Horses are grazing animals, so their digestive system is designed to be consistently eating forage.
If a horse is kept in his stall all day, you might consider tossing some hay onto the stall floor to mimic free-choice grazing for the benefits of having a healthy digestive system. Free-choice grazing allows the horse to eat as much hay as he wants without any restrictions. Typically, this means that your horse could eat his hay within a matter of minutes, versus throughout the whole day, like you had hoped.
So, how do you extend grazing time without costing an arm and a leg?
Slow feed hay nets are the most popular way for horse owners to help their horses maintain the consistent grazing that their digestive system needs, as well as keep the horse mentally stimulated throughout the day.
However, not every hay net is used for slow feeding. Slow feed hay nets have smaller holes that typically measure two inches by two inches (or smaller), while some hay nets can have holes that can measure as much as six inches by six inches. The larger holes make it easier for a horse to pull the hay out, getting as much on the floor as he might get in his mouth. As the hole size gets smaller, it becomes more difficult for the horse to pull out the hay, thus slowing his consumption.
Tip: To help encourage your horse to eat out of the smaller holes, pull out some hay so it's easier for the horse to grab onto and pull out.
Hay feeders with smaller holes will limit the amount of hay that comes out when the horse is eating, slowing down the horse’s hay intake. This slower intake increases the length of time it takes for the horse to eat the hay that is packed into the net, thus keeping the horse entertained for extended periods.
This is a great way to help your horse lose weight, without feeling like he's on a diet. Kristen Janicki, MS, PAS, is an equine nutritionist who recommends slow feeders to clients. "Consider this example," she says. "You own an overweight horse and realize that you are overfeeding hay and need to cut back the amount per feeding. What’s the best way to stretch your horse's hay while cutting back the amount? A slow feed hay net!"
Not only will using a slow feed hay net allow you to extend your horse's hay supply by extending the time it takes to eat, but it also reduces wasted hay by keeping it off the ground.
How to Hang
Most hay nets and bags are designed to be hung up, either on a fence board, in a stall or in a trailer. However, there is a lot of discussion about how high is too high and how low is too low for the nets.
A horse's natural habit is to graze on grass with his head down. Head-down grazing allows dust and irritants to be coughed out easily and the nasal passages to be drained. However, most hay feeders are not safe to be placed on the ground unattended if the horse is not barefoot—horseshoes can get caught on the net. Despite that, if you hang a feeder too high, this can cause issues with respiratory health issues because having the head up high can trap irritants like dust.
The most effective location to hang the hay feeder for your horse is to keep his head in a neutral position—neck level to slightly sloping down. A study by Kentucky Equine Research showed that the pull forces, the effort that the horse uses to grab and pull out hay from a net, can lead to some strain to the horse’s head and neck. The study found that if a hay net was hung at a lower position (about an inch above the withers), the horse pulled harder than if the hay net was hung in a higher position (one foot above the withers).
Tip: If your horse has never used a slow-feed hay net before, he may become easily agitated at first because it's more difficult to pull out large amounts of hay all at once. Using a slow feeder takes time for the horse to adjust, so don't give up on him!
A general rule of thumb is to hang your hay net about 4 1/2 feet to 5 feet off the ground for an average horse. In other words, you want to hang the bag so the bottom is about level with where the horse's neck ties into the shoulder.
If you're using a typical hay net, the top string is typically very long to accommodate a variety of locations for hanging, from trailer hooks to fence posts to even trees. Some horse owners like to use double-ended snaps to hang their hay nets. You will tie up the top string, then snap the top string to one end and then the other end to a tie ring that has been installed into fence posts or posts in the barn.
It is recommended to monitor your horse's interaction with the hay bag when you begin using one. Is it so low that the horse/pony is pawing at the hay bag, thus posing a concern for getting the hoof stuck? Or, is he sneaking bites out of the top, thus negating the point of the smaller slow-feeding openings? Or, maybe he plays with the hay bag, so you'll need one that either has a strap at the bottom to keep the bag in place or does the bag need to be secured with a breakaway solution (i.e., attached to a piece of baling twine, etc.).
Take-Home Message
As with most things related to horse ownership, using a hay net or hay bag should be based on your personal preference and what you and your veterinarian discuss and decide is best for the health and happiness of your horse. Take the time to research the type of hay net or bag that would work best for your horse and watch your hay budget grow.
