Not all grass hay is the same — and Orchardgrass is one many Texas horse owners haven’t had much experience with yet.
So, what is it?
Orchardgrass is a soft, leafy grass hay that many horses really enjoy eating. Think of it like a gentle, easy-to-chew hay option that gives your horse the fiber they need to keep their gut working well.
For horses, fiber is a big deal. It helps keep their digestive system moving, gives them something healthy to chew on, and supports overall condition.
Orchardgrass is often compared to Timothy hay. According to Kentucky Equine Research, when Timothy and Orchardgrass are cut at the same stage and harvested under the same conditions, their nutrient content can be very similar.
Another reason many horse owners ask about Orchardgrass is because it can be a lower-NSC option compared to richer feeds or certain hay types.
NSC stands for non-structural carbohydrates, which is just a fancy way of talking about the sugars and starches in hay. For some horses — especially easy keepers, overweight horses, metabolic horses, or horses with a history of laminitis — lower sugar and starch levels can really matter.
But here’s the important part:
Orchardgrass is not automatically low NSC just because it is grass hay.
The safest way to know is through a hay test. A good hay analysis tells us what’s actually inside the bale, instead of guessing based on the name of the hay. (Click here to view a test.)
A simple way to explain it:
Alfalfa is usually higher in protein.
Bermuda is common in Texas.
Orchardgrass is a soft, palatable grass hay that may offer a lower-NSC option when the test results support it.
It can be a great fit for horses who need quality forage, good chew time, and a hay they are willing to eat — especially when the hay is clean, leafy, fresh-smelling, and properly harvested.
As always, every horse is different. The best hay choice depends on the horse’s age, workload, body condition, health history, and lab analysis of the hay.
At 281 Hay & Grain, our goal is to help make those choices easier — one bale at a time.