11/11/2025
🌿The Best Way to Soak Hay for Your Horse (and Why It’s Easier Than You Think!) 🌿
Soaking hay can sound like a bit of a chore — but it’s actually quick, simple, and incredibly worthwhile when done the right way. With a few easy steps, you can make sure your hay is safer, cleaner, and perfectly prepared without losing too many nutrients.
Many horses and ponies are sensitive to soluble sugars and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) naturally found in certain hays. This is especially true for horses and ponies that are overweight, have a “cresty” neck, are prone to foot soreness, or have had laminitis in the past.
What the Research Shows: A study conducted by Dr John Kohnke and others found that soaking hay for 30 minutes in lukewarm water was enough to remove a significant portion of the WSC and soluble sugars, bringing many hay types down to a safer level for laminitis-prone horses. In fact, most of the sugar loss occurs within the first 30 minutes — meaning longer soaking times don’t make a big difference and can result in greater nutrient losses.
Here’s how to get the most out of every soak 👇
💧 Measure the right amount of water
To properly remove excess water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and sugars, you’ll need twice the volume of water to hay.
➡️ For example, a standard biscuit of hay measuring about 12cm thick x 38cm high x 44cm long is roughly 20 litres in volume, so soak it in 40 litres of water.
It sounds technical, but once you’ve done it once or twice, you’ll get a feel for how much water your tub or bin needs — it’s easier than you think!
🔥 2️⃣ Use lukewarm water
Lukewarm water helps speed up the extraction of sugars without stripping too many other nutrients. Cold water will still work, but it takes longer. Warm water gets the job done faster and more efficiently.
⏱️ Soak for just 30 minutes
Most of the sugar removal happens in the first 30 minutes. Soaking longer doesn’t remove much more sugar, but it does draw out more valuable minerals like sodium, potassium and phosphorus. So, 30 minutes is the sweet spot — effective, efficient, and time-friendly!
🪨 Keep the hay submerged
To get an even soak, make sure the hay stays fully under the water. Pop a clean, heavy object like a brick or stone on top, or give it a gentle stir halfway through to help it soak evenly.
🌬️ Drain and feed fresh
Once your 30 minutes are up, lift out the hay and drain it well. Let it air for a few minutes before feeding so it’s not dripping wet.
⚠️ Don’t store soaked hay for more than 4 hours — damp hay spoils quickly and can grow microbes such as bacteria and mould, increasing the risk of colic.
💡 Replace the nutrients lost during soaking
While soaking removes sugars, it also washes away some key electrolytes and minerals your horse needs daily. To keep their diet balanced, add:
🟦 Kohnke’s Own Cell-Provide® – replaces essential vitamins and minerals lost during soaking.
🌾 Soaking hay doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Once you’ve set up your system — a tub, some warm water, and half an hour — it quickly becomes part of your routine. And the payoff is huge: safer, cleaner, healthier hay that supports your horse’s wellbeing every day.
📩 DM, email or call us today to book your free ration analysis! 📞 1800 112 227
