How Hay Shortages Affect Horse Care - Colorado Horse Rescue

What Horse Owners Need to Know in 2026

For many horse owners, few things feel more stressful than watching hay prices climb while trying to plan for the months ahead.

Hay shortages do not just affect farmers. They affect every horse owner, boarding barn, rescue, and equine business.

When hay becomes harder to find, the effects ripple through nearly every part of horse care, from feeding routines to monthly budgets to the number of horses rescues can safely take in.

And in 2026, many horse owners are already feeling the pressure.

Why Hay Shortages Are Happening

Hay shortages are usually caused by several factors happening at once:

drought reducing crop yields
extreme weather damaging fields
wildfires affecting grazing land
rising fuel and transportation costs
increased demand from livestock producers

In Colorado, ongoing drought conditions continue to impact forage production across many regions. When water becomes limited, hay yields often shrink, and prices rise quickly as supply tightens.

Wildfires can make the situation even harder. When grazing land is damaged or inaccessible, more livestock owners rely on stored hay, increasing demand across the market.

For horse owners, that often means fewer choices, higher prices, and more uncertainty heading into winter.

Rising Hay Prices Affect More Than Feed Bills

Hay is one of the largest ongoing expenses in horse care.

When prices increase, the impact spreads quickly across:

boarding barns
lesson programs
rescues
training facilities
individual horse owners

Even a small increase in hay prices adds up fast when horses require forage every single day.

For owners managing multiple horses, senior horses, or hard keepers, those rising costs can become overwhelming.

As Colorado Horse Rescue Equine Services Director Rachel explains: “Forage is not optional for horses. When hay prices rise sharply, horse owners often have to make difficult decisions very quickly.”

More Horse Owners Are Facing Rehoming Decisions

At Colorado Horse Rescue, staff are already seeing an increase in horse owners reaching out for help as hay prices and feed costs continue to rise.

For some families, the challenge is temporary. For others, ongoing drought conditions and rising costs are forcing difficult conversations about whether they can continue caring for their horses long-term.

That does not mean people do not love their horses.

In many cases, owners are doing everything they can to keep them safe.

Programs like the Leg Up Program exist to help bridge that gap by offering temporary support before a situation becomes a crisis.

As Rachel shares: “Many horse owners are trying incredibly hard to do right by their animals. Sometimes a little support at the right moment can keep a horse safely at home and prevent an unnecessary surrender.”

How Hay Shortages Change Feeding Practices

When hay becomes limited or expensive, many barns have to adjust feeding programs.

That may include:

feeding smaller portions
changing hay types
stretching supplies longer than normal
adding hay pellets or complete feeds
increasing grain or supplements

Sometimes these changes are necessary, but they should always be made carefully.

Horses rely on consistent forage intake to support digestion, gut health, weight maintenance, and their mental wellbeing.

Horses can naturally spend 12–18 hours each day grazing and foraging, which is one reason steady access to forage is so important.

Sudden feed changes from switching hay too quickly can increase the risk of colic or ulcers, and could cause weight loss in the long term.

For a closer look at feeding safely during changing conditions, read our guide on How to Choose High-Quality Hay for Your Horse.

The Emotional Stress Behind Hay Shortages

For many horse owners, hay shortages create more than financial strain.

They create uncertainty.

People begin asking:

Will I be able to find enough hay this winter?
Can I afford another price increase?
What happens if my supplier runs out?

That stress can affect feeding decisions long before hay fully disappears.

At boarding barns and rescues, staff often spend months planning ahead, adjusting budgets, and searching for reliable suppliers before shortages fully hit.

At Colorado Horse Rescue, staff are increasingly hearing concerns from owners trying to stay ahead of rising costs before they become unmanageable.

Why Hay Shortages Hit Horse Rescues Especially Hard

Hay is a daily necessity for every horse in care here at the ranch. We go through more than 600,000lbs of hay in a year, so even a modest increase in price has large budget implications.

When costs rise sharply, rescues face:

higher daily care costs
increased demand for assistance programs
harder intake decisions
more owners needing to rehome horses
fewer overall resources available

At the same time, economic strain can lead to more horses needing help.

That means hay shortages can affect both ends of the rescue pipeline: more horses needing support, while resources become more limited.

Want to understand what is driving these rising costs? Read our blog on Why Hay Prices May Rise in 2026.

Help for Horse Owners Facing Hay Challenges

If you are struggling to afford hay or worried about keeping your horse, you are not alone.

Programs like the Leg Up Program at Colorado Horse Rescue help provide temporary support to horse owners facing difficult circumstances, with the goal of keeping horses safely in their homes whenever possible.

Sometimes a short period of support can prevent a much larger crisis later.

Reaching out early often creates more options for both horses and owners.

What Horse Owners Can Do to Prepare

While no one can fully control the hay market, there are ways to prepare ahead of time.

Buy Early When Possible
Waiting until supplies are already tight often means higher prices and fewer options.

Store Hay Properly
Keeping hay dry and protected reduces waste from mold and moisture damage.

Build Relationships with Suppliers
Reliable supplier relationships become especially important during difficult hay years.

Monitor Your Horse’s Body Condition
Weight loss, poor coat quality, and reduced energy may signal nutritional gaps earlier than many owners realize.

Test Hay When Needed
If your horse has health concerns, struggles to maintain weight, or requires a specialized diet, hay testing can help you better understand nutritional value.

Have a Backup Plan
Knowing where you could source hay in an emergency can reduce stress if local supply changes suddenly. Trying to find a new supplier at the last-minute makes you more vulnerable to hay scammers who require a “deposit” for hay that will never show up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hay Shortages

Why is hay so expensive right now?
Hay prices are rising due to drought, wildfire impacts, transportation costs, and reduced overall supply in some regions.

What can I feed if hay is limited?
Some horse owners use hay pellets, cubes, or complete feeds alongside forage, but changes should always be made carefully and ideally with veterinary guidance.

How much hay does a horse need daily?
Most horses need about 1.5–2% of their body weight in forage each day.

What should I do if I cannot afford hay for my horse?
Reach out for support early. Programs like Colorado Horse Rescue’s Leg Up Program may be able to help before the situation becomes an emergency.

Looking Ahead

Hay shortages are not new, but many experts expect weather-related supply challenges to become more common over time.

For horse owners, preparation matters.

Understanding how shortages affect feeding, horse health, and long-term costs can help you make calmer, more informed decisions when the market becomes unpredictable.

Because at the end of the day, good hay is more than feed.

It is one of the foundations of horse health.

How Hay Shortages

Affect Horse Care