{"id":3768,"date":"2014-02-06T23:53:25","date_gmt":"2014-02-06T12:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=3768"},"modified":"2025-11-03T20:21:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T09:21:18","slug":"slow-feeding-horses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/naturalhorseworld.com\/stage\/slow-feeding-horses\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Feeding Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\"Slowfeed
Slow feed hay nets are best hung at ground level.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Put simply, slow feeding horses is giving them access to forage 24 hours a day. Grazing horses on pasture is the ultimate slow feeding system, however, not all horses can cope with constant access to\u00a0pasture, and not all properties have healthy pasture to offer them.<\/span><\/p>

So, developing a system of making hay available 24\/7 for horses that don\u2019t or can\u2019t have access to grass is the ideal solution to giving them a closer to natural way of eating.<\/span><\/p>

The horse\u2019s system is designed to have food move through it continuously, and without that they are subject to burning gastric acid and insulin spikes if \u2018meal\u2019 fed deprived of food for any longer than a couple of hours.<\/span><\/p>

What does a horse eat after it finishes the bucket feed or loose hay within an hour or so? It’s not a healthy way for a horse to live and can result in gut ulcers, eating dung or bedding if stabled, chewing wood\/trees or eating poisonous plants they would normally avoid.<\/span><\/p>

The ideal solution for healthy movement and feeding is to combine a \u2018<\/span>Paddock Paradise\u2019 track system<\/a>\u00a0with slow feeder hay nets placed around the track or away from the water to increase the movement that is sacrificed by standing in front of a single hayfeeder.<\/span><\/p>

Slow Feeder Hay nets<\/span><\/h3>

Is there a better way to offer hay to horses? There are dozens, as it turns out, each with its own advantages. In most parts of the world, pasture is, at best, a seasonal thing. For a good chunk of the year, most of us who are feeding horses have to replace green grass with the dried variety.<\/span><\/p>

Slow feeder hay nets<\/a> are an ideal way to provide hay in an economical way.<\/span><\/p>

Top 5 Reasons to Use a Slowfeeder haynet<\/span><\/h4>
  1. Stops hay wastage from trampling, manure etc.<\/span><\/li>
  2. Slows down consumption so the hay last 2-3 times longer and replicates grazing.<\/span><\/li>
  3. Small net holes mean you can fasten the net low (provided your horse is barefoot or the net is inside a container) for a natural grazing position.<\/span><\/li>
  4. A full bale net gives your horse hay 24\/7, saving you time on feeding.<\/span><\/li>
  5. Hay in the gut 24\/7 avoids gut ulcers and colic incidents.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    Here are my ten tips to using Slow Feeder Hay nets:<\/span><\/h4>
    1. \"Tyre-on-rubber-mat\"Help your horses get used to them by putting half their ration in the net to start with and give the rest loose so they are not super hungry while they\u2019re working it out (which doesn\u2019t take long!).<\/span><\/li>
    2. Keep it filled 24\/7 \u2013 It will only take a few days for them to get used to \u2018grazing\u2019 their hay instead of gorging.<\/span><\/li>
    3. Fill the net by standing the bale up and pulling the net down over it while the strings are still attached \u2013 with a small net, you can put one on each end of the bale then cut the strings in the middle. It’s easy then to wheel it out on a trolley.<\/span><\/li>
    4. Tie the draw string several times so there\u2019s no room to fit a hoof through the loop.<\/span><\/li>
    5. By securing the net inside a box or a large truck tyre, you eliminate the pawing that can possibly wreck the net and it stops mud and manure ruining the hay.<\/span><\/li>
    6. Keep the net low to the ground so the feeding position is natural, and the horse\u2019s teeth are not worn abnormally (as when fed up high).<\/span><\/li>
    7. Use a clip to fasten the net in place \u2013 much faster than tying and un-tying it.<\/span><\/li>
    8. Spread the horse\u2019s ration (approx. 1.5-2% of their bodyweight) between several nets that are placed in various parts of the paddock or on the track to encourage movement otherwise they stand around all day eating!<\/span><\/li>
    9. Have the water as far from the hay as possible (unless they are ill) to encourage movement.<\/span><\/li>
    10. Use your net to soak hay in \u2013 it keeps it together nicely and if you have a pulley above (wet hay is quite heavy), you can hang it up to drain. More slow feeding news and tips below:<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

      \u201cThe hay nets are already in use, and I\u2019m really pleased with them. Lady has easily adapted, and actually seems to be enjoying them. (and I\u2019m loving the fact she can no longer gobble her hay up in minutes!)\u201d Sarah B. NZ<\/em><\/span><\/p>

      \"Haynetintyre\"<\/p>

      \u201cI LOVE the slow feeder hay nets. My horse suffers from choke, we don\u2019t know what causes it as we\u2019ve tried every trick in the book to prevent it. The vet said he could simply have a small esophagus and the food balls up and causes the choke. Anyhow the slow feeder hay net IS PERFECT for him\u2026.plus it keeps both of them busy for ages.\u201d Brenda D.<\/span><\/p>

      Cara-Lynne from WA shares her hay feeding solution which is working well with the addition of the SlowFeeder haynets.<\/span><\/p>

      \"Tyre-on-rubber-mat\"
      This large truck tyre is placed on a rubber mat to stop the horses ingesting sand with their hay.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

      For safety you need to buy rag wall tyres. Cut, or ask the supplier to cut the top rim out so that the lip is only a few inches wide (hence why you want rag wall tyres and not steel belted). This helps keep hay in when not using the nets but the lip isn\u2019t big enough for equines to get their head stuck.<\/span><\/p>

      \"Net-tied-into-tyre\"<\/p>

      We have screwed a short bolt into the thick wall of the tyre to tie the net in. We also have the tyres on rubber sheeting to reduce them picking up sand or gravel when eating the \u201cspills\u201d. Our property is all pea gravel. We have found these tyres successful in feeding our small donkeys, Clydesdale and quarter horse all together without an issue. We got the tyres free of charge from a secondhand tyre dealer and paid him $20 to cut the rims out. A bargain price as the cutting would be a difficult job.<\/span><\/p>

      Slow Feeding gives a comprehensive overview of what works and what doesn\u2019t with slow feeding systems. Good Lind (site owner) says:<\/span><\/p>

      \"Slowfeedernets\"<\/a>
      Slowfeed Haysaver nets come in several sizes to suit all situations.<\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>

      \u201cI have been experimenting with Slow Feeders for some 13 years but the first 9 or so nothing really worked. Today, however, I believe we have come quite far and discovered miracles I absolutely did not expect when I started out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

      Learn more about slow feeding and hay nets from the post below.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      How to use slow feed hay nets for horses<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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        Have you ever wondered if there’s a better\u00a0way to use slow-feed hay nets? There are so many options, choices,...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      New Super Tough Round Bale Hay Nets<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      Do you have destructive horses?\u00a0\u00a0We have a solution – the new Super Tough 6cm Round Bale Hay Net – the...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      Round Bale HaySaver Q&A<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      Some common questions answered about round bale hay nets. 1. How do you stop horses from tearing the net?\u00a0 The...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      Round Bale Net use and cover to make<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      I can see why some people prefer to use round bales as they are cheaper than the equivalent in small...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      Hay Feeders = less gorging and waste<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      While doing a spot of web surfing, I found the site of Swedish hoof trimmer, Ove Lind who has put...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      Bring Back the Horse’s Instincts<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      By Juliet M Getty Ph.D. The issue is free choice forage feeding. I respect and honor the way horses are...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>

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      My Natural Horses Book<\/a><\/h2><\/header>
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      When I discovered this book I had to order it right away – and when it arrived I was thrilled...<\/p>Read More<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article><\/div>\n

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      Shop Slow Feed Hay Nets<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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