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Where do you get your horses hey2007-11-24 21:22:53

Is there a company you reccomend? Do you pick it up or have it delivered? How can you tell if hey is really good or not very, and what makes the hey really good?

Answers:

Hay is usually available locally, depending on where you live and the climate that you live in or with. I live in Delaware, and we get our hay from a dealer who buys it somewhere in upstate New York. The hay is a mix of grass and timothy, which is really good for horses. Our hay is always delivered to us, usually about 3 or 4 times a year. My grandparents used to grow alfalfa on their farm as a cover crop in alternate years, and they lived in NH. I would sometimes visit at harvest time, and as a result, I learned what good hay is supposed to look and smell like. The big issue with hay is that it must be allowed to dry and cure properly in the field BEFORE it is baled. Hay that has not cured properly will generate heat in the bale, and if it gets hot enough, the result will be spontaneous combustion and a barn fire. Good hay will always have a pleasant smell and a nice green color. It should smell like the barn or farm of your childhood. If it has a sour, moldy or beery smell, DON'T buy it and don't feed it ! Moldy hay can make horses sick- and in some cases, certain kinds of mold can be fatal. Another point to remember when buying hay is that it should NOT be what is called mow burnt. Mow burning is another side effect of baling hay too early after cutting it. In this case it develops a mold that makes hay look as though it has been burned. Mow burnt hay smells good, and horses love the taste, but it can make them deathly sick. Other things to watch for are hay beetles, which can be toxic if ingested by a horse, and hay that has excessive amounts of red clover, which will give horses the slobbers. Hay should always be fed in a rack or manger if possible- NOT on the ground, where horses can pick up internal parasites from eating it. Finally, remember that if you store your hay outside, it must be kept covered or the rain will destroy it. ( A tarp works well if you don't have a shelter for it.) Hope this helps you.

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Um..that would be HAY..."Hey" is a form of greeting...