Hay my horses won't eat--WWYD?

[Calvincrowe]

I buy my hay from a very reliable hay broker. I try to bring in about 5-6 tons in August to last me the year. I have retirees only, and try to stick to tested, low-NSC orchard or a mix with timothy. I put in 1.5 tons of a nice mix one week then, last week, picked up another 1.5 of what he said was a first cut of orchard. Well I know my old guy really doesn’t like 2nd cut orchard, and it gives him the runs. I popped open the bale of the new stuff and it was soundly rejected by him and the new pony I have in for board. It is clearly second cut now that I’ve gotten a couple bales open. While beautiful to look at, it doesn’t smell quite as nice and clearly, my not picky “I’ll eat anything” gelding is telling me something.

I will text him and ask him if he might have simply grabbed the wrong block of hay, and what he’d like me to do. I’d prefer to simply trade this hay for the first cut mix, if he still has that. These are 125lb three string bales that run $450/ton! Not easy to put back in the truck by hand (no equipment here). What is your protocol for a situation like this? I am sure he will not drive the 80 mile round trip to come get it, nor would I expect him to. Return it a bit at a time as I pick up new hay?? It is safely stored inside, up off the concrete floor in my hay barn.

[trubandloki]

I would not expect him to take back anything that you have opened.

He might be willing to credit you on the parts you bring back, as you bring them back. If it takes awhile I would find that very generous of him to do. (He can’t sell it while it is stored at your place.)

[Simkie]

The hay guy sold you a second cut as a first cut. This is his error, and he should make it right. My hay guy would come pick it up.

If yours won’t, can you sell it?

[Calvincrowe]

I would never return open hay, that’s mine. I do believe it was an error, and I’ll text as soon as it’s a decent hour to do so. I could sell it…maybe…but at a loss. Most of the horse folks around me buy ‘local’ hay which is literally whatever grows naturally here. (often high in sugars, mine waste it, refuse to eat it, etc. so not worth my time and $). They would never pony up for high quality ‘import’ hay.

Thanks for the replies and confirmation that I should try with him.

[Bogie]

Our horses refused to eat the hay that my regular supplier brought last year. I called him right away and agreed to give it a few more days, but they were on strike. In this case it was first cut (they’d had some earlier in the season and liked it). I asked him to swap it out for 2nd cut and paid the difference. Usually I bring in a bale or two to try before committing to a large delivery but they’d been enthusiastic about the hay we’d gotten earlier in the summer.

[clanter]

our supplier took back opened bales that we found insulation from a storm damaged building had blown into the field then bales into the hay, it was not noticeable until the bales were cut

called them about it they asked how many bales and had them replaced within three hours, picking up the bad bales also

[pluvinel]

I found bales that had “hot” innards. The hay guy showed up with a long probe to measure temperature and all the bales were hot. He took back all the bales.

I would call your hay guy and discuss his policies.

[SusanO]

Do you think it doesn’t smell as good because it has a preservative sprayed on it or because maybe it didn’t cure really well before it was baled and has “heated up” a little in the curing process? The broker may not know but he could ask the grower. Sometimes they will condescend to eat hay sprayed with a preservative after they get hungry. It doesn’t hurt them but the taste isn’t what they like. If you are paying premium prices I would contact the broker and ask if he can swap it out for the first cutting you asked for. I would not want to pay premium price for hay that didn’t cure well.

[Calvincrowe]

Update: my hay guy is perfectly happy taking it back. He thinks he grabbed the overly fertilized second cut by mistake. To get that stuff up, grown and cut light green, he said they fertilize the crap out of it. Many horses are not too thrilled with it that way. Anyway, my nephew is coming over and helping us put 20 bales back on my truck (UGH!!) and I’ll return it Saturday. Then I’ll get the same stuff I bought previously. He sources hay from SE Oregon, from a farm that produces 80,000 tons. I’m sure some is not up to snuff at times.

[trubandloki]

So glad it was resolved easily and you have help loading to return!

[chestnutmarebeware]

Good news!

[Calvincrowe]

I just wish it wasn’t going to be 93 when I’m putting back in my truck today and 98 degrees tomorrow afternoon when I have to bring that load back and get it in my barn! Blech! 125lb bales just don’t move easily, no matter how strong or clever you are!

[SusanO]

I have read, from hay growers, that some horses will not eat hay that has been fertilized with chicken poop. I don’t know if that is a thing in your part of the country but chicken poop is used a lot in the Southeast on hay fields as a source of nitrogen. I did not know this but I guess it is one more thing to consider.

[Calvincrowe]

Definitely not chicken manure! My broker, who has also grown and produced hay, explained the second cut uptake of fertilizer often produces lovely, bright green, soft orchard grass that many horses just don’t like the taste of. People love to look at it, though! I think the real issue for my horse is that he feels crappy when he eats it-- he gets runny poop and is grump(ier) than usual. The pony I’m boarding also wouldn’t eat it. This is telling because, well, ponies are perpetually hungry, right?!?

Anyway, a ton is loaded back on the truck, which I’ll return for exchange today. Still have almost half a ton to bring back next weekend. Just couldn’t put it on without a grapple…or a divorce. My DH is NOT a horse person and is gracious enough to unload heavy stuff like hay, bedding and grain if I ask. I don’t push that agreeableness.