF you can find certified noxious weed seed free hay in your area, surprisingly, they may or may not be as expensive as pellets or cubes. The added costs to the farmer means that you pay a premium for the bales so expect to pay between $10 to $16 per bale depending on weight and how far it came. The major advantage, from a dietary standpoint, is the fiber length of the hay stems. Fiber length, greater than 1 inch, takes horses longer to chew and digest, thereby, keeping their mouths and digestive systems full and working longer. Basically, it gives the horses something to do. Also, it is fiber length that helps to keep a horse warmer in cold weather. It is the metabolism of a billion microorganisms in the hind gut working to digest the fiber that create the extra warmth- NOT more grain. Even when using hay bales, be sure to make the switch from your regular hay to the new hay gradually! The “make changes gradually rule” is just as important with hay as grain, so buy enough to switch them onto the new a few days in advance of your travel.

The major disadvantage of hay bales is that the horses tend to waste more. The extra waste creates messy trail heads and camp sites and more opportunity for weed seeds to get into the soil. The other disadvantage is the weight and bulk of the hay bales when packing horses into camps. Many people, especially women, find the heavier hay bales cumbersome.

  Pellets and cubes have some unique advantages and disadvantages of their own. Compared to a certified weed free hay bale, pellets and cubes create less mess and less waste. In addition, the packaging of a processed product makes it easier to pack with you. Less waste and increased digestibility means that a fifty pound bag of pellets could last you as long as a sixty or seventy pound hay bale. Nutritionally speaking, the processed feeds have a guaranteed nutrient content. Fiber, energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals sources have all been balanced by a nutritionist to provide a complete feed. Therefore, you won’t need to package additional bags of grain or supplements.

 There are a few disadvantages to pellets and cubes as well. First, horses drink considerably more water when eating pellets and cubes due to the decreased water content of the product. Therefore, be sure to provide fresh, clean water at all times to reduce a horses chance of colic. Also, there is a slightly increased chance of choking on pellets and cubes, especially if you have an enthusiastic eater. You can decrease the incidence of choke and provide extra water to you horse by soaking the pellets or cubes for 10-30 minutes. The second disadvantage to pellets or cubes is decreased intake time. Most horses will quickly consume pellets or cubes, leaving horse standing around without much to do. The processing of the product also makes it digest faster. This leaves your horse’s stomach empty longer as well.

 Armed with the knowledge you just accumulated, it’s up to you to decide which method of feeding your horse certified weed free product is best for you. You can weigh the convenience of a packaged product to the fiber length of the hay bale. Shop around…what are the costs of both in your area? Either way you choose, have fun enjoying the Northwest’s amazing trail system. Maybe I’ll see you out there!