Weird weather this year has life at WVH in a reverse schedule - as clinic giving times are always wrapped around haymaking times and Mother Nature never shows her hand when it comes to when the hay will be ready for harvest.
Peaceful times at Willowview Hill Farm
Rain or lack of it, doesn't just affect the grass growing where we're mowing - but also in the horse pastures. And this season we've seen more than a few horses that were booked to participate at clinics by their owners withdrawn due to laminitis flare ups or other metabolic issues.
Thankfully after a two week dry spell we finally received an inch of rain last night. This week promises more precipitation which makes us happy, as our hay customers are anxious to purchase our 1st cut and we simply can't get going on it until Mother Nature boosts the hay crop yield.
Mother Nature works her magic
All these weather issues are a stern reminder that we all rely on water and Mother Nature to provide it and hopefully she complies with some semblance of normal routine.
I'm a big believer in being mindful. My enjoyment of hearing and feeling the crackle of dry grass beneath my feet as I walk to the barn and the beautiful scent of nearby white pine trees that wafts in from the garden through the kitchen terrace doors brings happy reminders of idyllic childhood days spent in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal with my late father. Holding his hand as we walked from village to beach, safe in his companionship and proud to keep up with his army march stride. My Mom and brothers lagging behind in the heat.
But now the weather has broken, and temperatures dropped overnight from the high 80's to low 60's F. and the lovely aroma of petrichor invades the senses. Thanks to the cloud cover game is on for a break from filming horses here at Willowview Hill Farm. Hubbie is lead talent in the production for The Horse Studio "Dressage 101" on training young dressage horses. It has been a blast thus far but a break is much needed.
The Horse Studio is on a roll
Customers have been asking what hay availability and pricing will be this year and frankly it is too early to say. Due to better grain pricing much land previously under hay has been sown with other better income producing crops. That information is according to the Dept. of Agricultural and forage experts.
This errant weather and lack of hay production is cause for concern for forage buyers. Especially the big dealers who suck up most of the hay supply and rely on multiple farms to supply their needs each year. As a result of lack of supply or poor hay quality that is harvested dealers delivered hay loads to end users is a mix and match of hay from different suppliers. One customer who came to us early this year in search of hay, explained he had his winter delivery last Fall and subsequently found the load offered a myriad of hay qualities. Clearly he said, from at least 5 different suppliers and not all good.
Bundling hay in trailers is big business of course. Salting the load with mixed quality especially to lower end food chain users who aren't mega clients to these big companies is part of business practice.
Not all the hay the dealers contract for arrives in the condition they want either, so they have to sell it somewhere. And of course it usually includes chemical preservatives. Something we will never do, organic production and practices are a big part of who we are as custodians of these lands.
As with most things, time alone will tell what the year will bring in the realm of hay yields and production, sales and income.
For hubbie and I we have been tempted to switch round baling and change up our equipment to avoid the arduous task of handling of our own hay crop, but have as yet resisted the urge.
There are so many negatives to the round bales, and it is hard to break with traditional horse keeping habits that have worked so well for us for over 30 years.
I cross my fingers when I share that we have never had a horse in our yard colic - aside from the end of life event for our 27 year old horse, Paul's Grand Prix mount Tiberio Lafite, aka Tigger, the most common end of life cause for a horse at his age.
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| Tigger still going strong at 25! |
When we have hay available we'll be sure to let our customer base know through the usual channels. If you are interested in signing up to find out please visit our website and add your name to the newsletter button and you'll get the early bird discount information.
Meantime, enjoy the clouds and rain. The break from the sun is good for us all and most especially for those of us who garden in one way or another.
Hay at Willowview Hill Farm Ready for Unloading
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