Hay Soakers

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Cassy

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Its that time of year again and time the horses were coming in at night. My thoughts are turning to how I will cope with soaking 2 big nets every day. For the last few years I have used a very large plastic barrow with a hole cut out of the bottom and a bath plug on a long piece of string inserted in the hole. Over time the barrow has developed some cracks and last winter the plug kept coming out even before I had lowered the nets into the water. So any suggestions please. I also struggled last year with lifting the nets even after they had been drained for a while.
 
Expensive but if I need to soak hay again I would opt for a Haycube. On wheels and easy to drain. Unless you need it in a net.

Alternatively I used to be at a yard which had a metal soaking tank with a rail above so you could pull the haynets out by running the string over the rail and levering it out. They had drilled and put some hooks in the rail so you could hang the net above the tank to drain. Very good system.
 
I've bought a large water butt on a stand and attached a hose to the tap to drain the water. I put an old supplement tub, filled with water and the lid on, in the bottom and the haynet stands on that. Fill up with a hose and weigh the net down with another supplement tub and lid, filled with stones. In the morning my friend puts the hose in the drain and the tap is turned on and left. It drains itself and because the haynet is sitting on the tub in the bottom it isn't sitting in water. By the time I go up in the evening the hay has drained and the net is easy to remove because it's not too heavy. I tip out the last of the water and start again for the next day. It's not perfect, it does take a lot of water so I reuse the water from her stable so I'm not using as much from the tap.
 
Cassy, are you soaking to reduce sugars or to reduce dust etc? If its dust reduction for a COPD horse then why don't you try a steamer? Search on here for homemade ones which, if you use a wheelie bin will take 2 nest and not be heavy! Mine cost me less than £50.
 
I use an old feed bin, bit of a squeeze mind, but all you do is put hay in, fill it up then when you empty it just tip it over gently.
 
Thanks for your suggestions. I do soak 2 big nets each day so need a sizeable container. I soak to remove dust and feed value as I have 2 good doers. Fjord, I like your water but idea but I usually only get to the stables when it is time to bring them in for the night and don't have anyone to ask to drain the hay but food for thought. Thanks
 
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