Making your own hay

[Lucyad]

I wondered whether anyone else makes their own hay? I have made it in my neighbours wildflower meadow for the past 2 years, as they have to cut it and lift it at the end of the summer anyway. The first year we got it baled, last year we stacked it in a spare stable loose and carried it in Jewson's bags!

As the meadow has become more established, more and more flowers are mixed into the grass. There are no foxgloves or ragwort. Lots of white daisies, not a huge amount of buttercups. Some red campion, vetch, etc. Also many different types of grasses. It was grown from a specialist mix that they got taylored to their land.

Do you think that this is OK to give horses? Commercailly produced hay is all sprayed, so doesnt have the variety of species, but I wondered if it would do Oscar any harm to eat over the winter? He would be eating it in the stable at night, and would have commercially prooduced haylage (big round bales) in the field in the daytime.

 

[Jessey]

I don't produce my own hay but if I ever get my own land I would love to.

I would double check what plants are growing, buttercups for example are ok in small quantities for most horses but some react badly to it and in large ammounts I think most would show some reaction, not sure about the others you mention.

I would say it is good to have a mixed meadow hay, lots of different grasses and flowers/plants/herbs would be really good. You know there is one of the major feed/supplement companies that now makes a 'hedgerow herb mix'. Because so many of our pastures are sprayed and managed so much they are now missing many of the traditional native plants that horses used to have access to, which they would seek to get the things they need.

J x

 

[ponylover88]

Were getting some hay - 150 bales odd off a field were buying (hoping to complete soon).
Apparently their hay is very good, and seeing as theres less 'oomph' in hay than haylage it will be so much better! *breathes a sigh of relief*

I think, as far as weeds etc are concerned, aslong as theres nothing poisonous to horses in there then it should be ok.

 

[Peace]

I'm thinking about it - the problem is getting it cut and baled since I don't own the necessary machinery and it's difficult to get someone to come out and bale "on halves" for such a small field (2 acres or so). So I probably won't fool with it.

I'd be worried about what was in the cuttings from an unsprayed field, mostly because plant toxins intensify once dried (in the same way dried herbs are more potent than fresh so one uses less), and some plants like buttercups don't taste good to horses when growing but apparently lose their nasty taste somewhat when dried.

 

[capalldubh]

Can't add much because I think your hay was lovely, I would nearly eat it myself!

But I have been doing a lot of research on buttercups over the last two days and I can reassure you that they loose their toxicity when dry.

 

[crinks]

We've had our own hay from our meadow for the past 5 years now, clover, a few buttercups, campion etc does no harm at all and we have noticed that the horses don't cough and wheeze as much, we never have to soak it and no one has refused to eat it! Its gobbled as soon as it goes in the stables!
No pesticides either we try to be as organic as possible with it and apparently the vet has noticed a difference in the hay we give ours and the commercially grown stuff that they feed down the road. Apparently our horses are thriving better through the winter months

 

[atillathefun]

We would like to it would help with our too much grass situation but the farmers local to us want more to cut and bale it than it costs us to buy it!! Really doesnt make sense to me

 

[jowyles]

Anyone who wants to make theit own hay...you must be mental! My dad does it every year with vintage tractors. We pull out ragwort by hand and dad hand sparayed the thistles out of it. Theres a variety of grasses which is good as it was used for cattle. I would prefer hay to be mainly grass as im not sure of the nutritional value other plants would give to the hay with regards the wastage of natural nutrients from them etc.
I hat ehay making tho as I have extreme hayfever and its such hard work tho recently ive only been good for tractor driving...theres no fun in picking up 1000 bales of hay putting them onto a trailer and then reloading them into the barn!

 

[becs]

theres no fun in picking up 1000 bales of hay putting them onto a trailer and then reloading them into the barn!

tell me about it! just spent a sweltering day doing just that! My shoulder hurts so much I can't even contemplate leading, let alone riding...

 

[Wally]

We make our own big bale silage. We don't get the guatanteed weather to make hay.

 

[becs]

We don't get the guatanteed weather to make hay.

the trouble here is, when a window of good weather DOES come, everyone's fighting for the equipment! (shared by various farmers)

 

[LMS]

LOL!
That's what my husband used to say!
Having been brought up on a farm, hubby & his sibblings were expected to help with everything as well as haying.

Well, they also used to have a few equestrian centres as clients (they were the pickiest too).

Anyhow, shortly after my father-in-law was diagnosed with leukemia, feeling rather depressed: sold all his farm equipement save one tractor and a few attachments.

Well, my husband was so relieved that he no longer HAD to make hay (finally a reprieve after 30yrs). Until three years ago. He misses it terribly! So much that his sister offered her acreage for us to cultivate but now we're stuck having to purchase equipment all over again.

I guess when it's in your blood, you can't really turn your back on it.

 

[Lucyad]

Thanks all for your advice, I will keep making it then! It is really nice sweet hay, and my old share mare (Capalldubh's) who gets hay allergies was OK on it (usually needs haylage to prevent coughs). For those without equipment, if you have any spare land, we use a vintage tractor to cut it, but turn it by hand (better than going to the gym - get lots of people and some beer and call it a harvest party), last year we couldnt get it baled for the reasons stated - all the farmers are rushing doing their own, so we just stacked it indoors, it worked fine, and wasnt too hard to carry in 1 ton Jewsons bags which fit into my estate car boot.