if you cant use haynets.....?

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noodle_

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as the horse is sensitive (had previous back issues however all solved but i dont want to use haynets)....


but a very greedy horse - bit of cob in her.....

What can i use for my hay to slow her down eeating it??

any suggestions except haynets/anything that makes her "pull" the hay violently lol???

thanks :)
 
Ours are determined self harmers (one also with back issues), but are also good doers so I feel your pain!

We feed from the floor, just don't want any extra strain on her back, so floor only. The hay is weighed so we know exactly what they are getting and so can accuratly increase or decrease the amount in line with their weights. It is soaked for around 1/2 hr. If you can't feed enough hay this way, then I would add some oat straw so there is something to munch on, but of a lower feed value.

We have to make sure that they get plenty of exercise, rain or shine. Having them in a much higher level of work this last year has helped alot as they have more muscle now and so have a higher energy need - much easier for us to feed more hay now that they aren't as prone to being chubby! We have also mineral balanced their feed based on analysis from Forage Plus. They are both less manically hungry (out on strip grazing they were worked alot, yet still put on weight and were grumpy). Now their mineral needs are being met, something in them seems to have clicked and they are no longer permanently ravenous, helps alot!
 
Thanks :)

i put her hay in last night and in less than 20 minutes it was gone. She gets more about 4 hours later but thats not the point - shes just greedy :o

i was thinking about ahay bar??

shes not too bad for self harming - just the odd few colics/fence jumping/ :D but am not sure.....or even a hay rack???
 
One of mine is like this: Very greedy, a good doer, but I want to feed him from the floor.

I give him his hay rations in stages. He comes in at 5pm, and has a third of his hay in his stable, and then I put the rest of it in at 9pm.
I have him in a lot of work at the moment, and he's currently in great shape.

I only hope we don't have another long frozen winter, because then they'll be stable bound, and I wont be able to get the exercise he needs done. In that situation I'd ideally want to feed hay that has been soaked for up to 12 hours, but in freezing temps it's often not practical to give the hay a long soak. (Not sure my OH will apreciate bins full of hay soaking in the kitchen!)
 
noodle_ said:
Thanks :)

i put her hay in last night and in less than 20 minutes it was gone. She gets more about 4 hours later but thats not the point - shes just greedy :o

i was thinking about ahay bar??

shes not too bad for self harming - just the odd few colics/fence jumping/ :D but am not sure.....or even a hay rack???
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I have a hay bar. They gobble it up just as fast as from off the floor. In fact often faster from a hay bar, because there's no need for them to have to hoover up any hay out of their bedding!

I'd suggest that you try to feed in the same way as a laminitic: Strip the hay of all the nutrients and calories by giving it a long soak (you can soak for up to 12 hours if you need to) . This means you will be able to feed more bulk without him gaining weight, and as already mentioned you can feed oat straw as well. You'll also need to feed him a vitamin and mineral suplement to replace what the water has stripped out.
 
another issue is the cost - if i feed her more - then it costs me more.

im not being mean - just practical :)


she is fine being fed at approx 5pm and 10pm but i just want her to slow down! :D

the hay nets on the other thread are a good idea but i honestly think he would hang herself :D !
 
There's another thread were people put their hay into a haynet but then tie it into the haybar to slow the eating down, not sure if this could be too much off a jerking movement though, but should slow her down. Mine eats out off a hay bar and it doesn't slow her down, but I hate feedingin haynets and like the hay, to at least start contained on the stable.
 
A hay bar won't make a jot of difference to the speed your horse eats at - there's nothing to stop them taking large mouthfuls, nor from picking up the forage and decanting it to wherever they want it in their stable!

The only thing I can think of is a metal corner feeding station, I've seen these in some stables, either half height below a feed manger or full height, Monarch do one I know; but I don't know whether you can buy them as separate accessories to fit to your own stable and I don't think they come cheap either.
 
Oat or barley straw is cheaper than hay so cheaper for you too. My highlands get straw to eat and it's much easier to control their weight without starving them this way ;)
 
what bedding is she on? you could shake up the hay and spread around the whole of the stable so she has to hunt for it. if she is on shavings if you mix shavings thrugh the hay she will pick the hay out in a far more ladylike fashion.
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
what bedding is she on? you could shake up the hay and spread around the whole of the stable so she has to hunt for it. if she is on shavings if you mix shavings thrugh the hay she will pick the hay out in a far more ladylike fashion.
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shavings! she loves her food - theres never a scrap left in the morning except the bits of crap shes dunked in her water lol :D

trendybraincell said:
I built a slow hay feeder :) works a treat
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oh how!?

im not very creative so tips welcome! :D
 
What about getting a large trug and putting a filled hay net in the trug?
You could always drill a hole in the bottom of the trug too, so that you can tie the hay net into the bucket to avoid it getting loose on the floor and potential leg tangles.
 
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