Meadow Foxtail Hay For Horses | Slide Mouse
Unfortunately it is hard to bale hay without getting foxtail mixed in as well.
Meadow foxtail hay for horses. Foxtail is a common meadow grass that has soft brush like flowering spikes. Pratensis is native to europe and asia. Extension horses has some learning lessons on pasture management and horse hay that give more detail why foxtail should not be used. Meadow foxtail alopecurus pratensis is an erect tufted leafy perennial grass.
Our high altitude grown grass hay is a high quality mix of premium horizon variety timothy hay with some meadow foxtail hay and native meadow high altitude grasses and clovers which is an excellent blend for pleasure ranch and rodeo horses and especially for prize race horses. June 24 2014 in equine nutrition by amanda buchanan. Foxtail seed heads contain stiff yellow to brown bristles which can cause physical trauma to a horse s mouth when the horse eats hay containing the seedheads. It has long cylindrical flower heads with short silky hairs appearing like a foxes tail which it was named after.
Foxtail is very commonly found in horse hay. Dealing with foxtail in your hay. Each individual seed contains spikes with barbs called awns which can lodge in horses mouths and gums or even scratch an eye. I would not risk any harm to your horses if i were use.
The horse can get mouth blisters along with gastrointestinal and skin irritation. While the immature foxtail plant has no ill effect on horses the seed heads are troublesome. It has been introduced to most temperate grassland regions worldwide and is found throughout north and south america and australia.