Drought Crisis Leads To Increased Hay Prices

Cerillos Horse Shelter Sees More Horses Abandoned By Owners Wildfires and drought are to blame for regional hay prices skyrocketing, and it's leaving many horse owners in crisis mode as they said they struggle to feed their animals. "When you're feeding animals and the cost of feed goes up, starvation increases dramatically," said Jennifer Rios, the Horse Shelter's executive director. Rios said some owners are doing the unthinkable and abandoning their horses altogether. "Too often, (owners) are opening the gate -- and that means abandoned horses across the state," Rios said. It takes $50,000 a year to feed dozens of horses at the Horse Shelter in Cerillos, and Rios said because the cost of hay has almost doubled, it left more animals in need. Last year, the price of a hay bale ran about $7, now Rios said it's almost $12. "It's going to get worse before it gets better," Rios said. The challenge with the hay crisis is a horse like Isabow eats about a third of a bale per day, and with the increase, Rios said that's about a $100 a month. Rios said the impact of the hay situation isn't just impacting horses, it's also affecting cattle ranchers...more