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Hay here this year is going to be $235 a ton, about 17 bales per ton. That’s $14 per bale for alfalfa hay. Grass hay is a good bit more per bale. An average bale will last an average horse 4-5 days. To buy enough hay to get the horses we have through until next hay season will be $10,000. We can not afford that, period. And that doesn’t include the cost of the additional grain that they get.

Prez has not been able to have hay or alfalfa cubes for several years due to his choke. He is fed senior feed, alfalfa pellets and beet pulp twice a day. Health wise, weight and looks - he looks as good or better than any of the other horses.

The other horses get grain and hay, hay twice a day and grain once or twice, depending on who it is. Those working hard and babies and mares lacating get it twice a day. Their hay ration at each feeding lasts about 1 hour. Essentially, then, they have 2 hours per day that they spend eating. We have only dry lot here - no grass or pasture at all (we’re in the high desert.)

So - we are considering switching everyone to a complete feed, with additional alfalfa pellets and beet pulp, until we can sell or give away most of the horses. Either that, or declare bankruptcy right now :) We are feeding eleven horses right now. We plan on keeping only two of them.

Anyway, I know Becky feeds only complete feed with great success. I’d appreciate any opinions, pro or con - or any suggestions - or anyone else’s experience feeding only complete feed. And, thanks everyone.