Exposure to respirable particles such as mould spores and bacteria can induce allergic responses and develop a hypersensitivity reaction in the horse. Even the best quality hays are high in respirable particles. These particles form the “dust” that you cannot see (they are less than 5 µm in size), and have a 50% chance of being inhaled deep into the lungs, causing conditions on the equine asthma spectrum. Minimising the amount of “dust” your horse is subjected to will help to prevent respiratory problems.

Yes, absolutely! Respiratory diseases can be effectively managed by minimising respirable dust, mould spores and bacteria in the horse’s environment, particularly those in the horse’s breathing zone. Since hay contains high concentrations of these and the horse’s nose is in the hay while it is eating, it is vitally important to reduce this source of dust by steaming the hay.

Haygain High Temperature Hay Steaming is highly effective for improving hygienic quality, but it only reduces sugar (WSC) content by a small amount — studies show reductions of around 2% to 18% depending on the forage. Soaking hay for 30 minutes in hot water or 60 minutes in cold water produces significantly greater sugar reductions, though results vary depending on forage type, harvest, and location. The current gold standard, supported by research (Moore-Colyer et al., 2014), is to soak hay for approximately 9 hours to leach sugars, then steam for 50–60 minutes in a Haygain to kill bacteria, mould, and yeast, and improve palatability. This combined approach produces low-sugar, clean forage suitable for horses with weight, insulin, and metabolic concerns.

Results are often reported within days of using the Haygain but do depend on the individual horse, the cause of the cough and other environmental factors. For example if you change to feeding Haygain steamed hay but the horse remains on a dusty straw bed, while you will probably see some improvement it will be compromised by the other source of respirable dust. Equally if you make changes to your horse’s feeding and management regime but the horses stabled either side, sharing the same air space have dry hay and straw bed then again the improvement may not be as marked.

Soaking hay will dampen the spores and make them swell, making them less likely to be inhaled. The combination of heat and moisture kills the spores, eliminating the allergenic respirable particles.

Haygain is the only scientifically proven system to kill mould spores including Aspergillus, as well as bacteria and dust mites. The nutritional value and goodness are maintained with improved palatability. 

The running costs are minimal and you will use considerably less water compared to soaking. The HG2000 uses 2.75Kw and HG600 uses 2.3kW electricity per hour, whilst the HG-ONE uses less at 1.5Kw. Electricity costs vary between utility companies but typically are between 7-18p per kW hour. To work out exactly how much it costs you, find out from one of your electricity bills how many pence per Kw hour your rate is and then multiply that number by either 2.75, 2.3 or 1.5 depending on which model in the range you have and this will give you the electricity cost per cycle. For example, if you are using an HG2000 and paying 10 pence per Kw hour it will cost 27.5p per hour.

The hay will absorb and therefore hydrate bringing it back towards its original moisture content, approximately 15+% of its original weight but the hay is neither soggy or heavy. The HG-PB (HG2000/HG600) will actually use about 4 ½ litres of water per cycle, some will be absorbed by the hay, some will be released as steam when you open the lid and some will be the residue of on average a tea cup amount of water (condensed steam) which remains from each steam cycle and drains out of the drain hole in the bottom of the hay chest.

All of the Haygain range are made from composite materials with highly efficient thermal properties so although the inside of the container can reach over 100 degrees C the outside is just warm to touch. Therefore, Haygain hay steamers are environmentally friendly and energy-saving. 

Absolutely! Haygain will improve the hygienic quality of any forage. Scientific studies have also shown it will increase the shelf life of haylage by up to 4 days.

The hay is very hot when you first take it out and should be handled with care but it cools very quickly once in the air and can be fed immediately. It is best fed while it is warm and steamy and it would appear most horses prefer it like this but otherwise should be used within 24 hours. 

Steamed hay is totally different to soaked hay and is damp rather than wet. The treatment is not about how wet it is but how hot it is. You will find the hay in the middle of the bale/ hay net will be quite dry. This is because when the steam comes out of the spikes it is at it’s hottest. As the steam travels through the hay and meets the plastic lid it will cool slightly, condense to water and drop back onto the hay. This results in the outside of the hay being wetter than the inside.

It is best fed while it is warm, straight out of the Haygain but you will find it cools and dries rapidly as soon as the air gets to it. This has no effect on the hygienic quality or palatability. We recommend feeding the hay within 24 hours to prevent contamination from environmental sources.

That is normal – it is usually condensation that collects under the lid during steaming. We recommend using a sturdy kitchen or garden tray under the drain hole(s) to catch this water.