Using and Storing Hay for Your Horse

Your hay must be OFF THE GROUND, even if you have a floor in your hay storage area. Use pallets, old tires, plastic tarps or some other moisture barrier to keep you hay off the ground. Ideal would be a plastic tarp on the ground with pallets on top, then hay. You can find pallets for free in the newspaper and in industrial areas. Be sure the pallets don't have toxic chemicals on them.

For fresh cut hay, stack it with the cut sides up. This allows moisture to evaporate more easily. Leave a few inches in between bales for air circulation and stack your bales in alternating layers with bottom bales going one direction and successive layers alternating.

Stack the top layers in a roof or pyramid shape so when you cover your hay with plastic the rain will run off. Cover with plastic tarps and secure them against the wind. It is a good idea to cover the sides if you store it outside.

Rodents are also a concern. When using poisons keep them away from the hay itself - you don't want your horses to ingest contaminated hay. Traps are good, as long as pets can't get caught in them. Dogs and cats are good choices for keeping rodents and other unwanted visitors out.

Following the guidelines above should help you find and keep your hay fresh and nutritious for your equine friends.

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