This winter has been particularly severe across parts of the U.S. and from our corner of the world in Upstate New York, we can certainly attest to that. Ever since mid-November the snow has covered the fields most days. A few brief breaks from snow cover didn't last long. Additionally the ambient temperatures even without the wind chill factor have been well-below freezing.
Despite horse owners best efforts to stock up for winter with hay and dry forage supplies, many barn owners can already see their supplies diminishing at a faster rate than normal. Horses need hay to keep warm, and grain substitution is simply not a good idea as it increases the risk of colic and does little to help equines stay warm. Though too much grain can make them hot to handle.
At Willowview Hill Farm, our organic hay farm in Stamford, New York, we currently have plenty of hay supplies available for sale. In fact, to help horse owners out we've discounted our precious 2nd cut, which will also help us move the hay out of our way to enlarge our winter riding area in the indoor. A win/win situation.
We have 1st and even a limited quantity of 2nd cut still available, and hay dealers already seeing their own shortages they are hot on the phone. But as we have a snow cover of our own to deal with, taking in tractor trailers at this time of year is too risky. We've done it many times before, and it is a nightmare and dangerous to boot. So unless you have a pick up with a horse trailer or utility trailer to pick up your hay you are out of luck. And for hay dealers with their 56' truck/trailers, our winter weather prohibits us (temporarily at least) from filling dealer trailer loads. And despite being pushed and asked many times, no we're sorry. We won't hold the hay for hay dealers on deposit. Something else we no longer do. A decision fueled by issues with bounced checks and unwarranted delay in picking up loads or expecting us to load their trailers.
Hay Pick Ups at Willowview Hill Farm
Keeping horses is an increasingly expensive business. And horse barns that offer board find it difficult to make ends meet at this time of year. Lesson numbers are often down, there are no summer camps running, their labor costs are often higher as more working hours are often necessary to keep up with blanket switches/snow removal/water provision maintenance etc.
On a recent social media I saw an anonymous post where someone was bemoaning the fact that an Upstate horse boarding barn was charging over $850/month an had no wash stall. Seriously?? 80 plus comments noted that just for minimal labor, bedding and feed costs horses cost an average of $600-700 just to keep per animal, with no profit there and with no inclusion for insurance and other property expenses such as electric/water, taxes and maintenance. No wonder the post was anonymous.
If you are in need of a restock of your hay supplies and have the equipment to come pick it up, do come and grab some hay from us. It's clean and green and same hay we feed our own FEI horses and youngstock etc. And as you can see our building is easy load and we will conveyor the hay to the tail of your trailer to help out on the labor side. Even a pick up load can help keep you going - and while we have a 20 bale minimum load most pick ups can easily manage 30 + bales.
Meantime, stay warm and keep your horses off the ice.
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