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[RC] The Hunt for Hay - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Howard Bramhall howard9732@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Fear not, Mary Anne. Hang in there, hay is on it's way. Because I spend so much time up in Cocke County, TN, land of hay growers (or sometimes referred to as hillbilly whackers, ya whack hay up here) I've become a hay expert. And, yes, I do realize Howard and expert are oxy-moron's like jumbo shrimp, they just don't fit together at all. But, I can say the first cut will come in May, 4 or 5 weeks away. Another expert assessment (by me) is that this is the worst time of the year to buy or even find hay. I had to hunt for it up in the foothills, my sources were all out so I found new ones. And, if it's difficult for me, up in the land where hay is grow'd (for their own personal use; it's for the cows) it's got to be difficult for everyone. One thing I've learned, also, about hay is round bales are for the cows, not the horses. Unless the huge bale (600 lbs) has been protected from rain contact since it was cut and bale'd, I would not give it to a horse, whose one stomach is much more sensative than the cow's dozen. You can feed a cow a round bale that's been outside for years, and, he won't ever cramp up. A horse, well, takin a risk with a round bale not protected, is one not worth taken. Hang in there, the good square bale hay will come. Keep the faith and place it in the hands of the hillbilly whacker. cya, Howard (Tennessee tornado dodger and Florida hurricane runner doing it all on top of a horse) ------ We are in a serious drought with no rain since Feb. My pastures are not growing and looking a bit over grased. I am having a a time finding quality horse hay. No one can cut and bale because none of it is growing. Back west I fed oat hay daily; a flake or two a day added to the other hays I fed there in Ca. My neighbor here in FL has beautiful round bales of oat hay. I have not seen oat hay in the 3 years that I have been out here of this quality. I bought a round bale of the oat hay and I put it out in my fenced off back pasture. My plan is to have them eat on it it daily for small periods then put them back out into the other pasture. Here is my question. I never fed round bales out west, so I dont know if it is OK to leave the horses out with it all the time once my horse's have adjusted to the feed? I know it is done with grass hay but can you do that with oat hay - just leave it in the field and let them eat on it? Now I am reconsidering leaving it out there in the back pasture and moving it into my barn and just supplementing daily with it. Please share your experience with this feed in round bale form. Thanks so much Mary Anne who has not seen such beautiful hay in a long time =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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