Hay supplier - same year every year or chop and change ?

[Stormin]

I guess the question's in the title really.

For those of you who keep the same -
is this by facility ?
to have a good price ?
to be sure to have your hay "reserved" ?
to keep good contacts ?

For those of you who shop around or chop and change -
to have hay at the best price ?
to be sure to have the best quality you can find on the market ?
not yet found a supplier worthwhile ?

Should be getting my hay in next week (OK, a little late I know) but wondering if I should pre-order next year's hay or wait until next year, risking finding myself quite late on the market (again).

Thanks !

 

[Sammii]

I guess the question's in the title really.

For those of you who keep the same -
is this by facility ?
to have a good price ?
to be sure to have your hay "reserved" ?
to keep good contacts ?!

All of those really.
i) because it is cut and sold at the yard where I keep my horse.
ii) I got it for £1 a bale.
iii) We always get priority as liveries.
iv) Becuase we always use their hay bales, when we're putting hay in the field in winter for the horses, we are allowed to bag up the loose in the haybarn and chuck that out at no extra charge.

 

[Zingy]

I keep to the same one. He sells good quality and though it isn't the cheapest stuff around, he will do his best to supply his regular customers. He won't let people bulk buy in bad years and won't take on additional customers if he thinks things will be tight. He's turned customers away offering him more than sale price for big orders so that he can supply people who've bought off him for years. So I always know I'll get my fair share but I can't order it at the start of winter.

Having said that, this year I have bought a lot of feed from elsewhere, though it is stuff he doesn't sell, as he had major concerns about being able to get hold of hay this winter and I can't feed haylage. That will significantly reduce my hay order, but I'll still be buying some, even if it's only a bale a month instead of one a week.