American equestrian Jessica Springsteen is a hay steaming convert. Currently ranked #5 on the Rolex/USEF show jumping standings, Jessica started riding at 5 at her famous family’s New Jersey farm and went on to remarkable horsemanship accomplishments at remarkably young ages. Just 27, the graduate of Duke University was a reserve rider for the 2012 Olympic team, has represented the States in Nations Cup competitions and is considered a top contender for the 2020 Olympics.

“I love using Haygain Steamed Hay because it helps improve my horses’ respiratory conditions and stopped them from coughing,” Jessica explained from Paris, where she is contesting a leg of the Longines Global Champions tour, her fourth year on this elite international show jumping circuit. “With Haygain’s help, I can make sure the hay wherever I go is never dusty and it’s bacteria-free, so my horses don’t have any issues during competitions.”

In her desire for hay that’s consistently free of breathable irritants, no matter where she and her horses are in the world, Jessica joins many of the other top 10 U.S. show jumpers, including #1-ranked Beezie Madden and #6-ranked Margie Engle, who are also “steamers,” as are five of the current U.S. top 10 eventers.

But it’s not just elite equine athletes who benefit from steamed hay. Developed 10 years ago in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, England, Haygain high-temperature steaming has been proven to eliminate 99% of mold, fungi, yeast and bacteria, and up to 98% of respirable dust particles from hay. Unfortunately, all these breathable irritants are found in even top quality, top dollar hay.

Along with stall bedding, hay is the biggest contributor to equine respiratory problems, an issue most vets consider the biggest performance limiter in otherwise healthy horses. And for horses with conditions on the Equine Asthma Spectrum, Haygain’s clean hay can literally be a life saver.

Jessica loves using Haygain, “it keeps the quality of hay at its highest, whether we’re at home or at a show. Which helps my horses perform at their best.”