Hay pillow?

Season’s Bleatings

Season’s Bleatings

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I've heard mentions of this lately and thought it warranted further investigation. I'd like to feed from floor but my boy is a messy pig and we are meant to use nets. Can it be as simple as leaving the net (with open end well tied up) loose on the floor in the stable?! Horse in question is unshod and generally sensible... or am I missing something? :)
 
Mine are barefoot and I always tie nets as low as possible. I buy enormous haylage nets, and put a full smaller net inside with its end tied up. They hang almost to the floor. I found that a loose net in a stable gets kicked around and trodden in poo in no time.
 
Funnily enough I was thinking about one of these for my box walking, haylage dragging (and pooing, weeing on) pony. I'm trying to find a UK supplier, or maybe just use a normal haynet with the ends tucked in. I think in his case I will pop a clip low down on the wall and attach it there as he will no doubt drag the whole thing into the middle of his bed and wee/poo on it. Rollseyes. ;) x
 
Sheep said:
Can it be as simple as leaving the net (with open end well tied up) loose on the floor in the stable?! Horse in question is unshod and generally sensible... or am I missing something? :)
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Yes, its that simple. Just make sure its a small-holed net, the holes must be too small for them to get a foot stuck in it. You need to do something with the long string at the tie end so there isn't anything to get tangled in, I just "weave" it into the net.

When I used them at a livery yard I had a tie ring added at floor level to tie it to (tied directly so there is no loop to get caught in) as YO preferred that, at home now I just use them loose.
 
laura_nash said:
When I used them at a livery yard I had a tie ring added at floor level to tie it to (tied directly so there is no loop to get caught in) as YO preferred that, at home now I just use them loose.
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That is what I was thinking of. Pony is unshod, so should be pretty safe with small holed net. Also thought I would put it in the corner which means he is less likely to get tangled up in it.
 
They didnt work for me. They just ended up filthy and soggy with the bed trashed from flinging them. I've got one of these which is my most prized horsey possession!

Hay-Play-collage-medium.jpg
 
I use nibbleze nets on the floor, - they have a particular way you tie them, after 12 months Mum might have it but every time I go home we seem to go through it again.
Other than the occasional water dunking they don't make a mess, and I just use the normal hole ones (40mm)
I did try and make a couple of my own, one with a net with rings and one without rings but having bought a trial one decided I liked the nibbleze one enough/was happier with it being safer.
 
A friend uses a small holed Haynet tied inside a hay bar. Means It can be tied quite low with no danger of horse getting tangled/pooing on it!

She then puts a bit of loose hqy on top of the net so her mare can eat easily when she first comes in hungry.
 
I use hay pillows (or hay balls) in the field but they do get rolled around. In the stable mine still have the same type of nets, tied the same but restricted behind a board across a corner. You could come up with other ways to restrict them being moved otherwise they will get rolled in the muck and dirty bedding
 
FWIW Frank has never rolled his in muck or dirty bedding, it always stays at the front of his stable, he poos at the back. It is quite heavy for the first half so doesn't move about until more empty.
I could have clipped it to the wall but that defeats the object of getting away from him pulling at a net.
 
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