The Seattle Times is reporting that skyrocketing hay costs and the economic downturn is causing horse owners - and their horses - a great deal of trouble.

The cost of hay has increased as much as 60 percent in some parts of the country this year. According to an article published last summer by the Tri-City Herald in Washington State, the amount of acreage devoted to growing hay has dropped 11 percent since 2003. In the Pacific Northwest, a bad growing season further reduced the amount (and quality) of hay for sale.

To compound the problem, the United States ships a lot of its hay to Asia. According to a study by the Livestock Economics department at Washington State University, ports in the Pacific Northwest provide about 65% of the total hay import to Pacific Rim countries such as Japan and Korea.

Most of the hay sold in the Pacific Northwest, both local and exported, is used for dairy farms. According to the WSU study, the Pacific Northwest "produces the highest average milk yield per cow in the United States." The overall high quality of our local hay has a lot to do with the quality and quantity of our milk.

Dairy farmers have been increasing the size of their herds over the last few years. Although dairy herds in Oregon saw a decline in 2007, the total number of dairy cows in both Washington and Idaho saw a sharp increase. And all those cows are hungry!

If you're starting to feel the pinch, you might want to look into alternatives to the hay you usually buy. The Colorado State University Extension Office has an article on how to stretch your hay, including conversion tables so that you can calculate how much you will need to feed. Always be sure to feed your horse a proper diet, with the correct amount of roughage!

All of these factors have caused the price of hay to go through the roof. And of course, add to that the recession, which is causing a lot of families to make difficult choices about where to cut back their spending. Between these two factors, there are a lot of horses out there who need a new home.

How can you help? If you have been thinking about getting another horse, now is a great time to buy or adopt. Horse sellers are reporting a collapse in horse sales, both at auction and by owner. Adoption is another wonderful option.

You can ask your local animal shelter for information on local horse rescue organizations and shelters. Even if you can't afford to adopt another horse, there has been a sharp decline in charity donations this year. They will welcome any donations you can make, be it money or in extra tack, equipment, or feed. Even the smallest amount can make a difference.

If you already have a horse and are having trouble finding a way to make ends meet, please think of your horse. States like Montana and Wyoming are seeing a significant increase in the number of pet horses released "into the wild." These horses don't do well, and most of them are rounded up and sold at auction. A domesticated horse may be able to forage well in summer, but it's going to have a rough time in winter. Letting your horse "run free" is cruelty, plain and simple.

Animal control agencies are also reporting an increase in the number of seized animals this year. Please don't let things get to the point where animal control has to come rescue your horses from your care. If you can't afford to keep your horse, make that tough decision to find it another home - now, before things get too bad.