If you follow an equine-focused charity long enough, you will frequently see fundraisers for hay (also for alfalfa and grain). That’s because a mature 1,000 pound horse consumes approximately 20 pounds of hay per day. On top of that, senior horses may require extra supplementation with grain, especially during winter.

Because hay is a necessity, high prices can make or break a horse sanctuary. A major drought in 2022 and rising fertilizer prices were cited as the main reasons for high hay costs throughout 2023.

So how much is the cost per bale?

I wanted to find out once and for all what is a good price for a hay bale? Based on a quick search of horse rescue websites and social media, price per bale ranged greatly — from $20 to $250. It was impossible to truly compare prices without details such as weight of the bale or hay quality. Costs also vary greatly based on the geographical location, the seller, type and time of year.

Below are some examples I’ve found:

According to Conway Feed & Supply, it costs $1,125 per horse for one-year of alfalfa hay. This does NOT include supplements or additional nutrition often needed by senior horses. On top of hay cost, rescues need to factor in delivery fees. I remember a post from Palomino Ridge Ranch Horse Rescue that they paid $5,000(!) for delivery and stacking.

Below are other numbers I found on social media:

Return to Freedom (400 horses + 29 burros): Our annual hay costs are likely to climb to $450,000 for 2022. That would be an increase of $190,000 from just two years ago!

Colorado Horse Network – $73,000 per year (Instagram post)

For the Love of Aria – $144,000 per year, according to an Instagram post. This is for 47 mustangs (as of March 2024)

Heart of Phoenix – $2,300 for 300 square bales every 4 weeks. Multiply that by 52 weeks and you get $119,600 per year!

The problem is that fundraising for hay is not exciting. People are much more likely to donate for emergency surgeries or bailing horses from kill pens. Well-known rescues like Colby’s Crew and All Seated in a Barn (ASIAB) can raise thousands every weekend to save dozens of horses from auction. I donated to ASIAB for a couple of auctions until I realized it was impossible to keep track of horses they rescued. I know they rescue so many and may not have time to give regular updates on every horse. At the same time, I didn’t feel comfortable donating for horses that are never mentioned again.

That’s when I started donating more for the “boring” stuff. After the rush of saving a life is over, a rescue has to spend thousands for vet care, rehabilitation, farrier, training, feed, etc.. These “saves” are often senior or special need horses that require supplemental feed and extra vet care. Many worthwhile sanctuaries keep horses for life.

Without ongoing support for hay bales and other unglamorous things, rescues cannot save more horses and may even close their doors.

if you run a rescue and are struggling to pay for hay and feed, please leave a comment. I would love to know what you pay for hay bales per month or per year!