How Well Do You Know Your Hay?

calcium can be even higher and still be considered safe. Phosphorus concentration must never be higher than calcium levels.
        Calcium to magnesium ratio Ideally calcium content should not be more than twice that of magnesium. Most hays have a magnesium level that is lower than what horses ideally require and that magnesium is not well absorbed.
        Iron Zinc Copper and Manganese Ideal ratios are IronCopper 41 CopperZincManganese 144. However keep in mind that minerals interact with one another interfering with absorption. Therefore be conservative when supplementing minerals if your hay is close to these ideal ratios.
        Selenium This is worth analyzing since selenium has a narrow range of safety. Too little can be just as damaging as too much so know your hays selenium level before you supplement.
Feeding your horse like a horsethe way nature intendedmeans feeding the most nutritious diet possible including giving him hay free choice to mimic his natural grazing pattern. Youll be more confident in feeding this way when you get to know your foundation elementthe haythrough a laboratory analysis.