Some horses live primarily in stalls with limited (or no) access to a pasture where they can graze. They're fed 2 or 3 times a day, and - especially with horses in heavy training or competition - their diet is often high in concentrates. Other horses, due to obesity or a metabolic issue, have to be kept on dry lots and their food intake restricted. But in both cases, the food is usually consumed quickly, and then the horse has to wait until the next feeding, which is often hours away.
Slow hay feeders can be a big help for horses who don't (or can't) have access to unlimited grazing. They're marketed under many different names (NibbleNet, Hay Pillow, Cinch Net and Greedy Feeder are just a few), but their basic design and effect are the same: they have smaller holes than traditional hay nets, so horses have to nibble the hay out a little at a time. This slows down consumption so it's more like grazing - "little and often".
There are several benefits to using slow hay feeders:
- Constant access to high-fiber forage (hay) will make sure there's always food and saliva in the stomach, which buffers stomach acid and helps maintain a normal pH. This may be a help in preventing the development of gastric ulcers.
- It will take longer for your horse to consume his hay, and that will keep him occupied. Boredom is a real issue in stalled / confined horses, so keeping them entertained by making their feed last longer can help stave off vices like stall walking, cribbing and weaving.
- Studies in the UK have shown a correlation between boredom-related vices and an increased risk of recurrent colic, so keeping your horse occupied with a slow feeder may help reduce the risk of colic as well.
- There's a lot less waste. If you horse is the type who likes to nose through the hay to get to the choice bits first, you know that they often scatter, trample and ultimately waste a good deal of it in the process. They can't indulge in that behavior when you use a slow feeder, so there's less waste of hay - and money!
A COUPLE HELPFUL HINTS
Head-Down Feeding
"I'd love to use a slow-feed hay net, but I want my horse to eat with her head down. If I put the net on the ground, she could get it snagged in her shoe, or catch her leg in it." That's a valid safety concern, and there are solutions. One is to buy a "box" slow feeder (www.grazingbox.com is one example) but the durable, well-made ones are often quite expensive, and shipping costs often rival the purchase price. Here's a more budget-friendly, DIY solution: get a tub or small stock tank, or build a wooden box manger that's large enough to hold your hay net and tall enough so your horse can't step into it. Install 4 sturdy eye screws in the bottom (with a washer and nut on the outside if you're using a tub or tank) and get 4 equally sturdy double-ended snaps that are large enough to clip to the eye screw. Clip one end of the snap to the eye screw, put your full hay net in and clip the free end to it. Presto - a safe ground-level slow feeder! Just be sure that your box/tub/tank is either secured to an immovable object, or heavy enough to stay put while your horse pulls hay from the net.
Save Stuffing for the Turkey
Don't overfill your nets or bags. If you want to make sure your horse has constant access to hay, it's better to use a couple large-capacity feeders. Jamming the net mega-full can make it hard for your horse to pull the hay out, and that may frustrate her. Some horses will simply give up and go without eating, while others will yank so hard they may pull the feeder down. This can be a real safety hazard, as we discussed above, and it's a pain to have to keep replacing your hay net!
Stop by the tack shop's page and see what we have for slow-feed hay nets!
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