Stablegraze.

[PapaverFollis]

Has anyone got one? How is it? Has it stood the test of time?

It looks a really good solution to The Greedy Horse Problem. But it's not something I've seen before or even heard of.

And it's pricey, as you would expect! But I'm wondering if it might be worth the investment given how The Beast conducts herself when offered ad-lib hay in winter...

https://stablegraze.com/

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Not got one but my immediate thoughts having seen the video is a) I doubt it was that easy to install! Looks like she had to remove a chunk of wall! And b) how will it stand up to someone using it to scratch on? I'd want to see one IRL and see if I could break one of those clear flappy things. And c) the price ?.

Useless input, you're welcome ?

 

[PapaverFollis]

The video I saw is on the "about" page... it looks like the design has been updated slightly between the two videos.

MrPF says "erm no way, not at that price" and "can we get a weathertight barn roof before you start on with the insane, high-tech rubbish?" anyway. ?

I'm still putting it on my wish list.

 

[rabatsa]

Find a way to make your own. Next door has one for the cats.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think one on the outside of the stables with shoots feeding into a Haybar would be awesome. And wouldn't need to be engineered to stand up to fat horse arse damage.

 

[cauda equina]

The capacity looked miniscule in that video

How about one of these? They take a whole small bale of haylage but the grille slows eating down
https://www.horsefeeders.co.uk/shop/horse-feeders/hay-saver/

 

[PapaverFollis]

? Nothing slows The Beast down.

Capacity of the stablegrazer is 15kg of haylage. So probably a bit less of hay... it would be enough.

But so expensive. I could just set alarms and do a middle of the night hay visit. ?? Cheaper!!

 

[Red-1]

There was a yard near Dronfield with a similar contraption installed in each livery stable, back in the 80s! Just one compartment.

I don't think either device people have linked to would stand up to Rigsby. He would demolish it, IMO.

Maybe if it were fitted in the eaves, but then it would be hard to fill...

I use Martsnets, and have to be at home after 5 hours to top him up!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I know someone made something similar. I think it dispensed hay from above on a timer. Probably easier when you have a loft above your stable.

 

[AFB]

The capacity on that looks to render in useless in my eyes - she didn't even empty that trug of very fluffed up hay into it...

 

[DirectorFury]

You could make something like this yourself -- wheely bin (sans wheels), turn on side, add partitions, cut windows etc. Then a simple Arduino board with timers that control the hinges for the flaps. I've not seen the prices of that thing but I'm pretty confident you could do it for under £100!

You could even make an app to control it ?.

 

[ester]

I'm thinking something rigged up with an automatic chicken door might work lol

 

[PapaverFollis]

I don't think capacity is an issue. After all you can give them a night net too. Then just have some smaller amounts released until morning. 15kg of haylage or equivalent volume of hay on top of an evening net is going to see them through the night!

I'm going to investigate DIY options! ?

 

[Cowpony]

I know someone made something similar. I think it dispensed hay from above on a timer. Probably easier when you have a loft above your stable.

I now have visions of my spooky mare jumping out of her skin every time a slice of hay falls on her head

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I now have visions of my spooky mare jumping out of her skin every time a slice of hay falls on her head

I thought of this too, but apparently the horse expected it. I cannot recall if it dropped directly to the floor or into something.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The Beast would be waiting underneath with her mouth open.

 

[SEL]

ouch to the price. My cat has a timer feeder if we out during the day and its quite a simple dial powered by batteries. I'm sure you could adapt that technology for a fraction of the price.

I do like the idea though. The Appy does not rest if she can see food and will literally eat everything in sight as quickly as she can when she is stabled in winter. She then has a snooze and wakes up wondering why she hasn't got any food and all the other horses have.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have one it’s does exactly what it says it does .
Easy to use , you have to tuck the forage in well as Fatty learnt to use any bits poking out to drag it out the top .
Best solution I have found for trickle feeding .
Ideal for Fatties in during the day while you are at work .

 

[I'm Dun]

I'm thinking something rigged up with an automatic chicken door might work lol

You can buy the timers to open and close the coop door for a tenner off ebay. You can run them off mains or 12v battery. you would then want a box with doors and a linear actuator for each door. I'd have it on the outside of the stable with a hole to drop the hay into the hay bar/feeder below. Would cost £30 for sensors, £50 for actuators, although someone more technical than me could probably run it off one sensor. And materials for the box. A big plastic storage box could be adapted really easily with a bit of thought, so £20 for the box.A tipped up wheelie bin would probably be better, cost £35.

About 2 hours of work, most of which would be knocking out the hole in the wall and tidying the edges and less than £150

 

[PapaverFollis]

I have one it’s does exactly what it says it does .
Easy to use , you have to tuck the forage in well as Fatty learnt to use any bits poking out to drag it out the top .
Best solution I have found for trickle feeding .
Ideal for Fatties in during the day while you are at work .

Does it stand up to being itched on by a fat bottom? Or is fatty more civilised than that? ?

 

[Goldenstar]

He’s never got it off the wall , they not something I could have fixed up myself it needs a proper diy person with a bit of skill .

 

[PapaverFollis]

Thanks GS. Fatty is a very lucky boy. ❤

 

[Goldenstar]

Fatty is a very naughty old horse .

 

[DirectorFury]

Thinking about the arse itching problem, if you got the angle right and maybe added an arm to sweep items out of the door you could actually have the whole thing mounted externally with just a flush panel in the wall for the feed to come out of.
I‘m ideologically opposed to paying ridiculous money for things I can make myself (I made a QuitKick copy for £50 using a car windscreen wiper system!) but in this case you could probably engineer it to be better than the commercial version.

 

[asmp]

The Beast would be waiting underneath with her mouth open.

We used to have automatic feeders in our stables in Germany - they were filled with oats! Needless to say the horses loved them.

 

[spotty_pony]

Interesting, but I fail to see how those small compartments can hold 5kg of hay in each!