Amid growing concerns around reduced hay supplies and rising prices, British Horse Society (BHS) is issuing advice and tips to help horse owners/carers through the winter months.

This guidance comes as the British Hay and Straw Merchants’ Association (BHSMA) reports that big bale hay stands at an average £91 per tonne, which is a £20 increase on the same period in 2024.

Gemma Stanford, Director of Horse Care and Welfare said: “Unfortunately, the pressures of a continued dry, hot summer are leading to farmers and horse owners having to supplement their animals’ feeding with hay already. We understand the concerns this raises for horse owners, especially as farmers have no choice but to increase hay prices at a time when the cost-of-living crisis remains a constant reality.

Our advice is to plan ahead and take action now to make sure your supplies are maintained as well as maximised. Think about the winter months and ask yourself, ‘how much hay will I need, do I have somewhere it can be safely stored and what is my budget?’ Being prepared now could go a long way in the months ahead.”

British Horse Society also advises:

Look at your contacts: if you already have a good hay supplier, get your order in now. Otherwise, we urge you to seek recommendations and start making enquiries. If there are multiple owners on a yard using the same supplier, this can make deliveries a lot easier.

Explore your storage options: buying in bulk before the start of winter may provide a buffer against any additional price increases, however, limited storage can be problematic. Speak to reputable suppliers and ask if they’re happy to store pre-purchased hay or future orders and deliver at later date. 

Maximise your grazing: set out a winter grazing management plan and make any improvements during the drier months. Having a mud management plan, especially for high traffic areas, can help to support your pasture during the wetter months.

Feed according to your horse’s individual needs: the winter months provide an opportunity for horses who are overweight or obese to lose weight, as nature intended. If daily calories need to be reduced for weight loss, think about slowing you horse’s eating through enrichment and slow feeder haynets. Look at feeding lower calorie options too, to help prevent long periods without eating.

If your horse does struggle to maintain weight, speak to a nutritionist who can support you to create a feeding programme that’s best suited to your horse whilst keeping to the budget you have available.

Invest in hay scales: ideally, horses should be provided with as much hay as they will eat, but this can lead to wasted hay and potential over-feeding. For a very small cost, invest in some scales to weigh out the amount of hay your horse needs.

Look at hay replacement options: many options are available which will provide your horse with their essential forage requirements and can be used to replace part of their hay ration. This includes chopped chaff, soaked sugar beet, grass nuts and fibre feeds.

If your horse is overweight, check the products to prevent feeding any unnecessary oils or molasses. It’s important to also introduce any changes to your horse’s diet gradually over 10-14 days to help reduce the risk of colic.

Reduce wastage: ask yourself how much hay ends up on your muck heap or getting lost in the mud. If you’re throwing hay away, look at alternative methods of feeding such as haynets, larger buckets or hay bars, and specific feeders. These also have the benefit of slowing down the rate of consumption and some will mimic natural eating patterns.

Having pallets available to lift the hay up off the ground can also help prevent any spoilage from water run-off, grit, mud or rain.

Gemma adds: “If you’re finding it difficult to meet price increases and struggling to meet costs offered in your livery package, speak to your yard manager/owner sooner rather than later. Discussions on any potential payment plan or reduction in livery services may be options available to you. There may also be other opportunities for you to help cut costs without compromising your horse’s health and wellbeing.”

If you have any concerns for a horse’s welfare or would like advice about your own horse, British Horse Society offers a free horse care and welfare helpline at 02476 840517 or email welfare@bhs.org.uk.

To donate or to find out more about BHS’s welfare work go to bhs.org.uk