Day of Hay for the Horses - Urgent Support Needed

Day of Hay for the Horses – Urgent Support Needed

We’re reaching out to our community with an urgent and heartfelt request.  We understand you all give so much in so many ways and absolutely understand if you are unable to help.  What we ask is that you share with everyone you know and ask them to share with everyone you know.  You never know who might buy a "Day of Hay" or even just a bale.  We can fill the barn if we do this together.  Maybe challenge friends, family, co-workers, or others to match donations.  Four people with a bale each will feed the herd for a day.

Why the Need

Recently, our hay supplier unexpectedly didn’t deliver hay after we had almost run out for the 4th time (prior years we have always had hay in the barn for the year by August and had shared this many times).  That supplier has since filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Unfortunately, this means funds we had already paid are now tied up in the bankruptcy process, and hay that was owed to us has not yet been delivered. While we navigate what comes and how long that might take, the reality is simple and immediate:

Our horses still need to eat—every single day.

We’ve secured a new hay supplier who has supplied quality hay to us before to ensure the herd continues to receive consistent, appropriate nutrition. However, due to medical and metabolic needs within our sanctuary herd, we must purchase at a minimun amount of low-sugar hay for for some of the highest need of the herd, which comes at a higher cost than what we were going to previously pay through a discounted offer.

At the same time, we are carrying the financial burden of funds lost—or delayed indefinitely—through the former supplier’s bankruptcy (if you know anyone with experience filing the court required forms and might help us pro bono, please send us their name).

This is where you can help.

We are asking for support to sponsor a “Day of Hay for the Horses.”
Your donation will help us:

• Cover the gap left by funds tied up in bankruptcy
• Pay for higher-cost, low-sugar hay required for our horses’ health
• Ensure no horse goes without proper nutrition during this transition

Every Day of Hay Matters

• $22 will pay for one bale of low sugar hay – 1 bale of hay will feed 1 horse for 5.5 days
• $88 sponsors a full Day of Hay for the herd
• $2,640 will pay for 1 month’s worth of hay for the herd

No amount is too small. Every bale helps. Every donation directly supports the horses in our care—many of whom are seniors or managing lifelong medical needs and rely on us completely.   The average horse in our care eats 16-17 pounds a day (grain is on top of this) and each bale is 95 pounds for low sugar and 105 pounds for untested hay.

Thank you for standing with us during this unexpected challenge and for being part of the safety net that keeps our horses healthy, comfortable, and cared for.

With gratitude from the herd,
Melody’s Haven of Hope at Oregon Horsemanship