Make a haynet holder

With hay getting scarcer and more expensive, everyone is looking for ways to reduce waste. A Haysaver net is a great start, but if you contain it in something, it won’t get waterlogged or dragged through mud and manure. It’s also safer for shod horses or those that like to paw at their net a lot. Of course the drums do need plenty of drain holes drilled in the bottom, but they are easily made by someone handy with a drill and saw or grinder.

Here’s a nice example of an easily made container for a full bale Slowfeed Haysaver net to keep it away from hooves (unless you have a horse that likes to paw/stand in things).  Thanks for the photo Georgie.

And here’s another version made by Bev and Peter.

These examples are perfect for a more natural grazing position which is better for the horse’s health if using haynets for long periods. Horses graze much more than they browse so hanging haynets should only be used for short periods. It is well know than horses that constantly eat from a high position, suffer from abnormal tooth wear and also stress the TMJ joint, causing pain and stiffness in the jaw and neck. So keep your haynets low!

These Haysaver haynets are available from www.naturalhorseworldstore.com/products/Slow-Feeder-Haynet.html

Here’s another idea using a truck tyre with a rubber mat under it to stop the seeds mixing with the sandy soil.

We’d love to hear of your hay feeding inventions too!