On Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:26:47 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:18:36 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

Problem with hay is that it can rot quickly, even if covered and kept
dry. It depends on how much of it you go through. A large farm
probably goes through as many of those big rolls as my wife's
two horses go through the smaller, rectangular bales in the same
time period. I think she goes through about a full bale a day.

It should be able to last all winter, unless it was too wet when baled. Hay can
ignite spontaneously if stored when too wet.

I think horses are more sensitive to moldy hay than cattle. (wet feet
too) The places we were had mostly cattle ranches. The cows are just
burgers on the hoof.
I am sure their horses lived more like Mrs Luddite's horses.
My niece down by Harry is a "horsey person". She has big ones and
little ones (a little bigger than our Mr Ed).