Study Results on Reducing Weight Using Straw/Hay Mixes

Maintaining proper weight is a challenge with certain horses and ponies. This study found that by replacing 50% of the hay with straw in the diet of the study ponies, they were able to safely reduce their weight. Straw is a by-product of grain production-- the stalks of plants leftover once the grain is harvested from it-- and comes from different plants, such as oats and barley. Not all horses find straw tasty enough to eat and not all straws are the same; and, as with hay, it must be clean and mold-free. You can read the article on the study and its recommendations here: Study: Straw-Hay Mix Helps Ponies Lose Weight Safely – The Horse