They Shoot Horses Don't They.........

Well actually apparently they do. A local vet reported three incidents in the last three years. That is crazy. What is wrong with people. As the vet answered, " A lot."

A friend who owns a Lippizan herd down in Arkansas, once had her young breeding herd turned loose in the woods. About thirty horses were chased for as long as two or three days on and off, shot at, maimed and some killed. Others required surgeries or were only useful for lawn ornaments afterward. This was done apparently 'for fun' and the authorities never prosecuted the perpetrators even though they had strong evidence to support arrests.

When it's not people shooting horses by accident, because oh yes, they look just like a deer grazing open fields in bright colored blankets, you've have people stealing them for horse meat.

If the horse meat craze hits the U.S.A. you can expect to be locking every gate to every field in creation. This has been a huge issue in the U.K., where horses are often stolen and trailered over to France. So sorry Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern, while I love your shows your bizarre appreciation of eating horse meat does not gel with my idea of high cuisine. Or any cuisine for that matter.

But then there are those that love the notion and flavor of the low fat horse meat. The delicate flavors from horses' delicate herb grazing behaviors. Perhaps you are one of THEM.

Perhaps it was visiting France as a child and seeing foals hung, skinned and not, outside butchers shops all over the place, Paris and country towns alike, that put me off eating horses. Perhaps that offended my childhood fascination with all things animal. Well I admit to being vegetarian for the first eighteen years of life. I have loved horses with a passion since I was old enough to sit by the farrier three doors down from my house and watch him shoeing horses of every variety. I would sit there for hours and hours apparently from the age of four. At that time owning a pony was my dream, and it wasn't until age eleven when we moved to a lovely house with fields - yay - that my horse ownership dreams were realized. So for the last fifty or so years, horses and ponies have been a real presence in my life and not a dream, and I am proud to say, not on a plate.

Have I ever eaten horse meat? Yes. By accident I hasten to add. You soon learn to tell the difference between horse meat and beef but it's not always easy and I was only thirteen. Where? France of course. It was chewy and horrible. But then contrary to belief, not all French people can cook,

Then we have the whole horse meat in frozen foods debacle. I won't even comment on that. Guess knowing the provenance of what is on your plate is even more important than we thought.

But the shooting of horses purely for fun is just too disturbing. I hope that whoever has been doing this is found and prosecuted.

It's a shame to have to add cameras to your property but unfortunately security demands it though I appreciate not everyone can afford that. Not so easy when you have large pastures far from the buildings, though a neighbor of ours uses them to patrol hunting in his woods too with the added benefit they cover our hay fields and farm road.

The favorite mode of transport is the ATV so you may possible perpetrators around. We regularly chase down any ATV riders who trespass on our property. While most have no bad intentions, somehow friends always get added and 'parties' ensue. Tossed beer cans, errant fireworks, races across the swales, tents bowling around by the paddocks in the winds freaking the horses out, noisy snowmobilers, loose dogs. You name it, we've seen it. And the amazing thing is folks seem to think they have a God given right to be there, on yes, YOUR property.

Be vigilant and if you see any suspicious behavior, be sure to report it.

Competing Your Horse - It's Not About What Happens at a Show - It's About How You Handle It. Keep Calm and Carry On.

I sometimes think more things go wrong at shows than go right. But then that's the competitor in me talking and I'm not channeling Jane Savoie's In Your Minds Eye,  - positive thinking in a nutshell. It's not just about the ribbons is it. Jane knows.

As a dressage rider I've messed up many tests despite my horse's best efforts to correct me. Going off course, wrong movement at wrong time. I've actually had instances where my horse offers an extension and I'm saying no and holding him back because I'm thinking medium. I am wrong, he knows the test better than I do.

I've inadvertently and on purpose left the ring during a test. Once to escape a dog barking ferociously and snapping at my poor mount's hind legs, once because my horse simply would not stay on the right side of the chain despite my every effort, and other times just because my steering was not right. Being consistently told my by present coach Greta Kemmer to 'use the corners ' and 'ride to the letter exactly' sometimes my horse seems to spin out on the way around or understeer - a bit like Jeremy Clark's Top Gear brigade - every horse rides like a different car. You have to know just how much gas, bumping leg and seat aids to give it and precisely when.

There have been other fun instances. For example, tack mishaps like a rein that simply fell off the bit. Which of course happens when you switch bits after the warm up and are not fully focused. I was left holding the horse with one rein and he promptly took advantage and took off at a smart canter. Lucky for me the ring steward was paying attention and caught us. There was the time I was being driven home and was checking my test sheets and found all the names are correct on the top and front but all the scores pertain to a different rider. I knew it wasn't me when I scored an eight for a piaffe, because my horse shuffled in passage and never quite sat down and stayed on the spot the entire day. To this day they never figured out what the mess up was - and I didn't get credited the score. A shame because it was higher than I think I actually attained. There rears that annoying honesty thing again.

Then of course there's the lame horse. The disappearing and re-appearing lameness ( obviously appears just as you enter at A), the head shaking imaginary bugs that also appear only in the confines of the ring, the noisy spectators, the flapping umbrellas and rustling of papers, loose dogs and children, billowing tents at C - well, you get the picture. And let's not forget the wardrobe mishaps. The bouncing boobs because you forgot the right bra and they don't sell undergarments at the show! The stock tie that just won't tie properly backwards. Which wouldn't be necessary if you hadn't got hot sauce all over it after the classes yesterday when you just had to eat that high calorie fried showground food. The white breeches that quite simply, aren't. They were when you put them in the case. A bit like the missing sock mystery and the laundry. Note to self, always bring more than two pairs of breeches!

But I show because it is fun. Seriously. Once you get over the nerves it truly is enjoyable. I learn more about my training from the judges than I ever could at a clinic or symposium. I also learn important life skills like not letting other people get under your skin.  Subtle intimidation techniques
 ( I'm being sarcastic) like the rider cantering their massive horse toward your smaller one with purpose when the entire warm up ring is empty. The ring steward who insists that the horse be bit checked three times because she wasn't there for the first two and who grabs at the reins like they are a life line on a sinking ship causing your horse to rear uncontrollably for two very long minutes.

I've learned to multitask - fixing your hair while holding your whip in your newly bonded teeth ( my dentist loved that), and at the same time talking to your help, ( frankly no-one present can understand you, pity the dentist isn't there to translate). I've improved my language skills during my travels. You will soon learn to read basic directions and facility names like bathroom, medic, technical delegate and of course all types of food and beverages. Plus you'll learn to understand a myriad of call out phrases during the warm up or risk being knocked off your horse. You'll learn that Gasolino in Portuguese is diesel fuel and not gas. Whoops. ( Thankfully it was a rental car and not a towing vehicle and Hertz were very understanding though I did miss my first class).  I've also improved my driving skills. Italy is particularly challenging but I've learned to yell out the window like the rest of them. More language and sign language skills.

I have also improved many of my equestrian skills. I can now hum and talk in a whisper during any transition without moving my lips. A true ventriloquist. Of course my horse's ears give me away a bit and I get a few stern looks from the judges occasionally. But I must make each transition count. Greta will berate me otherwise.

I can pretty much fudge through any freestyle error and make a correction elsewhere. But then Greta knows me well and we've built those in.

Somehow when you put your tails on you do sit better and assume a better level of horsemanship - think it's the 'dress up for the stage' and 'act well' part of of the play. I can recover a halt most amazingly well if I do say so myself. My knee wriggle is most useful in all my pirouette works and collected walks.

What I thought was an 8 extension wasn't. What I thought was enough half halting, wasn't. What I thought was a reasonable 10 meter circle, wasn't.  On the other hand, what I thought was a medium canter above the bit wasn't. What I thought felt like too much forward movement in piaffe wasn't. What I thought was a spinning pirouette, wasn't. So - all those experienced eyes on the ground and the video playback afterward educated me, even where I thought I knew better. Another note to self - nothing improves your riding quicker than a video of your performance.

My ultra basic ( read British) politeness is under better control. I ask for what I want and if someone cuts me off when riding or passes too close to my horse in the aisle-way I have no problem pointing it out.  If I lose something important tack, clothing or equipment wise during the show I have no qualms about asking a fellow competitor or vendor to help me out, even if they are a superstar name that I happen to be stabling near. People can be so competitive in the ring but outside of it can be amazingly kind and almost human, even dressage people. Who knew.

So if you can afford it get out there. Smile at those you meet. Share with those you come into contact with - pretend your an eventer for the day, they are exceedingly generous and friendly.  And when things go wrong, and they will, get all British on it and " Keep Calm and Carry On."

Horse Lover Parenting & Coaching - Sportsmanship and Horsemanship Intertwine

It's not easy to watch your kid fail at something they love. It's not always easy to admit that they might not be the next Olympian in the making in any sport. But then sport is not just about winning or being seen to win. Or perhaps it is to some folks.

I have judged several dressage schooling events over the years, and believe me it is not easy to be the person writing the critique. Especially in a sport like dressage where the sport is not as straightforward to judge as is the fence down, did the clock run out, did the barrel fall over, who crossed the finish line first. While you try to be as objective and to follow all the guidelines as closely as possible, dressage is in part, art and is subjective to some degree. No matter how hard a human being tries. Additionally it is very hard to ring that bell and dismiss someone from the ring for a major error. It is however, the only way to keep the competition fair.

Most judges in any equestrian sport have 'been there and done that' themselves and have empathy for how hard an individual will have worked to be there on the day. Life is unpredictable however, I believe we learn more from experiences when things don't go as we planned than those times when they do. It's also true of horse training. The easy to train horses are a blessing, but the difficult ones who have obstacles to overcome are the ones that teach you as a trainer. Why are people so quick to judge the judges and yell at the event organizers?

I recall many years ago being at a major show down in Dutchess County, and listening appalled as an FEI rider cantered her horse over to the event organizer who was dodging about busy on the showgrounds in his 'de rigeur'  mode of transport the golf cart, and proceeded to yell and swear and carry on about the footing, the speakers, the proximity of other competitors, the loudness of the bell and every conceivable topic that a show competitor could possibly berate about - she became redder and redder in the face, angrier and angrier. From what I and the rest of the entire gaggle of folks could could figure out, there was very little verity in her argument.  But even if she had valid issues she wanted to address, there is a system for that. Use it.

How many times have you been at an event, from a 4H or Pony Club outing to the pinnacle events in equestrian sports and seen this kind of behavior? By competitors (sometimes), by their parents (often), by their trainer (frequently) or by their spouse or other team members?

In Europe you cannot compete at the next level until you have scored well enough at the one you are competing in, and you have to start at the beginning. No skipping into 4th on a trained horse. If there is a class with too little interest entry wise then the show managers will cancel the class. What is the point of winning top place in a class against yourself? What is the point in gaining a ribbon because you beat out someone with less experience in whose class you simply do not belong? To keep the horse owners happy? To kid yourself you are better than you are?

Believe me I am fiercely competitive and love to win, we all do. But there are different types of winning.

Sportsmanship and horsemanship are two important actions in my book and actions truly do speak louder than words.

With experience as both a parent of more than one horse mad kid and a trainer of students from true beginners to those competing at the height of dressage sport, the three  'p's in dressage, swallowing a certain amount of pride and allowing that maybe your charge is not quite ready, or sometimes anywhere near ready for the competition can be a challenge. We've all made our bad decisions. For me with both students and horses. Ones I've pushed too hard, ones I have not pushed hard enough. Ones I just plain 'let down'. 

The kids want to go to the show, their friends are going, their trainer may want them to compete unfortunately sometimes just to fill the slot on the van. Parents almost always want to see their kid participate and want to see the ribbons on the stall door. Horse owners want the scores, the kudos, the great day out, the bragging rights. Event organizers and horse organizations want to fill their classes and want return competitors. Compromises come at a price.

Every trainer, judge and event organizer and most especially the volunteers are often the target of some type of verbal abuse, badmouthing and internet blaspheming at some point in their careers.

As we head into the 2013 show season in the North East I urge everyone to remember that good sportsmanship is as important to teach our students (of any age) as good horsemanship. It is also imperative that we demonstrate both ourselves in every action and deed.

Respect should always be given to everyone on an equal basis on both sides no matter their age, tax bracket or experience.  It is important to do your job fairly,  regardless of negative barrage or financial benefit you think may follow. Show organizers MUST support their staff and show leadership and fairness in any situation and not rush to judgement. Rules must be followed by everyone, even if you don't like them or agree with them. There is a system to change them. If you want to see rules changed, spend some time at the meetings and talk to your representatives.

Horse showing is expensive, it is fun and it is serious. Just be careful that you are teaching your charges whether they are your students or your own family, the right lessons. Because those lessons will stick long after the ribbons are discarded and dusty in the barn and the glory days are far behind.

There is always another obstacle in front of you in life, and learning how to overcome it with fairness, grace and integrity is an important lesson to teach. I've got to admit though, it sometimes a lot easier to teach a horse than a human.

A Trot Down Memory Lane

The calendar says it is Spring, but no-one has apparently let Mother Nature know. Snow covers the grass, clouds cover the sun, and I can feel the gall bladder kicking up asking for some sunshine and more exercise. I am fortunate to have an indoor, but even so, being motivated enough to get out there and ride when the temperatures are well below freezing is often a struggle. It wasn't always like this. Where did I go?

Back in England where I grew up, temperatures were admittedly more temperate. Given that, the grey (English spelling on purpose) and dreary winter days, damp weather, perpetual rain and continual mud season never bothered me. There were horses to ride and every spare moment was spent outside doing just that. You can tell I'm British, talking endlessly about the weather right?

Frosty mornings were the perfect time for riding the bridle-paths. My kid brother Curtis and I,  would hack up to the village on this very narrow road.

You'd look and listen for traffic and then trot boldly on if all clear.

Of course it wasn't as green as the photo during winter months. You would trot on fast through narrow portions like this one, and motorists would stop and back up to let you go past. Horses are actually in the UK driving manual as part of the Highway Code, so if you've passed your driving test, you've also read how to drive by a horse without causing him to freak out. Most folks are awesome.

 

This gentleman takes his older hunt horse out for a morning hack. 

Photo credit: James A. Smith

Often the ride would include a stop off at the village shop, while I usually held the horses Curtis would pop inside and pick up some sweets (  candies ), including a few polos ( mints) for the horses, and we would split a bottle of milk or maybe pick up some supplies for mum. If we were on ponies we'd tie them by the reins ( what!) and go inside to visit the two elderly ladies who were sisters, who were as ancient as the woodlands around us,  and pick and choose our dining delights. We'd stuff our big riding mac pockets with whatever possible and the rest would bang about in a netted back we'd bought for the purpose ( a bit like a tiny haynet), all the way home.

You always planned your route to hit the shop either first or last, depending on how much you might have to carry home. If mom needed eggs we stopped off at a farm along route too, though at that particular farm their rowdy and aggressive Winston Churchill bulldogs were always a bit of an issue for the horses. That was a real quick hop on and off. Looking back I can't believe my 5'4" ( probably smaller then), self, could so deftly mount these big fit show-jumpers that averaged 16.3hh.


The neighbors show-jumpers were a fancy lot of horses. Another neighbor had fancy hunters and foxhunters. We would boot the hocks, knees and legs in case a horse slipped on the road. But all the horses were made fit for Spring by road work and some gallops in the forests. If you didn't go out because it was raining and cold, then you would hardly ever ride. So you pulled on your bulky canvas riding mac and got on with it. Riding in one of the high tech riding macs available today would have been a dream in comparison. Back then you just shivered as rain dripped off your hat, down your neck, ran down the back of the cantle and under your seat and crept under your cuffs.

A riding mac like this trench coat would have been a dream.

The horses sometimes had waterproof quarter sheets, but normally not. You learned how to warm up and cool down your horse using his gaits and always brought him home at a brisk trot so he didn't chill. Rugs (blankets) weren't as fancy as "The Horse of the Year Show" horses were - they were often hessian feed sacks sewn together and we padded them out with wheat straw beneath while the horse dried off. There was a lot of brushing off mud, cleaning muddy tack and barn boots of the wellington variety were essential around the yard. Though the boot and your foot often parted company at most inopportune moments. For example as you were catching a feisty horse from a field of twenty and they all wanted to come in for breakfast and shelve their heavy New Zealand rugs and get out for some exercise. Mind you, I don't suppose there is ever an opportune moment to lose your boots in a mudfest.

While the horses basked in warmth in their deep straw littered stalls we'd be off to muck more stalls with some defunct ex concrete mixing wheelbarrow that weighed a ton empty, ride more horses, clean more tack and repeat. All day long on the weekends. We were blessed to have some very ancient ( over 600 years or something) woodlands all around with marvelous bridleways, soil was sandy so the footing was always good. The sand was also good for the naughty horse or pony to plonk himself down and try and roll. Needless to say you hopped off fairly quickly and wrestled him back up before the saddle was damaged and there was a tidy smack with the crop which sometimes preserved the tack ( I would exercise all the neighbors kids mounts too, not sure where the kids were but my job was to school the ponies and young horses and keep them straight). And of course I say my job, but naturally it was one I was never, ever paid for - you did it because you loved it and it never occurred to me to ask for payment. Daft really. we worked really, really hard. But we learned so much.

Sadly these memories are all I have left of my kid brother, who lost his battle with cancer five years or so ago. I choose not to remember the year. We shared so many good times with horses, competing, riding all day rides between villages far and wide in all sorts of weathers. 

So this Monday morning as I sit at my desk working diligently (huh? think I'm writing and avoiding work), I am channeling this energy from my youth and remembering that while my passion for horses is undiminished, my over 50's physical self is not trotting forward down the road at a brisk pace. I am rather slugging along at a slow walk and I am definitely 'behind the leg.' It really wouldn't take that much effort to get outside,  harrow and water the indoor, tack up my charming Charrington lad, and get riding. In fact, the barn could not be closer and there is no mud. Yet.

Charrington, my 16.3 huggable hands high DWBx

Better yet, maybe I'll forgo the indoor altogether ( I was indoors riding all day yesterday in a clinic and at this point in the winter the indoor is boring) and take a quick hack around the fields and just avoid the drifts. I do after all, have that fine American 'Mac' in the photo above to keep me dry and toasty and a veritable array of windpro breeches to choose from, winter riding boots and ear muffs, a Saratoga high tech quarter cooler for Charlie and plenty of wraps. And thinking of Curtis,  a horse hug wouldn't hurt. For after all as we all know and as Winston said so well, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."

See ya!

Press Coverage - All Press Coverage is Smart Business Sense

Over the years as a competitor I ( and our breeding farm, Willowview Hill Farm International), have been blessed by many super publications featuring our farm, clinics, horse breeding program, barefoot riding program and so many more events. I have always been most grateful for their help and the reporters efforts. As a veteran reporter/writer, I have personally also covered many major and minor shows, events, inspections, clinics and the like for some of the leading equestrian publications worldwide as a journalist. So have worked both sides of the aisle, so to speak.

Press coverage is a valuable tool that any farm owner or competitive rider should not overlook. It is in effect, free public relations and advertising/marketing. If you want to fill your next event, whatever it is, getting the handle on handling press is an important step to building your reputation and raising your business profile. The Editor will try to dispatch a reporter that has some knowledge of your particular discipline. This is an advantage to you, because the report will be more in depth. You may receive a call in advance asking if you have interest in having your private event covered, or in the case of public events the press may just show up. It is usual that press passes ( meaning free access and an ID to say so), will be requested in advance, especially if the reporter needs to travel.

Remember. All publicity is good publicity. Journalists and photographers are not out to do you harm. Well maybe if they work for the National Enquirer,  but generally not in the horse press. In the equestrian world the editors are not out to post horrible photos or describe in a distracted diatribe what went wrong. The journalist will conduct an interview or two or eighty, pull out what they consider the most interesting to the target audience, quote a few key points perhaps and generally try and give their readership an accurate feel of the event.

Anthony Bourdain says ( and I paraphrase), " Once you agree to work with that bitch, the TV, you know it ain't gonna begin with her making you look good. Quite the reverse. The best TV is of..." - Well, you get the picture. I can understand that sensation sells. Maybe that is why some people are so shy or nervous about having press coverage of their events. The notion that their business will be 'exposed',  their dirty laundry aired. Nothing could be further from the truth. Well again, unless there is horse abuse or staff abuse or something terrible going on.

But having said that, reporting is not editorial/advertising. Well, at least not in the better publications. The reporting should be objective and the photos clean and representative of the days events. For this reason do not expect the reporter to 'run by' his report to you, or share the photographers photos. It is not a 'write UP', it is a report. It is up to the Editor of the publication to ultimately determine the size and content of the piece of work published.  Occasionally in difficult situations the Editor may require approval of the publisher ( sometimes not).

A Shady Spot and Attentive Staff Are Always Appreciated

Covering events often involves a long drive, airport headaches, poor hotel food, long hot and dusty days, electronic hiccups and many more issues. There is nothing glamorous about it. You have to just love it to do it. It is time, paid and sometimes unpaid out of someones busy schedule.

Press expect to be given VIP treatment. Fed, watered, wined, dined, sheltered, given best parking which is usually the closest ( making it easier to tote and retrieve all the required equipment for the photographer), complete access to all areas of the event etc. and the management should provide time to talk with them, introduce them to key participants and point out areas of interest. Provide them with a press pass ( so they can go anywhere without charge, sit down out of the sun in a VIP tent somewhere,) give them a show program or two, and a big welcome. At one of the major events I just attended the professional Show Manager went even further than the average.  This very very busy key show personnel member, personally took me around on her golf cart and took time to introduce me to all the key organizers, judges, announcers, major international riders, vendors etc. made sure I was cognizant of every last food and watering hole and bathroom on the extensive grounds. She kept an eye on my needs all day, fed and watered me and continually updated me on the show changes and generally went out of her way in every aspect, as did all the staff on venue. As a very experienced Show Manager, this was not her first rodeo. She was well aware of the boost to ongoing events a report from even a small press house, can provide. Needless to say, we'll cover this event again.

So don't overlook this valuable tool or you'll find yourself complaining when your next event isn't as popular or doesn't fill as fast as you'd hoped, or your business model isn't growing as fast as you'd thought.  Your career may not take off as you'd like if you don't take time to take the interview and to be friendly to the volunteers and staff at the venue and make yourself available to the press in attendance. Respect the hard working journalist.  Press is free - and there is not much in life you can say that about.

Let's Make 2013 A Banner Year for Catskill Horse Folks

"The Merry Band of the Catskill Horse" team is looking forward to bringing all Catskill horsemen and horsewomen together but we need your input and help to do it.

Carly Diamond was runner up for Most Improved Rider at Fairbanks Stables Clinic Event, narrowly missing winning The Horse Studio Degas bridle. All riders received a sweatshirt or T-Shirt though, kindly donated by THS, so no-one was left out.

Northfield Farm owner Anneliese Gilchrist riding her Oldenburg mare Farah at a recent dressage clinic, and beating some pretty serious odds to do it.

Whatever discipline(s) you love to ride and compete in we hope to see your names and faces on the Catskill Horse site this year. Over the past few months we've heard from and met in person, many of our directory business members. We've attended events in the area from shows, to clinics to tack swaps and have loved meeting you all.

                                                                                          

Maplewood Warmbloods ( Jen Vanover on left) at NEDA - winning.

Catskill Horse would also like to thank all of the folks that welcomed us and treated us like VIPs -

VIP Tent - End of a long day for both Catskill Horse publisher Paul & one of the VIP host volunteers - Karen.

Catskill Horse would like to thank the volunteer team for helping with the Directory including Anne Tanner Arent, Jeannette Moser, Cheryl Kelly and Kim Sanford,

Here are just some of the plans for the forthcoming year.

• The addition of an interactive horse for sale listing option, which we hope will benefit every horse looking for a new home.
• The addition of an interactive calender that registered members can use to promote their own events.
• Catskill Horse member sign up. Members will receive special 'extras'.
• New feature articles and wrap ups..
• Advertising opportunities for local businesses on banner and sidebar ads coming soon.
• Editorial features each month.
•  Advice column - look for our January column, " How to Host A Successful Clinic and Make $$".
• More photo contests and free giveaway prizes. 
• 10% discount to all Catskill Horse members from various local businesses with membership sign up.

Catskill Horse welcomes all ideas for other features in the directory.  This is a 100% volunteer effort, so please be patient when you contact us - we get to it all as soon as we can.
Email us your ideas to info@CatskillHorse.org and don't forget to send us news and photos of all your forthcoming events.


All photos courtesy NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com All Rights Reserved.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making

There is a lot more to haymaking than 'Making Hay While the Sun Shines' though that is a necessary start. Sadly each year horse barns and farmers storage barns burn down, horses become sick from respiratory disease and colic and a myriad of other diseases such as Cushings. Many of these situations are avoidable so here are, in my opinion, "The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making," in no particular order.

1. Hay Moisture.

Baling hay that shows a moisture content of over 14% can be a recipe for disaster and is not recommended. Once hay is cut it will 'sweat up' for approximately two to three weeks. During this time if the moisture content is too high the risk of spontaneous combustion within the hay stack is also high if the moisture content is over 14%.  There are lots of tools to help you ascertain the exact percentage of moisture in your hay including hay wands and moisture testers, some balers even read every bale as they go through the machine. Yes, farmers are becoming high tech each year. If you have a worry that your stack is becoming too hot, then contact your Fire Department. Never try and take apart a hay stack that is in a combustion state however 'mild' it may appear without professional help. Opening up the stack that is suspected by smell or heat measurement of combustion being imminent can cause a blow up as oxygen hits the fire or the gases that build up inside the stack.

Hay that is baled with too much moisture will also 'dust'. We all know the real hazards to horses of dusts and molds in hay. You may not see them, you may not smell them. But the reality is that early respiratory issues often start with just one bad bale, and colic most certainly can be a real risk from bad hay, so as horse owner it pays to be diligent.

You can buy out of the wagons and will usually receive a discount from the farmer for doing this, as it saves double handling. Just be sure to check the moisture and follow the storage rules below. And remember, always make a change in hay slowly with your horses to avoid colic. Newly cut hay is going to be much richer than last years cut, and if it comes from a different source/field will also have a different make up to the previous hay you have fed.  The digestive system of a horse needs time to adjust to changes whether it be grain or hay, so be sure to add just a little bit of new with the old and switch over slowly. I try and store the hay two or three weeks to cure before feeding.

2. Hay Preservatives

In order to cure hay there are at least twenty different preservatives that can be added to the hay at time of baling and cutting by the farmer. Most of these have been tested for safety with cattle, but may or may not have been tested on horses. There is some evidence to suggest that certain preservatives, while all are undetectable to the eye or nose, may cause respiratory inflammation in horses of all ages. As your horse spends hours with his nose in hay for much of the year, it is not surprising that he might be affected in this manner. We ask a lot of our performance horses and this is an area of concern and long term health too, as young horses are particularly susceptible. Why do farmers add these products? Simply put it saves time waiting for Mother Nature to dry the hay, will reduce dust in the hay which will result as hay 'sweats up' then cools down if it baled with too much moisture. It also allows farmers to bale with more water content in the hay which means if they sell by the ton they will receive a higher price. I cannot tell you how many hay dealers have come and checked our hay and told us, we want these bales bigger, weighing seventy pounds. Well that weight would be from water, and we know that we would have to add chemicals to do this. So we won't. But just be aware when you are buying hay, it is not all about the weight.

3. First Cut Versus Second Cut

Farmers receive a higher price for 2nd cut hay. This is because it is higher in protein. The grass is often softer too depending on the types of grass. It is important that you check the quality of hay you use in your horse's diet by core sampling and sending out for testing so you know what its protein content is and value to your horse's overall nutrition. Too much protein is not necessarily good for horses, while for dairy cows it is beneficial. The high nitrogen can cause colic, the high protein and sugar content can cause and aggravate Cushings. First cut hay can be a little less soft, but it is not generally as rich and is more 'entertaining' for horses to eat as it takes them more time to eat as it requires more chewing. Personally, unless it is a thoroughbred mare in foal or a high performance thoroughbred cross I rarely use second cut for horses. I will use it as a supplement, but not as a main dietary source. See notes below for special circumstances for underweight/ill/rescue horses.

4. Hay Stacking

Hay needs air circulating to keep it healthy. Store it with string side on the vertical to facilitate good drainage of any moisture to the bottom bales on the stack. We always sell the bottom of the stack out for mulch hay and never feed it, but then depends on turnover and storage conditions. If you store on a concrete floor, moisture will aspirate off the concrete up into the stack, so avoid that. Add a layer of tarp and shavings on top to prevent this. Leave a minimum of half inch gap between and around every bale on the layer. Criss cross the stack, i.e. one layer all in one direction, the other layer in the other direction and repeat. Again, improves air flow and improves safety of the stack and hopefully prevents it from tumbling down. If you have a hay mall then do whatever you can to increase air circulation and obviously no roof leaks allowed. Throwing a tarp on top of the hay just under the leak will not eliminate water and will allow water entry/run off onto another part of the stack and moisture will in any event be present in the building.

Probably the very worst way to store hay is in a steel container. You are adding moisture from the repeated condensation of the metal sides and roof and floor of the steel container. If your feed merchant uses this method, beware. The front doors may be open but it won't be enough to help maintain hay quality. Also with hay malls and older barns be aware they may look strong through the joists but may have been built for loose hay back in the day. Stacking hay that is baled is much, much heavier.

5. Big Rounds Versus Small Squares

The small squares are naturally much easier to handle, maybe a little more expensive because there is so much more labor required, but overall probably a better choice in my opinion. Round bales are hard to handle in the barn, though they can be easily taken to the field with a tractor with the right fork or blade and are often used for outside feeding. The wastage factor is high. Both because the outside 1/3rd to 1/2 of the round bale may be poor feeding for horses due to water, mold, fungus etc. and because the horses will trample it as they pull it out the feeder. Be careful of cattle feeders. Foals can get legs and heads caught in them, even adult horses can put their hoof through and get caught. Check the design carefully.

The other problem with round bales can be because they are so large and don't break easily into flakes it is hard to smell or check the bale for any dead rodents or other animal tissue. This poses a real risk of botulism to your horse. When you cut a field of hay you might run over a fawn, rabbits, birds, snakes, rodents and a myriad of other critters. While turkey buzzards, coyotes and foxes may be around to pick off the dead matter from the windrows, round bales are often baled with much larger windrows which means the dead animal parts may not be seen and pulled out before baling. They most certainly won't smell significantly enough for detection for a handler to notice, if baled in the center of a round bale. When small bales are handled individually, they go through many hands. The farmer and his help will notice an off smelling bale and discard it. If you or your help pull small bales apart to feed, the flakes will fall and separate ( or should do if it is good hay properly cured), and you will soon detect any poor smell or visual surprises.  The risks of large rounds is the same for the larger square bales.

6. Hay That Gets Wet

Hay that gets wet on the field may be dried and baled and many farmers do this. The nutrition of the hay will be diminished to some extent which will make it a poorer product though these bales are still very suitable for cattle and pig feeding. The color of the hay will not be as green, and may be quite brown. Personally we never bale hay that gets wet for use with our horses, we simply mulch it back in. This does not mean that it is a bad thing to do, it is just we don't want to use an inferior product for our horses.

7. Time of Cutting/Types of Grass  and Know the Provenance

For highest 'sweetness' the perfect time to cut hay is around 10 a.m. If you don't want the sugars up in the stalk, then you cut it late in the day. This may be relevant if you run a horse rescue and have horses that are not used to richness in hay where it might make them sick, or for horses suffering from Cushings or other metabolic disorders.  Just as when you shop for your own food, you hopefully are aware of its provenance as much as possible, it pays to apply the same rule for your horse hay. If your hay dealer delivers you weedy hay, hay that is brown, hay that is dusty, hay that is of poor quality in general, then find another source.

There are many types of grasses, timothy, orchard etc. clovers, and legume grasses such as alfalfa and more. That is a topic for a whole article. Generally a mixed grass bale will work best for most horses. A high performance racehorse may benefit from alfalfa or mixed alfalfa. Baling and cutting alfalfa is a whole other topic too.

I hope this article has helped you with your horses' hay. There are a lot of resources out there to further advise you and with the internet many options for supply. Just remember. If you are throwing hay away because of poor quality you will not be saving money because you found a cheap product price. Find a good source and stick with it. A farmer values regular customers and it is a win/win situation as he will always supply his regular customers as a priority in times of shortage.