Who is Tophooi?

Tophooi was actually born by coincidence. We (Jurjen & Esther) run a paddock paradise in Drenthe, where we house our own horses as well as boarding horses. Various breeds, different sizes, and unique needs – yet we wanted to provide the option of unlimited feeding. This came with its challenges! We used to buy hay from different forage suppliers, but there was always an issue: analyses that didn’t match, extremely dusty hay, mold, sand, high sugar content, or hay that the horses simply wouldn’t eat. And when we did manage to find a good batch, the next one was often a disaster.

Since Jurjen is a driver and active in the transport sector, the idea arose to fetch hay ourselves from France. Dutch hay, at the time, was of very poor quality and unsuitable for our horses. So, we gave it a try – and it worked so well that we continued sourcing hay from France and Germany. Of course, word spread in our area, and more and more people started asking if we would sell our hay.
Slowly but surely, this grew into a business branch, with weekly deliveries of hay from Germany and France for distribution throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. People from the local area can also pick up hay directly from us.

What makes good hay?

Good hay is, of course, a broad concept, but we focus mainly on quality. We always look for unpacked hay in large bales since that’s what we feed in our paddock paradise. Additionally, we look for hay that is low in sugar, always below 8%, and long and coarse in structure. Horses really have to chew on it, benefiting from the fiber, and because it is so low in sugar, they can eat it without restrictions. A bit of dust is not a problem for us, as long as it isn’t moldy. Most dust comes from pollen or sand that gets in during the grass-turning process. However, bales containing mold are not accepted by us and will not be sold.

Hay is hay, not wrapped silage

We are often asked whether we sell wrapped silage or haylage. The answer is no. Hay is hay – it’s not silage or haylage. Horses digest unpacked hay much better. While haylage might be easier to store, it has many negative effects on a horse’s digestive system. Horses can develop runny manure or become bloated, often appearing lethargic and requiring more concentrated feed, and they tend to acidify more quickly. At Tophooi, we only offer unpacked hay to support equine health. Many of our clients have switched from wrapped haylage to unpacked hay and, for example, bought a trailer to pick up a bale every week or two, covering it properly with a tarp. A bit of creativity goes a long way!

My horse doesn’t want to eat your hay!

We hear this quite often, and it always makes us smile a little. Our hay is low in sugar, very fibrous, and requires horses to really work for it – it’s fantastic, actually! However, many horses are transitioning from haylage or silage to our hay, and that can be quite a change. The previous hay/haylage was high in sugar and, due to the fermentation process, generally more palatable. Horses need to learn to eat the new hay because it’s no longer sweet, and this can take some time. But if they’re hungry, they’ll eat it! Many of our horses are just a bit spoiled 😉.

Consistent quality is also important

In the past, we often encountered inconsistent quality in hay batches – from excellent quality to terrible within a few deliveries. This had a lot of negative effects on the horses: bad manure, wet manure, colic-like symptoms – you name it. That’s why we are very strict about ensuring a consistent quality of hay for the horses. We simply don’t accept poor-quality hay. By making good agreements with our partners in France and Germany, we receive excellent hay. We don’t squeeze the farmers for the lowest price but pay them fairly, and in return, we receive an honest product. This means our hay might not be the cheapest, but it is always of high quality!

What should you look for in hay?

When searching for hay, consider the following factors:

• Structure: Does the structure suit your horse? For horses with dental problems, softer hay is usually preferred. For hardy breeds or ad-lib feeding, a coarser structure is often better.
• Analysis: Hay with a low sugar content is generally ideal for all types of horses. For older horses or horses that lose weight easily, a slightly higher protein content is desirable. However, finding high-protein hay is currently quite difficult, and protein can be easily supplemented through other feeds.
• Smell: Sometimes hay smells amazing, but horses won’t touch it – often because of sweet vernal grass, which humans love but horses find less appetizing. Hay should never smell musty; it should smell fresh.
• Dustiness: Dust doesn’t automatically mean mold, and it doesn’t always mean that horses will cough from it. There are different types of dust: dust caused by a bit of sand or pollen is harmless to horses. However, moldy dust can lead to coughing.