Why eragrostis is ideal for horses

Horses in Pretoria live in an ever-changing climate: frosty mornings, hot afternoons, and occasional downpours that leave stables humid. A forage that stays consistent through these swings is invaluable. Eragrostis hay holds that consistency because it matures evenly, offers moderate protein, and delivers the long-stem fibre that powers a horse’s hindgut. The stalk structure keeps horses chewing for longer, further promoting saliva production that buffers the stomach.

Digestibility is the first reason we encourage barns to choose eragrostis. At a neutral detergent fibre value of roughly 63%, it sits between harder teff and softer lucerne. This middle ground allows weight maintenance without the sugar spike associated with some irrigated grasses. Pleasure mounts, school horses, and endurance athletes can all thrive on eragrostis because it supports constant gut motility while keeping muscle tone steady.

“Our mares stay relaxed on eragrostis. It keeps their top-line without the fizzy behaviour we battled with other hays.” — Pretoria show yard manager.

Eragrostis also shines in Pretoria because of availability. The grass thrives in our sandy soils and responds well to rotational grazing. That means we can cut fortnightly in season and deliver fresh rolls direct to the stable door. Less time in storage equals better vitamin retention and fewer worries about dust. When we deliver, riders immediately notice the fragrant, almost herbal aroma that entices fussy eaters.

Finally, eragrostis supports stable management goals. The rolls are dense but still manageable, so grooms can load haynets without wrestling loose flakes. The long stems encourage horses to chew more thoroughly, reducing choke risk. When barns need extra calories, they simply top up with concentrates while keeping eragrostis as the foundation. This flexibility means horses stay on a familiar forage even when workload changes.

If you haven’t tried eragrostis, start with a few rolls and feed them alongside your current hay. Track how quickly horses leave their mangers clean, monitor droppings for moisture and fibre content, and watch behaviour in the arena. Most yards switch fully within a week because the horses clearly prefer the steady texture of eragrostis. Message us on WhatsApp for sampling bales and join Pretoria yards that already rely on this dependable grass.

For pricing, delivery areas, and current availability, visit our eragrostis horse feed and hay rolls in Pretoria page.

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