Foxtail in horse feed (including hay) is dangerous for horse to eat. For the race horses that eat hay from Belinda Burrier’s farm in Maryland, it causes painful sores and bleeding in the mouth. As a result, Belinda’s hay customers will not accept weeds in their hay orders.
Growing healthy hay is my main responsibility on our farm in Union Bridge, Maryland where we have important, and particular, customers – race horses.
Weeds Are a “No Go” in Horse Feed
Foxtail is a weed grass that looks innocent enough — tall, thin stalks with a fuzzy seed head that resembles a fox’s tail. But that fluffy head contains awns, sharp bristles that don’t break down in a horse’s mouth.
When horses eat hay contaminated with foxtail, those awns can embed in their gums, tongues, and lips. The result? Painful sores, irritation, and sometimes even bleeding. If you’ve ever noticed a horse drooling, tossing its head, or refusing to eat, foxtail could be the culprit.
For us hay farmers growing horse feed, that’s a line we won’t cross. Our customers deserve weed-free hay, and the horses that eat it deserve comfort and health.
How We Prevent Foxtail in Our Hay
When we keep fields healthy and clean, we’re not just protecting our yield—we’re protecting the horses and other livestock that rely on our hay. Foxtail weeds in hay can cause painful mouth sores in horses, which is why we work hard to prevent them and deliver clean, weed-free hay that keeps horses safe, healthy, and performing their best.
One of the most important ways to stay ahead of foxtail in our fields is through scouting. I can tell the difference in our grass when foxtail comes to a head. It happens during a certain time in the growing season.
We can cut our grass up to three times easily annually if the weather cooperates. Foxtail heads appear after that first cutting. This is why we scout by foot instead of on wheels after that first cutting. If we see any signs of foxtail, we take action quickly.
We use herbicides to kill foxtail. Some of the herbicide options we use target foxtail specifically, as well as some other unwanted grass weeds. Like most pesticides, these herbicides are diluted before spraying. What gets sprayed on the areas with foxtail consists mostly of water. We use a quart jar (32 ounces) of herbicide mixed into 40 gallons of water, applied at 40 gallons of liquid per acre.
The key is following the label directions exactly to ensure safety and effectiveness. Most of our herbicides have a 10-15 day withdrawal window. This means that we have to wait a minimum of 10 or 15 days, depending on the specific product, before we cut that grass for hay after using the pesticide. Once we see foxtail, we spray about one month in advance to provide ample withdrawal time before cutting. We take our hay quality seriously.
I’m proud to say that because we take this seriously, we’ve had no incidents, and our hay stays clean for livestock and horse feed.
Why It Matters
For us, producing top-quality hay isn’t just about selling a product. It’s about being good stewards of the land and providing safe food for the animals that matter deeply to their owners. Horses are athletes, companions, and in Maryland, part of a proud racing tradition.
From weekly scouting to prevention strategies, everything we do in the field connects back to horse health. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just hay or horse feed — it’s the foundation of performance, comfort, and care for the animals we respect.
