Things You'll Need:
- Good senses
- The ability to ask questions
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Step 1
Make sure you can open a bale and study it. Examine the color of the hay. Green - preferably pale green - indicates the hay was cut at a healthy time in its growth and was baled at just the right time. Too dark a green, and the hay may have been wet and may be moldy. Too brown, and it may have been too dry and will be dusty.
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Step 2
Smell it. Quality hay should smell sweet. There should be no musty odor whatsoever. There should also be no sharp odors or bitter smells - these indicate weeds or other contaminants.
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Step 3
Feel it. The texture of the hay should be soft and fine. The stems should be slender and shorter. They should also be easy to bend, and should not break easily. Hay with more leaves in it will be more nutritious - so less stalks and more leaf.
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Step 4
Lift it. You want light, airy bales that are dense. If the bale is too heavy, that indicates too much moisture and it may have mold or other contaminants in it.
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Step 5
Feed it. If you horses eat every scrap and look for more, you have the good stuff and you should go back for more! Once you have a good hay contact, stay loyal and let the owner know you like his product. Good hay can be hard to find!
