Hay experts weigh in! Really odd question

[QHEventer]

Last summer I received a load of hay from the same guy I’ve used for years, same cutting as previous load, same field, etc. For some reason, my horses wouldn’t eat it. I ended up getting hay from a new supplier and have had no issues since.

But, here’s what’s weird…that hay has been sitting in my hay barn since last summer, and last weekend my boarder that feeds on the weekends accidently fed a bale of that old hay and they all inhaled it!

I’ve been putting one bale of their old hay and one bale of their new hay in different feeders and they are eating both of them now.

This is purely for my own curiosity, but is there something that could have made it smell or taste funny a year ago that would be gone now? Or any other explanation?

I’m happy to finally be getting rid of those bales, I just find it super odd!

[Trailrider60]

I’ve read horses eat first by smell, then by taste. I had a similar problem last year. Hay was the same cutting from the same field. Part of a bale they wouldn’t touch, until later in the year.

[QHEventer]

Interesting! I keep wondering if maybe he had sprayed the fields with something before cutting that’s now gone? Or something along those lines…I have no idea!

[Jealoushe]

My horses love our older hay too.

[trubandloki]

I make my own hay.
So all the hay is from the same field, cut and baled at the same time (planted with the same seed, etc).
Sometimes they simply do not like certain bales.

And strangely enough, every year when I put up new hay, and think they will be all excited about the new hay, they prefer to eat the old hay.

Horses are weird.

[QHEventer]

Hmm, I guess in a way it’s similar to them choosing favorite spots to graze in the pasture. Some areas must just taste better than others

[sherian]

I believe some of the mold prevention treatments have a funny smell and the horses if not used to it will turn their noses up until it dissipates when they hay cures

[candyappy]

We bale our own hay.
I find that the hay is sometimes not as palatable if fed right after baling. It needs to sit for a week or 2 and then it is devoured. Maybe the flavor needs time to fully develop?

[Tarlo_Farm]

There is a spray-on treatment as @sherian mentioned. Maybe it dissipated?

[candyappy]

@sherian

I believe some of the mold prevention treatments have a funny smell and the horses if not used to it will turn their noses up until it dissipates when they hay cures

When we lived in MN our neighbor put up a lot of alfalfa for nearby diaries and he used an acid spray. It allowed him the ability to bale even if the moisture was higher than desired, if needed . While our horses/ goats never objected when I bought a few bales I could smell it.