Additional concerns may relate to risk of impactions which largely stem from studies published in the 1980s. In more recent studies exploring different types of bedding for horses and their implications for welfare, it is apparent that if horses have access to straw bedding they do move between their hay and their bedding and so the time taken to consume their forage ration is longer. Researchers in these welfare focussed studies advocate this behaviour and highlight that those bedded on shavings do, in some cases, eat their shavings but also spend less time eating which has negative consequences for digestive health. What we want to avoid is a horse or pony eating a large amount of straw in one go and so if it’s part of a mix of forages, this is less likely to occur.  If a horse or pony has poor teeth or a history of impaction colic then straw is probably best avoided if fed in long length. It may still be suitable if chopped and mixed with other ingredients in the bucket feed though. If you are in any doubt please consult your vet.

If your horse has poor dentition or a history of impaction colic then straw may not be suitable but it is worth discussing with your vet as straw isn’t necessarily any more fibrous than some late cut hays. Chopped straw may be a viable option in these scenarios or dampening to soften may help too. As with any new feed introduce small amounts and increase gradually over at least 7 days. Mixing straw with the other forage will help to reduce the amount the horse is consuming at one time – problems typically occur when a horse gorges on one ingredient so the key is to limit the amount they can consume. Horses will often pick through the mix of straw and other forage which is great as it slows their intake even further!

Some horses won’t eat straw, even if there is nothing else on offer. Whilst it might seem wasteful, mixing straw in with other forages can mean it still serves a purpose by slowing the horse down when eating as they sort the straw out from the other forage.

Calculations using typical values for forages show that if straw replaces one third of the weight of an average hay, a reduction in energy intake of 16% is achieved. Obviously replacing half of a higher quality forage such as haylage will achieve an even greater reduction. Interestingly, research suggests that to lose 0.5 unit on a 5 point body condition scoring system is thought to require a reduction in energy intake of 11-15% in the total diet. This makes straw the ideal choice for maintaining forage intake but reducing weight.

Straw has a much lower water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content than grass forages so it has less of an impact on blood glucose and insulin levels when eaten. This, combined with a slow rate of consumption meant that in one study, no significant increase in insulin levels occurred in horses consuming 50% straw and 50% haylage. This is really valuable information for managing insulin dysregulated (ID) horses such as those with EMS or PPID.

The hygienic quality of straw can vary, so some care is required when sourcing some for your horse or pony. Straw can be soaked or steamed but if this isn’t practical then chopped straw is available to buy in branded packaging. This will have been dust-extracted and sourced from reliable growers.