hay bars, flexi racks etc

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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I am trying to get away from hay nets -at least for my horse, not convinced about the ponies though! Have been using big rectangular nets with small holes for all of them but one has given up ghost so considering options. Slowing down the horse isn't a consideration but mess and wastage is.


A friend had hay bars and I wasn't that convinced by them-never used them long term though. Quite like the look of the flexi racks-anyone used those or have a good argument for the hay bars? The ponies could have slow feeder nets over the hay bar-anyone done this? Any other makes I've not considered?
 
I use large blue barrels with the top cut off and little slots cut out for handles :)

I have used them for years, brilliant, cheap and you can make them any height you want.
 
good idea :) where do you get the barrels? do you fix them to the wall at all? I tried large trigs and he just dragged all the hay out-I was hoping something taller would put him off that!
 
Flexi rack every time! Search on here as there was a thread on them not so long ago - quite a few people said they were happy with them.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
good idea :) where do you get the barrels? do you fix them to the wall at all? I tried large trigs and he just dragged all the hay out-I was hoping something taller would put him off that!
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Go to your local large Dairy factory or the like - though I am sure you can buy them somewhere!

I bungee one of them to the wall, for a serial pain in the bum - but unusual to find them tipped over - I also use one free standing in the field.

They happily put their heads all the way in, we literally just take the very top off, so they are chest height on my horses (all about 16hh) :)
 
I have a flexi stack! There was an old haybar in my stable but when they crack they become sharp! I also have a 14.1hh who needs ablib and with a horse hay bar she could only reach half way down,the pony one didn't hold enough. Wet hay also heated and went off very quickly in the summer in the hay bar. For these reasons I sought a flexi wrack and love it! Easy to put up, holds enough but she can bend it to reach the bottom and most important it's breathable and washable. My wet hay lasted a lot longer this summer without going off.
 
I used a haybar with my horse and loved it. I lent it to a friend (my horse retired to the field) and within two weeks her horse had put front feet in (idiot horse on box rest) and pulled both shoes off :eek3:
If I had a stabled horse id still use it.
 
julie111 said:
I use a hay bar, I think they are great! No waste, very sturdy and easy to fill.
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To be fair, there's only no waste if your horse isn't in the habit of dragging pieces out to eat elsewhere (or just to fill his bed, as is sometimes the case!). If I was really bothered about the occasional waste I wouldn't use mine, it's definitely not a no-waste solution!
 
Love the flexi racs - they're breathable, flexible, you can take them down and give them a good clean and there are no sharp edges. They can also be bent back against the wall so you can give the floor a good sweep underneath.
 
I feed hay in two haybars. Both both second hand. Work well for dry hay fed adlib for two horses. Little mess and little wastage and v quick. Dust / small bits fall to bottom and I clear out about every ten days. Other than that I keep topping up.
 
I have a haybar that I made. Its a piece of wood with a handle hole cut out, which slides into slots in the corner of my stable. This means I can take it out to empty it, which I found a massive pain with the original haybar. Works brilliantly!
 
I have got a very cool homemade hay bar - OH got an old cow comfort mat (very similar to horse mats but lighter), we made a cone shape in the corner of the stable and he attached it to the wall, cut off a bit on top and the bottom and there you go. Perfect haybar!!!!
 
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