What is Sainfoin?

Holy Hay

Sainfoin, otherwise known as “holy hay”, is a plant long recognized for its extraordinary palatability and health benefits. This forage was primarily grown for horses prior to the industrialization of agriculture, but was all but abandoned with the invention of tractors and the promise of fertilizers and weed control chemicals that would make large scale farming possible. Sainfoin is now experiencing a rebirth as scientists all over the world recognize its unique ability to resist drought, draw nutrients from deep in the earth to nourish grazing animals, fix nitrogen, sequester phosphates, and support pollinators; all necessary if we are to make headway in our quest to address climate change.

Small quarters of land in the western United States are a riotous blur of pink when the sainfoin crop comes into bloom in June. In the stillness of a hot Montana afternoon you can hear the steady drone of bees and see the pervasive movement of butterflies flitting from plant to plant. Tourists will stop to get permission to take photos in the vibrant, pink landscape, which rivals the tulip fields of Amsterdam for their breathtaking beauty. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and wildlife all exhibit a strong preference for sainfoin over other forages and will walk through a blooming field of alfalfa to feast on the blooms, stems and leaves of this extraordinary plant.

Top benefits of Sainfoin in horses:

The higher tannin level disrupts mechanisms that create gas during digestion to support normal digestion, and proper absorption of nutrients.
Longer chewing time. We have recorded the chewing time of horses who eat an alfalfa pellet vs those who eat the sainfoin pellet. The horses observed spent an average of 30% more time chewing the sainfoin, salivated significantly more and drank up to twice the amount of water when they were eating sainfoin. Chewing produces saliva and digestive enzymes, and increased water consumption is critical for optimal gastrointestinal health in horses.
The condensed tannins in sainfoin bind to the proteins, resulting in increased utilization of the protein. In cattle, this results in faster growth and better hides. In horses the result is a better topline, more effective maintenance of muscling, and improved hoof horn.
Sainfoin is forage, the food that should make up the majority of your horse's diet.
Sainfoin is naturally low in sugar.
Sainfoin is naturally low in starch
If you have a horse who is off their feed or refuses to eat a supplement, incorporating sainfoin often gets them going.