If you keep your horse in a stall for any part of the day, you might toss him a few flakes of hay onto the stall floor. This mimics free-choice grazing, allowing your horse to eat forage continuously and maintain a healthy digestive system. In a stall setting, however, your horse could consume his hay ration within a matter of minutes, instead of throughout the day like you had intended.
So, how do you solve this conundrum? Try using hay nets!
Hay Nets in a Nutshell
Slow-feed hay nets are the most popular way for horse owners to help their horses maintain the consistent forage intake their digestive systems need. Hay nets also keep horses mentally stimulated throughout the day.
However, not every hay net is for slow feeding. Slow-feed hay nets have small holes that measure about 2 by 2 inches. Other hay nets have holes as large as 6 by 6 inches. The smaller the holes, the harder it is for the horse to pull out the hay, thus slowing his consumption. This slower intake increases the length of time it takes for the horse to eat the hay you’ve packed into the net, keeping him ruminating and entertained for extended periods.
Hay feeders are also great tools for helping a 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 prolonging the time it takes to eat, but it will also reduce the amount of hay your horse wastes.
Pro Tip: If your horse has never used a slow-feed hay net, he might initially become agitated because it’s more difficult to pull out large amounts of hay at once. Give your horse time to adjust!
Where to Hang Your Hay Net
Most hay nets and bags are designed to be hung aboveground, either on a fence board, in a stall, or in a trailer. However, opinions differ about the ideal height at which to hang the net.
A horse’s natural behavior is to graze on grass with his head down. The lowered head position allows the nasal passages to drain and the horse to easily cough out dust and irritants. However, most hay feeders are not safe when placed on the ground, especially unattended. A horse can get his leg tangled or horseshoe caught in the netting. On the other hand, a feeder hung too high can cause respiratory health issues. The elevated head position can trap irritants like dust in the horse’s airways.
The most effective hay feeder position is one that allows your horse to keep his head in a neutral position—neck level to sloping down slightly. A study by Kentucky Equine Research showed that the pull forces (the effort the horse uses to grab and pull hay out of a net) can potentially strain the horse’s head and neck. The researchers found that horses pulled harder when the hay net was hung at a lower position (about an inch above the withers) than a higher one (one foot above the withers).
A general rule of thumb is to hang your hay net about 4.5-5 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 his shoulder.
How to Hang Hay Nets
A hay net’s top string is typically very long to accommodate a variety of locations for hanging, from trailer hooks to fence posts to trees. Some horse owners like to use double-ended snaps to hang their hay nets. Here’s how:
- Cinch or tie up the top string.
- Clip one end of the snap to the top string.
- Clip the other end of the snap to a tie ring you’ve installed in a stall or fence post.
Take-Home Message
As with most things related to horse ownership, the decision to use a hay net or bag is a personal one. Talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for the health and happiness of your horse. And take the time to research which type of hay net or bag would work best for your horse and property design.
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Megan Arszman, a lifelong horsewoman, loves sharing her passion for horses with others, especially her daughter. Together, they enjoy riding their Quarter Horses around their Central Indiana farm and spend weekends showing Miniature Horses and dogs.
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