Simple Hay Quality Query

[Biska]

I have a loan horse at a new yard, a good doer aged 19. The hay available is NOT sweet smelling but also not dusty. I personally would not have bought this hay. He gets tiny feeds (all he needs for sure,but price for livery is all in, and the same for all). so if you have a big thin greedy one you pay the same with scoops and scoops of grub. I want good quality forage for my boy. I feel I am getting a raw deal here. Should I offer to buy my own and get the hay cost deducted. All he really needs is plenty of god hay..hard food not essential, How to do it tactfully please???? I am new on the yard so don't want to make waves!

 

[xxMozlarxx]

Good luck with that, its a hard one!

 

[Spring Feather]

My liveries all pay a set amount with everything included and all care. Some horses get more hard feed than others, some require more of my time working with them, some injure themselves or need extra care at times, or their owners ask me more questions or want me to give them riding advice and want me to help show them things. It's a big melting pot at my farm and I'll do whatever I do for whomever. It all evens out in the end.

With regards to the hay, if it's not dusty then it's probably just older hay that has been stored correctly. We are a hay farm so we grow really good hay and I like to feed top hay, however if we didn't and I had to buy not such great stuff then I'd just have it analysed and whatever it's missing then I'd feed an appropriate feed to make up the shortfall.

If he only needs small feeds then aren't they doing it right by giving him tiny ones? That's how it works here. I keep everyone's horse at its best, I don't concern myself over one horse needing more than another. If you're not happy with something at the yard then just say so politely.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

If he's a good doer you might find best quality hay makes him fat unless you restrict the amount he has.

If you want to be more in control of things, it might suit you better to be on DIY livery.