well, unless you're tired of those overalls and want a new pair!  Chaps help a lot.

Well then they wouldn’t have hay down them then, I suppose.

If you’re making them to be used, I would recommend a round wooden handle that’s tapered at the sides. My favorite hay hook has a shaft that’s about 18 inches that doesn’t curve back between the hook and the shaft and has a more closed hook. I prefer a round handle because I can let the handle rotate in my glove when I go to stick a bale. I’m glad you made this post though because now you’ve given me a useful project to try to forge.