For some parts of the UK, it has been an awful summer for grass and hay. Until the last week where we have finally had a lot of rain, our fields have been brown and bald. (They still aren’t looking great now!) There is a good chance we are going to feel the pinch in winter. There will be less hay than normal and prices are likely to go up. But I am concerned by the amount of articles and comments encouraging people to stock up on hay now, to buy and store as much as you can. Have we learnt nothing from the panic buying at the start of Covid?
The impact of a very dry summer
This summer has been unusually hot and dry in many parts of the UK, with spring (March–May) rainfall at historically low levels—just 77 mm by April 2025, the lowest since 1974. Grass growth has been significantly stunted. On Horse & Hound forums, one owner described “zero growth in my resting field … no rain for weeks here (east of England)” and others echoed similar struggles across southern England.
How this impacts hay stocks
- Horse owners who normally rely on summer grazing have had to feed more hay earlier than usual—burning through last year’s stocks faster. I can’t ever remember getting round bales for the summer fields, but we have several out in our fields currently!
- On top of this, the grass for this years hay hasn’t grown to normal levels, due to the drought.
- A long‑term UK study finds spring hay yields in southern England have already declined by roughly one‑third over the last century—and climate change may reduce yields by a further 20–50 % by mid‑century.
Although precise figures for year‑on‑year 2025 yields aren’t yet published, this data clearly illustrates the downward trend—and the summer 2025 weather reinforces it.
Likely shortage over winter
All signs point toward a potential hay shortage over the coming winter, especially if grass doesn’t recover in late summer or early autumn. Prices are already firming: hay and straw prices climbed in 2024 and prices are expected to remain elevated through winter 2025. However, thanks to the recent rain, I am seeing a big improvement in our fields. If we can avoid another long heatwave, our winter fields will be in a much better position.
Why panic buying often makes things worse
Stockpiling hay now (buying up all available supply) may feel like the safe option—but it risks:
- Leaving others without supplies, particularly smaller or local horse owners. This can create welfare issues across the country.
- Driving prices even higher, making the overall shortage worse. Demand drives price.
- Creating wasted resources, yes, hay has a decent shelf life. But how many of us have the space to perfectly store large amounts of hay? Chances are at least some of it is getting damp and moldy.
Tips for navigating the next 6-12 months
Utilise the recent rain
We have finally started to have some rain and the grass is starting to grow. If you can, set aside and rest your Winter fields from now on. Can you also rotate and rest the fields you are on now? Or can you put a section of hay out per horse to supplement the grass, helping it last longer.
Speak to your supplier early
Ask them:
- What their remaining inventory looks like.
- Whether they expect to bring in later in the season.
- If they can recommend other trusted suppliers who may be less impacted by the drought if their supplies run low.
Organise local deliveries from unaffected regions
Many parts of the UK have not been impacted by the recent drought and will have hay to spare. Reach out to other local yards/larger equestrian businesses to see if you could share a large delivery from one of the areas unaffected by the drought. The hay will likely come at a price, due to the transport. But it could be better quality and more readily available than more local sources.
Waste less hay
Seems obvious, but start thinking about how you can reduce your hay wastage. Many of us give our horses ad lib hay and throw away what isn’t eaten. But now is the time to start changing this. If you put 3 sections of hay in the field for your horse every day, but they maybe eat 2 and tramble the other one across the field, start giving them 2 sections of hay. I’ve started being a bit more stingy with how much hay I soak. I used to give Scottie 4-5 sections of soaked hay overnight and would often throw out 1/2 to a whole section (if not more) most mornings. I’ve cut down to 3-4 sections and only have a mouthful or so left in the morning. It all adds up!
Consider partial hay replacers
Have a look at some forage alternatives to see if you could replace some of your hay usage. They are less likely to be impacted by the hay shortage and could reduce your hay usage by 1-2 sections a day.
- Hay blocks: these small blocks are roughly the same as 1 section of hay. They can ben hung in a net or fed on the floor/in a bucket. They often come in bags of 12 and can usually be stored more easily than bales of hay.
- Forage cubes: grass nuts/nuggets are great for treatballs, scattered in a horses bed/floor or can even be soaked into a mash. They can also be great enrichement for stabled horses.
- Chaff: many chaffs are also suitable for partial forage replacement. Increasing your horse’s usual chaff ration in their feeds, or adding an extra feed or two of just chaff can help reduce the amount of hay you need to feed.
Conclusion
Yes, hay prices may rise, and supplies could tighten. But wholesale panic buying doesn’t solve the problem—it redistributes it unfairly. Instead, a coordinated, community‑minded approach is more sustainable: talk to suppliers now, explore alternative feeds, and check whether friends or local owners have spare hay to share.
By working collaboratively—and resisting the impulse to buy out local stock—we can help ensure that all horse owners in the UK get through this challenging season together, with minimal disruption and fair access for everyone.
Bottom line: act early, not impulsively. Plan your feed, build relationships with suppliers, consider alternatives—and avoid hoarding.
Last Updated on 25/07/2025