Which hay mix is best ?

[skyhightree1]

I am going to plant about 15 acres of hay in total to be square baled and sold to horse folks. I can't make my mind up on which mix to plant. Which of you horse folks think is the best mix for horses ?

Pure Oat hay

Pure wheat hay - cut at the right stage

Winter rye and Oats

Winter rye oats and maybe wheat mix

 

[callmefence]

Pure oats would sell great here.
The others I don't think you could sell a bale to the horse crowd.

 

[TexasBred]

Jiggs Bermuda

 

[skyhightree1]

Pure oats would sell great here.
The others I don't think you could sell a bale to the horse crowd.

That's what guy at feedstore said and offered to buy every Bale delivered and. Stacked in his barn for 3.50 a bale what a great guy

Jiggs Bermuda

?

 

[Banjo]

I must be behind the times, I thought alfalfa, timothy and orchardgrass was what horse people wanted.

 

[callmefence]

I must be behind the times, I thought alfalfa, timothy and orchardgrass was what horse people wanted.

Bermuda is king with the horse crowd in Texas. Oat hay is very popular as well.
Bermuda would be the choice for peremant field. Oats for a quick cheap crop.
Don't know about Virginia sky.

 

[Clodhopper]

I must be behind the times, I thought alfalfa, timothy and orchardgrass was what horse people wanted.

That's what they want around here, either that or "snowball" hay.

 

[skyhightree1]

I must be behind the times, I thought alfalfa, timothy and orchardgrass was what horse people wanted.

none of those grow well here.. Also wanted something I could cut in may if I planted this weekend but looking for something horse folks could use. I was really just trying to focus on horse folks but after talking to horse people and how picky they are im just going to plant oats and not really market it towards horse people.

 

[Ky cowboy]

We sell to both horse and cattle people. Timothy and orchard grass works well for us. Weather permitting we will square bale some and sell to horse owners

 

[pricefarm]

Alfalfa or orchard grass is what horse people around here wants. Most of them don't want square bales anymore because of all the labor in them. They want 4x4 rolls that are small enough that there compact tractor can move them around. This spring i sold a lot of first cutting 4x4 orchard grass hay to horse people.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I couldn't sell any of that to horse people.

They all want OG, timothy, trefoil, clover, alfalfa mixed hay.

 

[JW IN VA]

Not to be acting "smart", but I think you may want to talk to some horse people to see what they like.Hate to see you inest that much in something you can't sell.
:2cents:

 

[skyhightree1]

Not to be acting "smart", but I think you may want to talk to some horse people to see what they like.Hate to see you inest that much in something you can't sell.
:2cents:

no JW I know you better than that. See here I have sold a ton of my cattle hay in squares to people here with horses this year. So I was trying to I guess you would say expand the horizons and focus on new customers however my hay guy said horse people are AH'S stick with the ones you know they complain about everything so I said good point. I was planting anyway but was going to try to market directly to horse folks. I can always roll it and square some for new calves I bring it. I think everyone for their imput.

 

[farmerjan]

We do some square bales for horse owners and they want orchard grass mostly, NOT CLOVER. Horse people are a****s about it and we have gone and picked up hay that they complained about and they never get another bale from us. Have a couple of regular customers that have been getting hay for years and are easy to please AND PAY WHEN THEY GET IT ; that is often a problem. Have had a couple that have found a few bad bales that they will mention and we always replace and pick up the bad ones on next delivery; and throw out in the pasture for the cows who usually pick through and tell us they aren't bad. Biggest problem is getting paid so we always insist on payment when we deliver unless it is the regulars who often aren't home. They will call and ask how much and we get a check in the mail in a couple of days. Oat hay is a good hay and we have grown it and fed it to calves and sheep and they love it so it ought to do you fine.

 

[skyhightree1]

We do some square bales for horse owners and they want orchard grass mostly, NOT CLOVER. Horse people are a****s about it and we have gone and picked up hay that they complained about and they never get another bale from us. Have a couple of regular customers that have been getting hay for years and are easy to please AND PAY WHEN THEY GET IT ; that is often a problem. Have had a couple that have found a few bad bales that they will mention and we always replace and pick up the bad ones on next delivery; and throw out in the pasture for the cows who usually pick through and tell us they aren't bad. Biggest problem is getting paid so we always insist on payment when we deliver unless it is the regulars who often aren't home. They will call and ask how much and we get a check in the mail in a couple of days. Oat hay is a good hay and we have grown it and fed it to calves and sheep and they love it so it ought to do you fine.

Thanks yea I got a sign that says credit is a horrible disease but don't worry you wont catch it here.. Before anything is unloaded I have to have CASH in hand that's the only time I sell to individuals but the farm store they pay in check which is fine.

 

[talltimber]

sky, your mileage may vary, but when we were going a bunch, we weren't too picky about type. What we wanted was quality, not a bunch weeds, sprouts, bs in the hay. And we didn't want to change once we got started on a type of hay. We usually bought several bales once we found a good supplier that was reasonable around home. If we were on a trip long enough that we would run out, then we did the best we could. My favorite hay was timothy/orchard grass, and bermuda. But, we had to be careful with really good bermuda as I had a horse colic on it before. Stems/leaf was really fine, and he wasn't drinking enough water to move it. He was a slow starter on drinking road water, he'd hold out a day or two, then give in and drink strange water. We didn't have an onboard tank at the time.

I love the smell of alfalfa and it's a good hay, but too much protein for what we needed and was harder on kidneys I was always told. Clover, if cut right, is hay I liked, but seeds would make them slobber, and have heard of mouth infections due to them before. Idk if that is true though.

 

[cbcr]

When we were growing hay, we had some mixed hay (orchard grass / clover). Had a horse person that wanted that kind of hay and even any that was full clover and would buy all we had for sale. He had Saddlebred show horses.

While some horses, if they are working can slobber as they say, we were told by many nutritionists that clover hay is the most balanced hay. We fed it to our herd of horses (had over 50 head at one time) and we had no problems with it.

I think the big thing about clovers are some of the wives tales and misconceptions. We have know some that raise clover that would not cut the second cutting as they had always heard that animals wouldn't eat it that it had a sour taste.

 

[u4411clb]

In my opinion most horse people have no idea what they want. And it is not their fault they have been told so many different things. I have horse people that think fescue is a horse killer and I have others that manage it and buy lots of it and just don't feed to pregnant horses. And have had those guys say that well fertilized bermuda can cause compaction or colic in horses. Yet most people want bermuda for their horses here. Have some that believe clover will give horses the slobbers. Others wonder why I don't have hay with clover in it because they read it was good for horses. I have heard it all.

My opinion is if it is sprayed and a mono-culture meaning what ever it is it is only that one thing in the bale and it has a hint of green and smells a little sweet some horse person will love it. I just make sure I am totally honest with the person on what they are buying and they can grab any bale they want and test it at their expense and they can pick any bale square or round we will bust it open and take a look at it but when it leaves my property it is yours and not mine at that point.

Not to be mean or rude or deceive people but without that policy these horse people would drive you crazy. trying to return hay after feeding 55 out of 60 rolls of it because they think they found mold in a bale. Which could have came from it being a their place. Had some not buy because they felt it was not enough light in the barn even though they chose to come at night. On Thanksgiving no less. Anything they find on the internet they take as gospel even if it contradicts what they read there last week. So like I said I advise them to take their time. Test it and come by and see it. Buy a little first to see how horses do with it. But again it isn't leaving my place without cash or check and once it leaves it is now yours.

 

[farmerjan]

In my opinion most horse people have no idea what they want. And it is not their fault they have been told so many different things. I have horse people that think fescue is a horse killer and I have others that manage it and buy lots of it and just don't feed to pregnant horses. And have had those guys say that well fertilized bermuda can cause compaction or colic in horses. Yet most people want bermuda for their horses here. Have some that believe clover will give horses the slobbers. Others wonder why I don't have hay with clover in it because they read it was good for horses. I have heard it all.

My opinion is if it is sprayed and a mono-culture meaning what ever it is it is only that one thing in the bale and it has a hint of green and smells a little sweet some horse person will love it. I just make sure I am totally honest with the person on what they are buying and they can grab any bale they want and test it at their expense and they can pick any bale square or round we will bust it open and take a look at it but when it leaves my property it is yours and not mine at that point.

Not to be mean or rude or deceive people but without that policy these horse people would drive you crazy. trying to return hay after feeding 55 out of 60 rolls of it because they think they found mold in a bale. Which could have came from it being a their place. Had some not buy because they felt it was not enough light in the barn even though they chose to come at night. On Thanksgiving no less. Anything they find on the internet they take as gospel even if it contradicts what they read there last week. So like I said I advise them to take their time. Test it and come by and see it. Buy a little first to see how horses do with it. But again it isn't leaving my place without cash or check and once it leaves it is now yours.

:clap: :clap: :clap: AMEN!!!!

 

[Lazy M]

Not to be acting "smart", but I think you may want to talk to some horse people to see what they like.Hate to see you inest that much in something you can't sell.
:2cents:

no JW I know you better than that. See here I have sold a ton of my cattle hay in squares to people here with horses this year. So I was trying to I guess you would say expand the horizons and focus on new customers however my hay guy said horse people are AH'S stick with the ones you know they complain about everything so I said good point. I was planting anyway but was going to try to market directly to horse folks. I can always roll it and square some for new calves I bring it. I think everyone for their imput.

Lol! I think your buddy gave you good advice. I learned quickly that I didn't have the temperament to deal with those hobby horse clowns. I sold some hay to one. He checked the hay in my barn, and we agreed on a price (including for me to haul). I hauled the hay to his place (150 small bales) and he tried to dicker with me on the price; saying that it didn't look as good as he thought. I told him that I'd haul it back home before I dropped it one cent. He grudgingly agreed to pay the agreed upon price, but made it clear that I was taking advantage of him. I probably ground my teeth down a quarter inch before I was finished unloading and back on the road.