have you ever heard this phrase? do you know where it comes from?

[FoBoT]

Hay is for horses, sometimes cows, pigs can eat it, but they can't digest it.

anybody know the origin of this phrase?

have you heard it before?

 

[Ornery]

No, but this comes up on Google more than once:

"Hay is for horses but sometimes for cows, but pigs don't eat it 'cause they don't know hows."

 

[djheater]

"Hay is for horses, grass is free... buy a farm and get all three.

 

[geno]

*shrugs*

Must be a Missouri thing 😉

 

[vi edit]

Where it came from, I dunno. I just know that it was common retorhic around the midwest when you shouted "Hey you!" at someone.

 

[AkiSaki]

I heard it used in a movie, might have been Cats Eyes. A heavy said it just before he hit anyone.

 

[Captante]

Nope. *(only the "hay is for horses" part)

 

[WelshBloke]

Also what the hell does the phrase mean and when and why would you use it?!

 

[waffleironhead]

Hay is for horses, cows eat it too, if you dont behave, ill feed some to you.

Is the only version im familiar with.
Typically the response when someone said "hey". Usually just gets shortened to "hay is for horses."

 

[pcgeek11]

No.

I've just heard the phrase as a response when someone says Hey!

"Hay is the first stage of horse shit."

 

[Muse]

(almost) never heard HIFH.

Where I live you rarely see hay or horses.

Was trail hiking a couple days ago and was approaching a girl who'd dropped something, unawares. I think I said "hey!" I then gave it to her, she apologized (not necessary) and thanked me. No horses involved, but she was walking a dog.