What to look for in hay

[mygirlmaggie]

Well I have to purchase some more hay. My other hay has always come from the field right here. Well this year the guy didn't do a good job and I only got a few big bales. So am now forced to purchase hay. I've always given her grass hay. I've never had to purchase so this is completely new to me. What should I look for? What should I check with it? I've heard horses can't have alfalfa..is that true? What about alfalfa pellets? I just want to make the right pick for her and get her the best.

[Cat]

If you get your own hay cut, you should have a good idea of what good fresh hay looks like. You don't want anything too old and yellowed. Nice fresh and sweet smelling and it should be clean hay - free of debris and have no moldy or moldy/musty smell. I look for good packed bales that are dry - I had gotten a couple this summer delivered that were still a little moist and not cured out properly and I rejected them. They would have molded. You also don't want a lot of weeds and no dried leaves in it either.

1st cutting will be stemmier and the later cuttings will probably be a bit dustier.

Horses can have alfalfa - some barns around here that is all that they will feed. But like anything, you want to make the transition between hay gradually. Also I've heard some horses get too hot on it - or if you have an easy keeper like I do, they can grow too fat off of it, so I stick with grass hay.

[mygirlmaggie]

I have a very easy keeper. She gets fat off just grass. I have to limit what I give her otherwise she just gets plumper. I'll definately be looking deep into the bales to make sure they're ok.

[ProvenPaint]

Watch for mold. If you pick it up & it see "dust" - watch what color it is. Brown is dust, white/grey is mold. Mold won't smell good either. I feed a grass/alfalfa mix. I get the grassier bales because too much alfalfa will make my horse Pooh have the runs...

The bales should be tight, but not so tight that it takes muscle to pull it apart. That's a sign it was baled too wet & prone to mold. Flakes should seperate from the bale when the twine is cut, but still hold their shape so you can toss it to the horses.

[luvs2ride1979]

I only buy hay that has been fertilized and only from producers that have it tested yearly for protein content and mineral analysis. It usually costs more, but you're likely to get truly GOOD hay, not just good LOOKING hay ;).

[Cat]

I only buy hay that has been fertilized and only from producers that have it tested yearly for protein content and mineral analysis. It usually costs more, but you're likely to get truly GOOD hay, not just good LOOKING hay ;).

I wish - no one in this area tests their hay - if they buyer wants it done they have to do it themselves.