Allergies in sport horses are more common than you might think, and they can have a detrimental impact on a horse's performance. Grand Prix dressage rider Sarah Hassler of Hassler Dressage, USA, turned to steamed hay a few years ago because one of her top horses, Harmony's Davidoff Hitt, was allergic to grass. Yes, you read that right—he was allergic to all types of grass, so he was also allergic to all types of hay.
Grass allergy in dressage horses!
The bad news was that their Grand Prix dressage horse, Harmony's Davidoff Hitt, was allergic to grass. The good news was that his condition led the Hassler family to steam hay.
Nutritional supplements and the meticulous cleanliness of his stable environment didn't help. "We tried everything," Sara explains. Then her veterinarian, Cooper Williams, DVM, suggested steaming the hay.
"We noticed the difference overnight," Sara recalls. "First of all, he loved it! His skin problems cleared up and he stopped coughing so much."
No matter the situation, whether it's coughing or other allergy symptoms, the horses have responded wonderfully to steamed hay. There's simply no better solution to prevent horses from experiencing these types of problems."
Steaming hay eliminates up to 99% of the breathable dust, mold, bacteria, and fungi found even in high-quality hay.
Its benefits were so evident in Harmony's Davidoff Hitt that the Hasslers put all their horses on it—even a retired full-time pasture mare, Sara Staffeln. "I sent a small unit out with her and asked the stable manager to please keep her on steamed hay."
As the gold standard in dressage training, coaching, and competition success, the Hasslers' program is equally renowned for its emphasis on horse care and management. Steamed hay contributes so much to horses' well-being, and has done so for so long, that Sara is surprised when she meets horse owners who aren't yet aware of the benefits of steaming. "Perhaps I'm a little biased," she admits. "But it shocks me when people spend so much money on their horses but don't know about hay steaming."
When you consider the health benefits of hay steaming, there is no turning back!
The Hassler horses never travel without steamers. "We live in two very high-allergen areas, Maryland and Florida, and our horses never have problems thanks to our steamer," explains Sara. "When you consider all the health benefits of steaming hay, you'll never go back!"
Hay steaming was developed primarily to protect and improve respiratory health. Since more than 80 percent of the active sport horse population is affected by some degree of respiratory problems—often without symptoms—hay steaming has prevented or managed these symptoms for thousands of horses, from Olympians to beloved backyard companions. It also adds water to the feed for digestive function, and its great flavor transforms formerly finicky horses into eager eaters.
"We're truly known for our horse care and nutritional practices," Sara notes. "People ask us questions all the time. When they see the hay steamers in our stable aisle, we're so excited to share with them the many benefits we've seen in our horses."
