When summer temperatures soar, horse owners must take extra care to keep their animals healthy and comfortable. One area that’s often overlooked in hot weather horse care is forage and in particular hay. While hay is a staple of every horse’s diet, the way it’s prepared and fed can have a significant impact on respiratory health, hydration, and overall wellbeing during hot spells.

That’s where steaming hay comes in.

What Is Hay Steaming?

Hay steaming involves using a specially designed steamer to heat hay to around 90°C for about an hour. This process kills mould spores, bacteria, and dust particles all common irritants found in even the best-quality hay.

The result is Clean, moist, and palatable hay that’s much kinder to a horse’s respiratory system and especially beneficial during hot weather.

Why Steamed Hay Helps in the Heat

1. Supports Respiratory Health

Hot weather tends to stir up more dust, pollen, and airborne particles. Horses can easily inhale these while eating dry hay, which may worsen or trigger respiratory conditions like Equine Asthma (formerly known as RAO or COPD).

Steaming reduces respirable dust by up to 98% (this information is taken from other studies that have been undertaken) providing cleaner forage that helps keep your horse’s lungs clear a real advantage when high temperatures are already putting stress on their system.

2. Encourages Hydration

Steamed hay has a significantly higher moisture content than dry hay. While it doesn’t replace water, it does provide a gentle hydration boost, helping horses maintain fluid levels during hot spells when dehydration is a serious risk.

This is especially useful for fussy drinkers or horses that sweat heavily in the heat.

3. Improves Palatability

Heat can affect your horse’s appetite just like it does ours. Steamed hay is often sweeter smelling and softer, making it more appealing to eat, even when the temperature climbs. If your horse is going off their forage in the heat, steamed hay can help encourage better intake.

4. Safe for Horses with Allergies or Sensitive Stomachs

Hot weather can exacerbate allergic responses. If your horse suffers from allergies, especially to pollen or mould spores, steamed hay is a safer option. It removes many of the triggers found in dry or soaked hay, offering a more stable and controlled diet.

Steamed vs Soaked Hay in Summer

Soaking hay is another common method to reduce dust and sugar content, but in summer, it comes with downsides. Wet hay can ferment quickly in the heat, producing unpleasant smells and potentially harmful bacteria. It also leaches essential nutrients.

Steamed hay, on the other hand, retains its nutritional value and is far less prone to spoilage. Plus, it’s far more convenient and consistent —no messy buckets or draining.

Steaming hay isn’t just a winter solution, it’s a year round game changer. In hot weather, it helps your horse breathe easier, stay hydrated, and maintain a healthy appetite. Whether you’re managing a performance horse or a retired companion, steamed hay can be a valuable addition to your summer routine.

If you have access to a hay steamer or are considering investing in one, summer is the perfect time to see the difference it can make.