Hay Shortage Hurts Horse Owners
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: September 26, 2012
METAMORA- This summer's drought is leaving behind a hay shortage, and a huge financial burden for horse owners.
Jeannie Kapraun owns J.R. Stables in Metamora and keeps about 50 horses. She said last summer, a bale of hay cost about $3.75. Now, it's costing her up to ten dollars.
"It's painful, some of the horses that I raise from babies, I've had to sell and a lot of people are doing it," Kapraun said.
That's just one way Kapraun has had to cope . She's one of many horse owners across the country dealing with the hay shortage.
"We feed hay all year round, but a lot of our hay is supplemented with the ability for them to go out to pasture, but since we don't have any pasture, I have to feed winter hay that I would have been storing," she said.
Horses eat grain too, but the price of that has also gone up. Kapraun had to raise rent on some of the people boarding their horses in her stables.
"I tried not to charge very much. They're people like the rest of us. A lot of their hours have been cut," Kapraun said.
Kapraun said in the 30 years of working with horses, "This is the worst I've ever seen."
The horse lover said it'll take her about a year to pay off what she's already spent this season on hay.
Jeannie Kapraun owns J.R. Stables in Metamora and keeps about 50 horses. She said last summer, a bale of hay cost about $3.75. Now, it's costing her up to ten dollars.
"It's painful, some of the horses that I raise from babies, I've had to sell and a lot of people are doing it," Kapraun said.
That's just one way Kapraun has had to cope . She's one of many horse owners across the country dealing with the hay shortage.
"We feed hay all year round, but a lot of our hay is supplemented with the ability for them to go out to pasture, but since we don't have any pasture, I have to feed winter hay that I would have been storing," she said.
Horses eat grain too, but the price of that has also gone up. Kapraun had to raise rent on some of the people boarding their horses in her stables.
"I tried not to charge very much. They're people like the rest of us. A lot of their hours have been cut," Kapraun said.
Kapraun said in the 30 years of working with horses, "This is the worst I've ever seen."
The horse lover said it'll take her about a year to pay off what she's already spent this season on hay.
