Hay this winter, yikes

[WhyDidIEatThat]

Is everyone in this situation? I’ve been offered some oat straw because what little there was of normal supply has all been needed for cattle.

I’ve had two horses that would eat straw but in preference to anything else including my current horse which will quickly snatch a large mouthful from a wheelbarrow when he walks past. Bedded on straw he will eat the lot overnight, which makes mucking out easy! But there’s a link between eating straw and gastric ulcers, something that the owner of an ex race horse obviously concerns me (so I bed him on shavings). Although it appears to be good for laminitis. The type of straw also seems to be an issue barley or oat. Oat straw seems to be peoples choice.
It appears that the general consensus is that you can feed it and buy you should only feed it combine it with hay.

Where are you? There must be someone in the area with some hay for sale, surely? Any chance you're in North Yorks?

Thanks 😊 Mid Suffolk, I’ve found some small bales and have 50 of those on the way but the people we usually deal with first upped the price from £35 to £50 (round bale) and then said they couldn’t spare any after all 😧

Out of interest, how much are you paying per small bale?

£6! So uneconomical 😕

If you’re paying that much what about Haylage or Horsage

One of mine (asthmatic) is on haylage, I guess we’ll muddle through it just made me wonder how the rest of the world was preparing 😕

£6?! Gosh I only charge my liveries £3. I think I might have to up my prices a bit this year; though I couldn't fathom charging £6, that's ridiculous!

We buy small bales in, charged £4 per bale and we got in just over 300 delivered in July (West Yorkshire) Usually we make do with 200 for winter but last year had to order more as we ran out and were feeding it until April time. Our fields are horrendous so have been feeding horsage since July at around £7 a bag but the local feed stores restrict how many bags they sell per person and we are obviously trying to preserve the hay we have in case we have another winter like last one. It has been an expensive year, usually mine lives off fresh air!

To be fair it’s usually £5 a small bale here. It cost more than usual to make the hay this year and obviously there was just one cut - we went something like 50 (60?) days without rain.

Yes - I bought my hay in July.....I don't normally. Now I am starting to hear that they are expecting a shortage of haylage - as people who normally don't feed it are having too, because there is no hay....

I’m really really fortunate - had just under 200 bales delivered for my two in June and that should take us through to the next summer , but I’m an old and loyal customer . My farmer tells me that he only got one cut this year due to the weather , so he only managed to supply his old faithfuls , instead of having 5 or 6 thousand over for passing trade as it were .

I still keep in touch with a mate from a livery yard I used to be at in Essex before getting our own place in Norfolk , and she was telling me the price of hay has gone up to £7 a bale !! And that was cut on the farm, with alternative suppliers not allowed . I didn’t dare tell her I’d just bought 200 for £3.50 apiece .

The price, eye watering as it is, isn’t really the problem - it’s the thought of not having enough. Last winter one of them was in 24/7 for months with severe mud fever 😧 but is a big expense compared to our usual £30-£35 for large round bale.

One of our local chaps was telling me prices have rocketed in Northern Ireland. Last year £25 for a big round, this year he is getting quotes at £90 each but only if he will take a whole lorry full, £120 for singles.

I fear that a lot of horses are going to get dumped this winter, more than ever.

I am so relieved I bought 150 bales a month ago. I'm concerned I won't have enough though as I'm already feeding it as we don't have much grass...

Just bought 100 small bales at £4 each and really good quality. However, my supplier isn't reserving any for anyone so I am going to get another load and a half to see me through (hopefully!). He says that at the moment he has plenty but I just know there will be a shortage after Christmas.....