| Winter is approaching and I am getting ready to put | | | | becomes less expensive as fertile soil produces high |
| my hay up for the winter. Unfortunately I, like other | | | | yields of nutritious crops. |
| horse owners, am finding that while hay prices have | | | | So if we, as customers, are willing to pay top dollar for |
| skyrocketed in many cases quality has declined. In the | | | | poor quality hay for horses then there is little incentive |
| past when hay was two to three dollars per bale, few | | | | for growers to move to more organic methods. On |
| horse owners felt it was a big deal to supplement poor | | | | the other hand, if we become more like cattle owners |
| quality hay with additional nutrients, but today, with hay | | | | and insist that our hay for horses be tested before we |
| at eight or ten dollars per bale we ought to get a | | | | buy it, then the competition to provide high quality hay |
| product that meets most if not all of our horses' needs. | | | | will increase. If you do not purchase enough hay in bulk |
| We ought to be getting good hay for horses, but we | | | | to justify testing each load then request your hay |
| are not. | | | | supplier test the hay he stocks or request a test from |
| Good hay for horses is getting harder and harder to | | | | the grower. A comprehensive test from a lab like |
| find. Modern farming practices include multiple | | | | Equi-Analytical costs less than $75. Don't be afraid to |
| applications of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, which | | | | look around and find another hay supplier if your |
| allow the producer to get more quantity, but do not | | | | current one is not willing to work with you. The push to |
| necessarily produce better quality hay. The bacteria | | | | get good quality hay can literally be a grassroots |
| and fungi that make up the ecosystem of good soil | | | | effort, and you can succeed if you persevere. If you |
| are often greatly affected by these chemicals. Healthy | | | | know your hay is not meeting your horses' needs you |
| soil makes minerals more available to the grass and | | | | can supplement your feeding program with additional |
| holds water better so grass can better withstand | | | | nutrients. To maximize the nutrition your horse gets |
| drought conditions. Natural fertilizers, which support a | | | | from hay I suggest supplementing with daily probiotics |
| healthy soil ecosystem, include products such as fish | | | | and digestive enzymes. I like the Essentials from |
| emulsion, molasses, composted manure, and | | | | Simplexity Health for performance horses and the |
| composted tea. These products support the soil | | | | APA blend, also from Simplexity, for pleasure horses. |
| ecology and rebuild damaged soil. Chemical herbicides | | | | Prebiotics such as Pro-Bi or KLPP also support your |
| are not needed if the soil is fertile and the fields are | | | | horse's hindgut digestion and are useful supplements if |
| mowed at proper intervals. Unfortunately organic | | | | your hay isn't providing all the necessary nutrition your |
| farming is more expensive in the beginning compared | | | | horse needs. |
| to conventional methods, but over the years it | | | | |