Skyrocketing price of hay crippling horse owners
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MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. -- The Midwest drought and fires in Eastern Washington are bad news for horses, their owners and rescue operations as the cost of hay has skyrocketed and is only expected to keep rising.
At Serenity Equine Rescue in Maple Valley, there is no more room for any more horses. Hay is so expensive some owners don't know what to do:
"You'll find their horse on Craig'slist and probably not for very much; or you will find their horse at the Enumclaw auction, that's the other alternative," said Patricia Clark with Serenity Equine Rescue.
Some wind up at Serenity, rescued. Sometimes brought back to health with loving care and hay. Hay that already costs 50 percent more than it did last year, and will likely go up again.
One reason is the Midwest drought. With corn prices shooting up, some Eastern Washington farmers replanted their fields.
And that's not the worst of it. The Taylor Bridge fire near Cle Elum not only destroyed 57 homes, it incinerated tons and tons of hay. That could kick prices up a couple of dollars a bale.
"We can't serve the number of horses we are rescuing now, and that means where do they go?" Clark said. "Well, maybe it's a truck to Canada."
That's Patricia's way of saying unless hay prices stabilize or rescue donations increase, many horses will be taken to slaughter house.
Clark says two horse rescue operations in Washington were closed this year because of rising costs. She worries that this winter, many cash-strapped owners won't be able to find anyone able to take horses that they can't afford to keep.
At Serenity Equine Rescue in Maple Valley, there is no more room for any more horses. Hay is so expensive some owners don't know what to do:
"You'll find their horse on Craig'slist and probably not for very much; or you will find their horse at the Enumclaw auction, that's the other alternative," said Patricia Clark with Serenity Equine Rescue.
Some wind up at Serenity, rescued. Sometimes brought back to health with loving care and hay. Hay that already costs 50 percent more than it did last year, and will likely go up again.
One reason is the Midwest drought. With corn prices shooting up, some Eastern Washington farmers replanted their fields.
And that's not the worst of it. The Taylor Bridge fire near Cle Elum not only destroyed 57 homes, it incinerated tons and tons of hay. That could kick prices up a couple of dollars a bale.
"We can't serve the number of horses we are rescuing now, and that means where do they go?" Clark said. "Well, maybe it's a truck to Canada."
That's Patricia's way of saying unless hay prices stabilize or rescue donations increase, many horses will be taken to slaughter house.
Clark says two horse rescue operations in Washington were closed this year because of rising costs. She worries that this winter, many cash-strapped owners won't be able to find anyone able to take horses that they can't afford to keep.
Seriously? Â No one buys hay without looking at it. Â This rescue has been known to squander donations to beautify the owners house!.. Â
I have 23 horses. Â We DO NOT pay that much for hay and there is no shortage. Â
KOMO needs to pick a real rescue to interview!
For all the other posters the reason why Orchard Grass and Alpha are going up so high is because of the lack of corn in the Midwest. The same thing happened in 2006 (I think so donât quote me on the year). What actually happens is Washington farmers end up exporting their hay to fill the gap for the cattle farmers. For those that think hay at 200-300 a ton is a bargain, think again. 1 single horse can eat a half to a full  ton a month and at 300 bucks thatâs pretty expensive, considering the other cost of owning a big animal like worming, shoeing , shawing ect.Â
 @Kodiak one ton of hay should last one horse close to four months.one horse will eat 1/5 of a bale per day..if the horse in not being worked and it just in stall or pasture,There are 40 bales per ton.One bale should last 4-5 days.If the horse is fed more than that the hay goes to waste.Feeding amount will also depend on the size of the horse.Grain in the winter should also be given..just to keep up energy.
@Whitehawk
What planet are you from. A horse in a small paddock needs 3 flakes in the morning and 3 flakes at night, because they have no place to graze. So to be so ignorant as to say a horse should only burn through a ton a hay in 4 months is very incorrect. You obviously donât own horses or if you do you starve them, or have pasture space to subsidize their eating requirements.  Â
By checking Craigs list around Washington state.. and by checking parts of Oregon and Idaho.. Someone in this news story isn't telling the truth..Hay is NOT at a shortage..If one owns a horse one must be able to afford the upkeep of the horse in the first place..
Someone is crying wolf in this article. Craigslist has many listings of hay for $260 a ton to $340 a ton.
This is a tough situation which will get harder on animals going forward. Giving to legitimate equine rescues is a tax deductible donation. Please consider this as you prepare your tax returns. You can save a live.
Hay is NOT at its all time high. We have 10 horses and get our hay for reasonable. Eastern Washington hay at that.
Premium!
Haven't we seen Paticia Clark before on the news...?
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 @Cat and Rat Ranch When are people going to stop bashing Patricia Clark and recognize all the good she has done?  This incredible woman gives her all every day.  Her house is modest and far from fancy.  Whatever the price of hay will be this fall, she has many horses to feed.  Horses that have been abused or abandoned.  Add in the grain, supplements, vet and hoof care.  That's just the basics.  Look into it  for yourself and you will see all the good that is done by Serenity.