Horse Hay

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Horse Hay

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Nikki:

Interesting topic!

Although we have the space to grow our own hay we don't do it. The cost of the machinery required (or the cost of contrating a custom outfit to do it) to manage it and put it up makes that decision for us. We live in a very strong dairy funded economy, so there is all kinds of hay available around us. I use a dairy farmer about 8 miles from our farm, and I buy the same cut from the same fields every year. The farmer puts my hay in a particular barn, and I can get to it and bring it home as needed. There's not a lot of delivery service available where I live, but I have access to a couple of strong teenage boys who are happy to earn extra $$ helping to haul and stack our hay. I currently pay $8/bale for really lovely grass hay, which I supplement with alfalfa cubes.

I used to live at the coast (BC, Canada) where hay was not nearly as plentiful, and much more expensive. Even now I have clients there who are paying as much as $20/bale for hay...

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

$20 a bale!? I thought when alfalfa went up to $6/bale some years ago that it was insane.

We used to get two tons of great quality, first or second cut Eastern Oregon Grass Hay for $150. Our lady was great; we'd back our flatbed trailer up to her hay barn and between 5 of us we would have the trailer stacked and ready to go in no time.

Then came a time when we only had one horse and a mini donkey, with no storage available (living in the rainy Pacific Northwest, leaving hay out/under tarp is no where near an option). We had to resort to buying grass hay from the feed store at anywhere from $4-$6 a bale. We could only store maybe 10 bales at a time, and having a geriatric horse on hand who needed to keep her weight on in the damp climate.. well, needless to say on top of senior feed and supplements, we broke our budget rather quickly.

Move on to the next phase in my horse ownership; 17 acres and a beautiful old barn. Because we were spending so much for the property, plus had since acquired two new horses (another senior, and a gorgeous little 4 year old mare), our hay budget was still slim. It wasn't the brightest move, taking on more expenses and another senior horse, but given that we had the storage space again (huge loft), we were able to start buying from our hay lady again. By then two tons had gone up to $200 or so. Not too terribly shabby for just 4 critters to feed.

The next time I am able to own horses, I will have land, and plan to grow my own hay. :)

justice · Grand Prix

Here in New England/Northeast, our hayfields are not really all that big acreage-wise. Being also very hilly, it is next to impossible to get a consistent load over 300 bales (not BAD hay, very NICE hay but inconsistent in its components per field). The average field acreage around here is about 10-15. Not very big considering the demand for hay between what's left of our dairy farms and our horses. New England seems to be more forest and development than field now. We have also had a significant enough shift in climate timing, spring being later, colder, rainier and darker than in the past. This will cause change in the flora process as we have seen with some clovers (a fungus? is now attracted to it ) causing excessive tho apparently harmelss drooling in horses.

Also, I believe because of our history of grain dependence, we had become a bit less concerned with hay components and the financial state of affairs has generated an opportunity/need for less expensive ways to keep our horses. Now, with further research and an escalating occurence and knowledge of some horse health issues (insulin resistance, Cushing's Syndrome and other metabolic imbalances come to mind), hay is once again a primary factour in horse husbandry. We are now more aware and particular about the components and conditions of hay such as sugar content, protien, carbs, Alfalfa, first or second cut even a third in some areas, grass or legume. Not all bad, really, just need to be better informed now (and financially well endowed), to own a horse WELL : )

My hay has been coming out of upstate NY/Ontario (thanks SOOO much, my Fine Canadian Friends, for knowing how to grow and bale such beautiful hay!!) and tho at $10/bale, my horses are well fed, in good flesh, consistent good health, minimal grain, gorgeous bare feet : )