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Haygain Hay Steamers | Emmers Equestrian
Haygain steamers use high-temperature steam, rather than soaking, to make hay cleaner to breathe and eat. Research behind the technology found that steaming hay properly reduces respirable dust particles by around 99% and cuts bacteria and mold by about 95%, while a plain water soak only reduces dust by roughly 90% and can actually increase bacteria in the hay by up to 150% as it sits in the water.
Steaming also keeps more of the hay's natural nutrients intact, since soaking leaches out minerals and protein along with the sugars people are usually trying to reduce. This matters most for horses with respiratory sensitivities, equine asthma, recurrent airway obstruction, or a persistent cough, where reducing what they breathe in from their forage makes a genuine, measurable difference, though plenty of owners steam simply as a precaution or to improve the hygiene of average-quality hay.
Tips for Choosing
- Choose a steamer sized to how much hay you actually get through daily, since running a large unit for a single horse's ration is inefficient, and an undersized one becomes a bottleneck on a busy yard.
- If respiratory health is the main reason you're steaming, prioritize models proven to reach and hold the high temperature needed to kill bacteria and mold spores throughout the hay, not just warm it.
- Factor in steaming time (commonly around 40 to 60 minutes per batch) into your daily routine, since it needs to happen before feeding, not as an afterthought.
- Check delivery and installation details before buying, since larger steamers can be heavy and are sometimes collection-only rather than home-delivered.
- Feed steamed hay promptly rather than letting it sit and dry out afterwards, since the respiratory and hygiene benefits are tied to the hay being fed while still steamed, not stored for later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Haygain steamer actually more effective than soaking hay?
Published research using a Haygain steamer found it cut airborne respirable dust by around 99% and reduced bacterial and mold contamination by a similar margin, while soaking showed no meaningful reduction in microbial contamination over the same trial, which is the core evidence behind Haygain’s steaming method rather than a soak-and-drain approach.
Does a Haygain steamer reduce hay’s sugar content the way soaking does?
Not to the same extent, the same research found steaming reduced water-soluble carbohydrates by under 20%, well below what soaking typically removes, so a Haygain is built around respiratory and hygiene benefits rather than sugar reduction specifically.
How long does a Haygain steaming cycle take?
Typically around 40 to 60 minutes per batch, depending on the model, since Haygain’s steamers are designed to hold hay at a high, consistent temperature throughout the cycle rather than just warming it quickly.
Do I need a Haygain steamer if my horse doesn’t have respiratory issues?
Not necessarily, but many owners choose one anyway to improve the general hygiene of their hay, particularly when hay quality varies from batch to batch or dust is noticeable when shaking out a bale.
Which Haygain model is right for my yard?
It depends on how much hay you get through: the HG One suits a single horse, the half-bale steamer fits small to medium yards feeding several horses, and the full-bale model is built for larger barns steaming in volume daily.
Can I steam a batch in my Haygain and save it for a later feed?
It’s best fed soon after steaming, since the hygiene and respiratory benefits are tied to feeding the hay while it’s still fresh from the cycle, not to letting it sit and dry out afterwards.
Find Haygain hay steamers at Emmers Equestrian.