Feeding hay solution for old pony

[Vermeer]

Hi all.
Any suggestions on how to feed hay to an old arthritic pony - she finds eating at haynet height uncomfortable, but if I feed it loose on the ground she hoovers it up at lightning speed then stands around for hours doing nothing. I can't tie a haynet at ground level because the holes are big enough for her hooves to get trapped, and I can't give her a haynet with smaller holes because then she can't get at the hay at all....! Does anyone have a solution for this please?

 

[KittenInTheTree]

One of those big blue plastic barrels cut down to a comfortable height and then crammed snugly with hay so that she has to pick it out a bit at a time. If stabled, then a hayrack fitted to the inside of her stable door.

 

[marmalade76]

I have a board across the corner of my stable to create a manger/hay bar. Personally, I would just give her more hay than have her struggling to eat it or left for hours with nothing.

 

[Widgeon]

Is she shod? If not, could you try one of those hay pillows? I think they're more or less just haynets with very tiny holes. I've never tried them (mine is shod in front so no good) but some people seem to really rate them. Maybe worth a quick search of the forum for opinions.

 

[meleeka]

I have a board across the corner of my stable to create a manger/hay bar. Personally, I would just give her more hay than have her struggling to eat it or left for hours with nothing.

I did the same for my old girl. She could eat out of a net if the holes were big enough (over 30mm) but it was just as easy to make a corner type manger for her hay.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Hay on floor, balancer in feed ball, chaff in a slow feeder. Did the job for an EMS pony on box rest who isn’t allowed haynets!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Just a thought, but is she getting enough? One solution might be to drill a hole in the bottom of a large enough bucket or half dustbin and secure a tie ring in the bucket to the floor. Cram net and tie into the bucket.

 

[ester]

Is there a reason she can't just have more?

I uesd to use 40mm nibbleze nets on the ground but once mine was struggling he just had it on the floor and as much as wanted.