Rainy Autumn Means Hay is Scarce for Rescue Ranch

Rainy Autumn Means Hay is Scarce for Rescue Ranch
An especially wet autumn means good hay is hard to find for The Break Heart Ranch

“Not all hay is created alike,” says Val Hinderlider, co-founder of The Breakheart Ranch in Minden, Nebraska. It has been an especially rainy weekend, and as Val stands in 3 inches of mud, she explains the virtues of good hay and why a rainy autumn has made the resource scarce for her rescue operation.

Established in 2002, The Break Heart Ranch has seen hundreds of horses over the years. They currently shelter 35 horses; in other words, they have a lot of mouths to feed. In just one feeding, the horses will go through five 40 pound bags of feed. Val and John Hinderlider use hay to supplement that diet, but after this year’s rainy autumn, good hay has been hard to find. In some cases, the soggy ground has caused the hay to rot before it even gets baled. In other situations, the constant moisture has caused bales of hay to become covered mildew and mold. Moldy hay can cause asthma and other respiratory issues for the horses so Val and John have to be picky about the quality of hay they give their animals.

With local hay being so scarce, the Hinderliders have had to bring hay in from other areas of the country. But even if the hay is at a good price, they still have to pay for the freight carriers’ mileage. For a non-profit organization like The Break Heart Ranch, those are the costs that really add up. For now, all the Break Heart Ranch can do is wait out the coming winter and hope that next year brings better weather.

How you can help
The Break Heart Ranch welcomes donations of any kind, visit their website to view their current “wish list”. You can also be an Angel by sponsoring one of the rescued animals. Contact The Break Heart Ranch to learn more.