Benefits of
Hay Steaming
Respiratory Health
Stabled horses are exposed to high levels of respirable dust which cause mild to severe respiratory health issues. 88% of horses have some level of Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD).
Haygain hay steamers reduce 99% of airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for respiratory health by world-class riders, trainers, veterinarians and scientists globally.
Prevent
Preventing respiratory issues such as coughing, IAD or Asthma is far easier than the potential long road that comes with treatment.
"Prevention is always better than cure, so in our barn we like to have our competition horses on steamed hay."
Lauren Kieffer
Team USA - Olympic Event Rider
Mild
Mild to moderate equine asthma, known as IAD can affect horses of all ages. Clinical signs are usually subtle, including poor performance and occasional coughing but with normal breathing at rest. A study shows that 88% of horses examined suffered from IAD and steaming hay reduces the risk of IAD by 65%.
"We are incredibly happy to have added the Haygain Hay Steamer to our program, and quickly noticed an increase in the quality of our horses’ breathing, especially in those with respiratory problems."
McLain Ward
Team USA - Olympic Showjumper
Severe
Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a performance-limiting allergic airways disease, similar to human asthma, that affects genetically predisposed horses when exposed to allergens associated with the stabling environment. A study found 14% of the UK horse population suffer with SEA, resulting in coughing, nasal discharge and respiratory difficulty, as a result of lower airway inflammation, broncho constriction and mucus production.
"Hay is crucial for the health, well-being and performance of horses. Haygain ensures for us that our horses get what they need and nothing that they don’t from their hay."
Beezie Madden
Four Olympic Showjumping Medals
Prolonged exposure to respirable dust is known to cause inflammation of the airways from mild (Inflammatory Airway Disease) to severe (Equine Asthma).
Respirable dust includes mould, bacteria and fungi that horses would not be exposed to in the field eating grass. Forage is known to be the highest source of dust in the stable environment.
Steaming your forage with a Haygain hay steamer helps to avoid damaging exposure to respirable dust and acts as a good long term preventative approach to inflammation, not to mention added benefits of increased palatability and hydration.
William Fox-Pitt
Eventer, 3 Olympic Medals
"The horses have been free from
coughs and nasal discharge, they
are healthy and performing well -
so what more can I ask for?”
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Digestive Health
Stabled horses are exposed to high levels of dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay which can cause serious digestive health issues.
Steaming hay with Haygain reduces 99% of airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage helping to compact against digestive problems.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for digestive health by world-class riders, trainers,veterinarians and scientists globally.
Prevent
Preventing mild digestive issues can significantly reduce a horse’s susceptibility to more severe problems such as colic and ulcers.
"I recognised the importance of taking the bacteria and dust out of the hay...The value of steamed hay was never something I needed to be convinced of."
McLain Ward
Team USA - Olympic Showjumper.
Mild
While it is recognised that poor hygienic quality forage adversely affects the health of the respiratory tract in horses, research by Kaya et al (2009) showed that horses fed poor hygienic quality hay are significantly more susceptible to colic than those fed clean hay. Steaming hay will reduce respirable particles by 99% and re-hydrates the hay increasing the moisture content, helping to avoid dehydration.
"I also recommend Haygain in my practice for horses with respiratory and skin allergies, COPD, poor appetite and colic issues "
Wren Burnley
DVM Veterinarian & Grand Prix Dressage Rider.
Severe
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) frequently referred to as gastric ulcers in horses is a common problem among domesticated horses. Symptoms include poor appetite, loss of performance and weight loss.Any period of low forage intake can lead to increased gastric acidity and a risk of ulcers.If your horse is susceptible to EGUS you should encourage your horse to eat more hay as part of his diet, and using steamed hay helps further given its higher palatability level.
"When my 4* horse, Deniro Z, was diagnosed with gastric ulcers we knew that gut health for him was even more important then it ever was before. I immediately got in touch with Haygain ...his performance and health has improved and we now have all of our horses enjoying steamed hay every day"
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
Team USA - International Event Rider CCI4*
Feeding plenty of long-stemmed, steamed forage will help to reduce the risk of digestive problems in two ways, firstly by improving the hygienic quality and secondly by increasing the amount of water intake.
Dust includes mould, bacteria and fungi that horses would not be exposed to in the field eating grass. Forage is known to be the highest source of dust in the stable environment.
Steaming your forage with a Haygain hay steamer helps to avoid damaging exposure to respirable dust and acts as a good long term preventative approach to inflammation, not to mention added benefits of increased palatability and hydration.
Mary Hanna
Five time Australian Olympian
"I love using our Haygain machine.
It is simple to use and provides clean
fresh dust free hay for our horses.
It minimizes the incidence of colic
from mouldy hay, or coughs from
dust and spores.”
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Hydration
Dehydration can affect a horse’s general well-being, performance and can even be life threatening.
Haygain hay steamers reduce 99% of airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage. but also increases a horse’s water intake by almost 3 times.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for hydration by world-class riders, trainers,veterinarians and scientists globally
The Importance of Hydration
Keeping your horse hydrated is not always as easy as it sounds. Dehydration is when there is not enough water to support the functions of the body which can be a result in not enough water going in or too much going out.
A horse can lose up to 5% of his body weight in fluids before showing any actual signs of dehydration.
It will undoubtedly affect a horse’s performance but it can also be life-threatening. Dehydration can also worsen respiratory diseases such as Inflammatory Airway Disease.
Steaming hay is a good way to increase water content to help offset dehydration. The amount of water that will be taken up will depend upon the water content and maturity of the forage. Earing et al. (2013) found that steaming increased the water content by almost 3 times.
Debbie Stephens
Two Pan American Games medals
Show Jumping World Record Holder
"Haygain…it is a “win-win” for you and your horse. In the past, I would wet then soak my hay so my horses would not get dehydrated digesting their hay. Haygain steams the hay, eliminating the mould spores and dust that could give horses allergic reactions and colic.”
Palatability
Get a waft of steamed hay and you will want to eat it yourself!
Steaming hay not only reduces 99% of respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage but it makes it more palatably with horses choosing steamed hay over dry hay or haylage.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for palatability by world-class riders, trainers,veterinarians and scientists globally.
Increasing Forage Intake
Horses love the smell and taste of freshly steamed hay!
Four independent palatability studies demonstrated that steamed hay was more palatable, was on most occasions the preferred choice over dry hay and haylage, and could increase the voluntary forage intake compared to dry and soaked hay.
Peasebrook Equine Clinic, Gloucestershire, use the Haygain Steamer to render their hay dust free and to improve the palatability. Most of the in-patients are on box rest or are in light exercise. It is vital that the clinic can provide them with clean palatable fiber that will not make them too lively. Increasing the moisture intake of the horse via steamed hay is another important advantage and sick horses are often reluctant to eat and so the enhanced palatability of steamed hay is very helpful.
Jamie Barge
Team USA Three World Cup Finals, Nations Cup Team Member
"Ever since Luebbo's been on the Haygain, he hasn't coughed at all! I was shocked by how fast I saw a difference. His appetite has improved dramatically too - he used to leave a lot of hay waste in his stall. With Haygain steamed hay, he eats every piece we feed him!"
Skin Conditions
Forage is the largest part of a horse's diet and it can also be the biggest source of skin allergies.
Haygain hay steamers reduce 99% of airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage which can help horses who are sensitive or suffering from allergies.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for skin allergies by world-class riders, trainers, veterinarians and scientists globally.
Helping the sensitive horse
Horses can become allergic to things they eat, inhale and touch or through insect bite hypersensitivity.
Researchers Lanz et al at the University of Bern found there is a risk that horses suffering from one allergy at a certain point in time may develop other allergies in the future. Their study also showed horses with insect bite hypersensitivity had increased airway hypersensitivity even without showing symptoms of equine asthma at that time. So if your horse is sensitive or suffers from allergies, feeding steamed hay would help reduce this increased risk of developing Equine Asthma and other allergies.
When it comes to both allergies and the general health of horses it is important to minimise exposure to respirable dust and allergens where possible; forage is the largest part of the horse’s diet; it’s also a major source. Control exposure by using a Haygain hay steamer.
"It’s been a game changer, Havanna loves her hay, she’s eating well and she’s not having the allergic skin symptoms. She is shiny, well-muscled.”
Ashley Holzer
4 Time Olympic Dressage Rider
Margie Engle
Three Pan American Games medals, One World Equestrian Games medal,
10x American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year
“It has so many benefits for horses with allergies. Along with better breathing, my horse’s allergy-related skin conditions cleared up, too.”
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Performance
Respiratory health, digestive health, hydration and diet can have a huge impact on performance and often be the key to success.
By reducing 99% of airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage, steaming hay should be a top priority for the performance horse.
Haygain hay steamers are used and recommended for performance by world-class riders, trainers,veterinarians and scientists globally.
The Poor Performer
Poor performance can often be a combination of factors resulting from physical or psychological health issues. The quality of forage fed to the performance horse can be the deciding factor in how well a horse can perform due to its impact on respiratory and digestive health. As forage is known to be the highest source of dust in the stable environment, steaming the hay is the only way to ensure the forage you are feeding is not going to be the trigger for health issues.
"When my 4* horse, Deniro Z, was diagnosed with gastric ulcers we knew that gut health for him was even more important then it ever was before. I immediately got in touch with Haygain ...his performance and health has improved and we now have all of our horses enjoying steamed hay every day"
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
Team USA, Event Rider CCI4*
Optimum Performance
Performance at peak level requires optimal musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory function along with appropriate diet (in particular forage) and good psychological condition. External factors such as the weather conditions and a competition environment are elements that are unpredictable and unmanageable. What can be managed is a horse's stable environment and the quality of the forage.
Clean, palatable and hydrating forage is a key requirement to keep horses in top condition.
"Szekit doesn’t have a respiratory problem but as a high performance competition horse the reduction in the dust and bacteria in his feed with the steamed hay allows him to perform at his best".
Verity Smith
French Para Dressage Team
Respiratory Health - exposure to dust can cause mild to severe respiratory health conditions that can impact performance. Feeding steamed forage that is 99% free from dust, fungi, bacteria and mould can not only help to treat severe respiratory damage it can help to prevent any issues developing.
Digestive Health - feeding steamed forage will help to reduce the risk of digestive problems in two ways, firstly by improving the hygienic quality and secondly by increasing the amount of water intake.
The added benefits of increasing palatability and hydration mean that steamed hay can increase forage intake along with keeping a horse hydrated in both winter and summer.
Chelsea Pearce
GB Pony Team 2013/14, Junior Team 2016
"Haygain is second to none and
is an incredibly efficient and easy way of improving the quality of hay and therefore improving my horses’ health and performance. I believe it is an essential piece of kit that should be on every yard.”
Additional Benefits
Good For You
A study at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, showed that 25% of people working with horses have a diagnosed respiratory condition such as asthma, not to mention all the hay fever suffers. Not only will steamed hay help your horse with a respiratory condition it will also help you!
"I never want to go back to soaking hay again; as an asthmatic and an athlete myself, I cannot stick my nose in a regular bale of hay, but I can in a bale that has come out of the Haygain machine!"
Wren BurnleyDVM
Veterinarian & Grand Prix dressage rider
Good for Your Wallet
Forage is known to be the biggest source of dust in the stable environment. By steaming hay, 99% of this dust is eliminated which helps to prevent associated health issues and reduces the need to call out your vet. Steamed hay is also highly palatable meaning less waste.
An epidemiological study found respiratory problems in race horses to be the second highest reason for lost training days. A dusty stable environment can have financial implications; not just in lost training days but vet bills too.
"I use my Haygain to steam quality hay for my race horse. It gives me confidence when we perform post race scopes and see that the trachea is staying clean and clear. Haygain has helped us to minimise the amount of medication used."
Albert M. Stall, Jr
US Racing Trainer Breeders Cup Winner
Good for The Environment
Steaming hay drastically reduces water consumption. Filling a container for soaking hay typically uses 50 - 250 litres. The sheer volume of water used has an impact not just on water bills, but also on the environment. Post-soak water is contaminated with bacteria, mould, WSC, proteins and minerals which leach out o f the hay, making it an environmental pollutant which must not be disposed of in storm drains. Haygain steamers use approximately 4 ½ litres of water per cycle and produce no environmental pollutants. Steamed hay is also highly palatable meaning horses dont waste as much
"Wish we had bought one sooner. The horses love it! Horses which you used to be on soaked hay for health reasons, do very well on the steamed hay. Very economical on water compared to soaking and so easy to use. Would never go back to soaking. A fantastic product, Thank You!"
Anny
Haygain Customer
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