Hay bar - how to mount and how high? (also in Feeding)

dibbin

dibbin

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Hi all, I recently bought a haybar for Jazz's stable and we are going to try and put it up this weekend. I'm just looking for some advice from those who have them!

Would it be better to mount it directly onto the wall, or attach it to some wooden battens then attach those to the wall?
How high off the floor (if at all) should I mount it? It's a full size one and Jazz is about 16.1hh.
How do you stop hay/haylage falling out the bottom? I've held it against the wall and there will be a gap at the bottom where stuff could fall through.

Any and all advice welcome, thanks in advance.
 
Gap at bottom is for seeds to fall through. I would leave enough room to get a brush under but no more as they are quite high (i have full size ones for my 2). Not sure about the attaching to wall. Love mine I just chuck ad lib haylage in for them, v quick.
 
I mounted mine directly to stable walls as they're wooden, but I don't see why wooden battens wouldn't work as well?
I also use a rubber feed bucket at the bottom as it fills the gap so nothing falls through, but is very easy to remove and clean. Like Meesha said, I also leave a gap between floor and haybar for sweeping - just under a foot, I think.
 
Mine are around 5ft up, though they are big so even little ponies can reach, there were put in for the old working farm horses many many yrs ago so guessing full height, though notice my greedy cob can just about reach inside from top & pulls hay out eating more then she should or wee's on it when she throws on floor. So make sure deff heigh enough.
You will get covered in hay throwing it in, beware hair & bra! Ppl worry about neck muscles using these also my lot have used them all through winter with no I'll affects/build up of I correct muscles.
 
I mounted mine directly to the wall by using heavy duty wall plugs (not sure of the proper name but they're metal things you push into a hole you've drilled in the wall and as you screw into them they spread to hold it all in place.) If you rest the bottom on a breeze block on its side while you fix it to the wall, it'll give you the right sort of height to get a brush underneath easily and will take the weight of it while you're fitting it so will make it easier to put up.
 
xTrooperx said:
Mine are around 5ft up, though they are big so even little ponies can reach, there were put in for the old working farm horses many many yrs ago so guessing full height, though notice my greedy cob can just about reach inside from top & pulls hay out eating more then she should or wee's on it when she throws on floor. So make sure deff heigh enough.
You will get covered in hay throwing it in, beware hair & bra! Ppl worry about neck muscles using these also my lot have used them all through winter with no I'll affects/build up of I correct muscles.
Click to expand...

I think you're referring to hay racks? Hay bars are designed to go at floor level and for the horse to eat out of the top of them.
 
Mine has been directly attached to brick wall in 2 stables, no need to use wooden batons. Agree with above leave enough of a gap that you can get a brush under it, i think mine is about 6 inches off the floor. Also make sure it not too high or when you have to get rid of the rubbish that collects at the bottom (on the lip bit) or you'll do what i do and have to lean over with my feet ending up off the floor, waving about so i don’t slide it. My oh thinks this is hilarious...
 
Annagain yes you are correct ��, god baby brain getting everything mixed up ^ if anyone using hay rack lol, my input above. Lol
 
They need a corner .
I mounted straight onto the wall I use quite small screws now with large washers I wanted them to come off easily if a horse gets into one .
I had my first one more robustly fixed it was torn from the wall by a horse having a colic attack .
Since them we have fixed them lightly so they come off easily if something untoward happens .
They are about six inches off the floor .
 
Thanks everyone - all really helpful. I did a big stable cleanout yesterday so OH is coming to the yard this afternoon to put the hay bar up :) no more picking haylage out of Jazz's bed for me!
 
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