It's that time of year when you should be stocking up on hay for the winter. I like to have my hay delivered by stacker load as it saves labor and time. We have to restack it in our barn once it gets delivered and handling those bales once is plenty. When buying hay, remember that good quality hay should be leafy, fine-stemmed, and adequately but not overly dry. The hay should not be brittle but instead soft to the touch, with little shattering of the leaves.
Lost leaves mean lost nutrition.
There should be no excessive moisture that could cause overheating and spoilage. The hay should be thoroughly cured. Usually the farmer lets the hay cure in the bale in the field for a day or two and then in the stack for a few more days before it is delivered and fed. Horses that are not accustomed to green, leafy alfalfa may suffer flatulent colic even if the hay is cured properly. Make all changes to new hay gradual.