Haynets are one of the most widely used products to help slow horses down and reduce wastage. And whilst they do serve a purpose, feeding the horse from the ground is a much more natural way for them to eat. It helps to keep the back and neck relaxed rather than creating that hollowing effect that haynets do. I would also avoid any feeder with metal bars as these can do serious damage to your horses teeth. So what’s the best way to feed on the ground and to avoid wastage?
Here are my top 5 slow feeders for horses:
- The Hay Cube – this product is so easy to use! Just fill it up and wheel it into the stable! I love the fact it has a plug hole too which is great for soaking hay and not having to lift heavy haynets out the water. Their newest additions have been designed with the slow feeder grill to help slow your horse down. You can also purchase wall brackets to secure it in the stable if you have a bit of a houdini horse! Dimensions: 60cmm (w) x 65cm (d) x 65cm (h). Capacity: up to approx 20kg of hay.
- Eazigrazer – Very similar product to the hay cube above but just a slightly different design and a bit smaller. I love the fact you can purchase different sized hay regulator holes to suit your horses needs. It also has a plug at the bottom but isn’t quite as portable as the hay cube as it doesn’t have wheels. Not suitable for feeding haylage due to the size of the holes. Dimensions: 62cm diamter x 65cm (h). Capacity: approx 6kg of dry hay.
- The Hay Saver (Parallax) – I would say this product is more designed for use out in the field as it is fairly large. It’s big enough for 2 horses. It doesn’t come with a plug hole for soaking but you can get one added at an extra cost (or DIY it). They don’t have different sized holes like other feeders but you can purchase a haynet to fit inside instead of the grill. Dimensions: 80cm (d) x 110cm (w) x 55cm (h). Capacity: approx 20kg of dry hay.
- Stubbs Slo-Grazer – This would be suited to either the stable or the field. It’s not suitable for soaking hay like the others but you can get two different sized grids to suit your horse’s needs. It would probably be a little tricky to secure in the stable but I do like the shape of this one, I think it would be slightly harder for horses to tip over. Dimensions: upper diameter 60cm, lower diameter 71cm, height 42cm. Capacity: approx 7kg of hay.
- Hay Down – Now these are a little different, they are made from UK Recycled LDPE Bale Wrap! And they come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and heights to suit every horse in the field or stable. I like their “flat pack” style and that you are able to get replacement parts. They wouldn’t be suitable for soaking due to the drainage holes at the bottom but they are a simple but very effective way to feed hay. Dimensions vary. Capacity: from 131ltr to 702ltr.
