09/03/2026
Ever wonder why we soak some of our horses’ hay? 🐴💦
Several of the horses and minis in our care are insulin resistant, which means managing the amount of sugar in their diet is extremely important. Soaking their hay helps remove some of the water-soluble sugars before we feed it.
And just look at that water! 😳
One important thing to understand: the sugar itself IS NOT what makes the water brown. The dark color comes from natural plant pigments, tannins, dust, dirt, and other compounds that wash out of the hay while it soaks.
The sugars are dissolving into the water too, you just can’t see them.
This is also exactly why our insulin-resistant horses are not on grass. Fresh pasture can contain significant amounts of sugar, so for these horses, controlling access to grass is an important part of managing their diet and overall health.
So while that brown water shows just how much is coming off and out of the hay, the color itself does not tell us exactly how much sugar was removed.
It’s an extra step in our daily routine, but when you are caring for insulin-resistant horses, those extra steps can make a big difference. 🩵🐴
