How to hang a haynet?

[spider]

Haynets on the yard used to be hung from bars at front of stable, about door/nose height. So long as the string was looped through the bottom of the net I thought this was reasonable and didn't hang down too far when empty. Now they have started hanging them from the beam at the top so my horse has to stretch and will be developing all the wrong muscles in no time. Any ideas for a way of hanging that will make the net lower but satisfy the safety concerns of the yard? Could I use a bungee or something? Putting the hay on the floor is not an option( not my decision)

 

[kerilli]

umm, a big double loop of baler twine round the beam to the correct height to hang the net from. i usually hang them at horse's chest height, more or less. you are right in worrying about the horse building up the wrong muscles etc. haylage nets with very small holes are the best for hanging a bit lower, really hardly any danger of a horse getting stuck in one, unlike the old fashioned nets with huge holes in.

 

[spider]

Oh that's so simple. why didn't I think of that. Thank you. I bought him some nice small holed haynets but they have disappeared of course.

 

[CrazyMare]

What about putting hay in a bucket on the floor if they don't want it straight on the floor/wasting.

Personally I never, ever use nets and have a collection of large bendy buckets either on the floor or attached to the wall at the right height.

 

[LCobby]

Not just the wrong mucles developing, any dust, seeds and spores would go in his eyes and nose, from hay too high.

 

[Racing_Gal]

Can't you fix a hoop to the wall at the hight you want it? Surely its your horse and he/ she should be able to eat hay the way you like? Seems a bit fussy of the YO if they won't ley you do that! And your right to worry about the mucles!

 

[Theresa_F]

I have a ring on the wall - Cairo does have a medium holed net that is level with his head, so he does not have to raise or lower it - with his eye sight not being so good he prefers it a bit higher now. Chancer has either a small holed net on occasion but he normally has his haybag which is safe for him and again is so he eats it with his head held low but able to see out whilst eating.

 

[Donkeymad]

Could you install some type of haybar?

 

[Eaglestone]

Bit like Kerilli suggested, but I plait the bailer twine using two width of bailer twine per length .... so 6 lengths divided into 3 and then you have a very strong 'lower beam' for your haynet loop

I have done this in my Field Shelter as the beam is too high

 

[spider]

The walls are only half height the top half is bars. It's a riding school so to be honest they aren't that bothered about liveries, just about making things quick and easy for the staff, and this involves treating all horses the same. I want to move before the winter anyway and then I shall probably have to be diy so shall hang things where I want!

 

[spider]

Do you have haybars DM? Are they good or do the horses just pull all the hay out onto the floor?

 

[AmynPeanut]

I want a haybar, but am skint so content myself with a dustbin!!!! Works fine for me, easier to fill and much quicker then nets... plus when empty provides a stable toy for my horse as he tosses it around (haha).

 

[Donkeymad]

Personally no, but I have several friends who made up their own. All the horses concerned are very good and don't pull it all over the floor, but I think, if the horse tends to do it, then they will probably continue.

 

[babymare]

I dont use haynets at all as its more natural feeding from the florr - ie simulates grazing in the field - and helps to destress my little mare. When my back lady came out to my big lad she said I was right to feed from the floor as the action of tugging the hay out oftens causes muscle problems. I shake the hay up out side the stable before I put it in so dust is lower and never really have problems with wastage