Hay cobs for horses: Soaking, quantity and benefits

Hay cobs are dried, chopped hay pressed into small pieces that you soak and feed your horse as a supplement or partial replacement for hay. Depending on the manufacturer, soak them for about 15 minutes to several hours in two to three times the amount of water until a loose mash forms. Hay cobs are particularly useful for older horses that can no longer chew hay well and as a low-dust forage alternative. How much your horse needs depends on how much hay it still eats. In this guide, you will learn everything important about soaking, quantity, and feeding.

What are hay cobs?

Hay cobs are made by drying meadow grass, finely chopping it, and then pressing it under pressure into small pieces called cobs. They are usually made without additives. The roughage is largely preserved, but the stems are significantly shorter than in hay.

Hay cobs are therefore not concentrated feed, but forage in a different form. They are easy to store, portion, and combine with other feed.

What are the benefits of hay cobs?

• Easy to eat: When soaked, the cobs break down into a soft mash that even horses with poor teeth can eat easily.
• Low-dust: Soaked hay cobs practically do not produce dust. This is an advantage for horses where dust in the feed should be avoided.
• Consistent quality: Good hay cobs are cleanly processed and vary less in quality than some hay batches.
• Space-saving and easy to store: Cobs take up less space than hay bales and can be stored dry for a long time.
• Flexible use: You can use them as a partial replacement for hay, as a carrier feed for mineral supplements, or as a supplement in winter.

Soaking hay cobs: How to do it properly

You should always soak hay cobs. If fed dry, they only swell up in the digestive tract, and greedy eaters can choke on them. In the worst case, this can lead to a choke, which is a veterinary emergency.

1. Weigh the amount: Weigh the hay cobs dry so you can keep an eye on the ration.
2. Add water: Pour about two to three times the amount of water over them. The exact recommendation is on the packaging.
3. Let them soak: With warm water, many cobs become soft after 15 to 30 minutes, while cold water takes longer. Coarsely pressed varieties often need several hours.
4. Check the consistency: The cobs should be completely broken down and no longer contain hard cores.
5. Feed fresh: Soaked hay cobs spoil quickly, especially in warm weather. Therefore, only prepare as much as your horse will eat shortly, and clean the bucket regularly.

Can you soak hay cobs overnight?

In winter at cool temperatures, this is possible if you use cold water and place the bucket in a cool place. In summer, you should avoid this because the mash will quickly begin to ferment. If it smells sour or moldy, it no longer belongs in the trough.

How many hay cobs does a horse need?

A horse needs about 1.5 kg of forage per 100 kg of body weight per day. For a 500 kg horse, that is around 7.5 kg. How much of that should be hay cobs depends on how much hay your horse still eats:

Situation	Role of hay cobs
Horse eats hay without problems	Small amount as a supplement or carrier feed, for example 0.5 to 1 kg dry per day
Horse only eats hay partially	Hay cobs make up for the missing amount of hay
Horse can hardly chew hay anymore	Hay cobs become the main forage, divided into several meals

As a rough rule of thumb, 1 kg of hay cobs (weighed dry) replaces approximately 1 kg of hay. Manufacturers' specifications may vary, so it is worth taking a look at the packaging. If your horse needs to get a large part of its forage from cobs, it is best to coordinate the ration with your veterinary practice or a horse feeding specialist.

Several meals instead of one large portion

Horses are designed to eat many small amounts throughout the day. You should avoid long feeding breaks. Therefore, divide larger amounts of hay cobs into three or more meals.

Hay cobs, grass cobs, or alfalfa cobs: What is the difference?

• Hay cobs: Made from meadow hay, high in roughage and comparatively low in energy. They are closest to hay.
• Grass cobs: Made from freshly cut, quickly dried grass. They usually contain more energy, protein, and sugar than hay cobs.
• Alfalfa cobs: Made from alfalfa, a legume, with more protein and calcium.

For horses whose hay is to be replaced, hay cobs are usually the obvious choice. For easy-keeping horses or a low-sugar diet, pay special attention to the manufacturer's specifications for sugar and starch.

For which horses are hay cobs suitable?

• Older horses: When their teeth are failing and hay is no longer chewed properly.
• Horses that should eat gently after a dental treatment: In this case, your veterinary practice may recommend feeding soaked cobs.
• Horses where dust should be avoided: Soaked hay cobs are a low-dust alternative.
• Horses with little hay in winter: If the quality of the hay fluctuates or the hay becomes scarce, cobs are a good supplement.
• As a carrier feed: Mineral supplements or other supplements can be easily mixed into soaked cobs.

You can find more tips for the cold season in our article How to keep your horse healthy through the winter.

What should you pay attention to when feeding?

• Switch slowly: Increase the amount over one to two weeks. Sudden feed changes stress the digestive tract. You can read why this is important in our guide Colic in horses.
• Always soak: This is especially important with hasty eaters.
• Consider chewing time: A horse eats soaked cobs faster than hay. If your horse can still eat hay, give it hay as well so that it is sufficiently occupied.
• Pay attention to quality: Good hay cobs smell pleasantly of hay, are dry, and free from mold.
• Supplement minerals: Hay and hay cobs do not always fully cover the requirement for minerals and trace elements. A suitable mineral supplement rounds off the ration. You can find a selection in our category Mineral supplements for horses.

Frequently asked questions about hay cobs for horses

How long do hay cobs need to soak?

This depends on the variety and the water temperature. With warm water, 15 to 30 minutes is often enough, while with cold water and coarsely pressed cobs, it can take several hours. The cobs should be completely broken down.

Can hay cobs completely replace hay?

For horses that can no longer chew hay, yes. Then the hay cobs become the main forage and are divided into several meals. If your horse can still eat hay, you should continue to offer it because chewing long hay is important for occupation and digestion.

Can you feed hay cobs dry?

We advise against it. Dry cobs only swell up in the digestive tract and can lead to a choke if eaten hastily. Therefore, always soak hay cobs.

Do hay cobs make horses fat?

Hay cobs are comparatively low in energy, similar to hay. As with any feed, it comes down to the quantity. Grass cobs usually contain more energy than hay cobs.

How long do soaked hay cobs last?

Only a few hours, even less in summer. Prepare the cobs as fresh as possible and dispose of leftovers that smell sour.

Conclusion: Practical forage, properly soaked

Hay cobs are pressed hay and a practical supplement or replacement for hay if your horse can no longer chew long forage well or if dust should be avoided. It is important that you always soak them thoroughly, feed them fresh, and adjust the quantity to your horse's hay intake. Switch the feeding slowly, divide larger amounts into several meals, and remember a balanced mineral supply.