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Step 1
Find a reputable farmer in your area that makes hay. Talk to him or her about what kind of hay field they have. Go see the field if possible and look for weeds. If the weeds are numerous, pass this farmer up.
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Step 2
Basic grass mixed hay should smell sweet and be moderatly soft to the touch. Be as weed free as possible, because your horse will not eat these and you're wasting your money.
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Step 3
The bales should be fairly heavy and tightly bound with wire or twine. Ask the farmer to break open a fresh bale. Look in the middle of that bale and smell. It should be sweet smelling, not musty or dusty smelling. If should not feel or smell damp. Touch it with your hands and feel how soft the hay is. You don't want large, woody stems. There should be no heat in the bale, heat means it is "cooking" and will mold and be unfit for horses. If it hurts your hands to touch or sqeeze, then it will hurt your horses mouth and he won't eat it.
