Please all read and advise if possible!

[pottamus]

I have 90 bales of this years hay and this morning I discovered tiny mites and also tiny red spiders in the stable where it is stored!!! I have removed everything from it apart from the hay and washed everything but am worried about any effects on my horse eating this hay. They are obviously from the hay as I have some temporaily in my trailer and they are in there too.
They are really hard to see and tiny grey white. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!

 

[Tia]

They sound like harvest mites

. I wouldn't think the spiders will be a problem but the mites could cause a lot of itching and if they get into your bedding and onto your horses legs.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The red spider mites if that what they are, are a nightmare with chicken houses, really hard to get rid of and incredibly uncomfy for the animals, and for you - I had to scrub out an infested hen house and they were in my hair and everywhere and just itched like mad. Took me 2 days and 5 baths/showers to get rid.

I would reject the hay if you poss can. Trouble is even if you do the mites will prob remain but much less than if you keep the hay. I certainly wouldnt give it to my horses, wouldnt kill them but the mites are just horrid.