The best way to feed hay

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poiuytrewq

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Never sure how too feed hay to my one of my horses.
If I use a small hole net it slows him right down so keeping him busier for longer and prevents weaving and stressing Big plus!
On the down side I prefer him to eat off the floor so he's not breathing in dust and it drains and gunk as nature intended for horses so eat off the floor. So it means healthy lung conditions in more ways that one!
Big horse gets a bit of a cough and isn't greedy so floor it is but little hoss is an absolute PIG and is currently eating his own body weight (X2!) per night in hay and straw!
 
You could consider one of these, or make something similar, based on the old fashioned hay racks.

K193P1_1.jpg



Munch station : http://www.saddlery.biz/munch-station.html
 
Oh, Loving this!
I had considered a hay bar but don't think this would slow him and would concentrate the dust even more?
Cant afford £128 but Im going to mix up your replies and to show my O/H and see what he can come up with!
:-)
 
I don't know how to show you a link, but if you go to YouTube and type in the search bar Slow Hay Feeders, there are numerous, and ingenious, methods of feeding hay to prevent horses wolfing down their forage. The one I particularly admire is Slow Grazer Feeding.mpg, by steksinoly. It's got to be the easiest to fill, the most straightforward to build, and probably the most attractive. The gridwall, which is placed on top of the hay, is readily available everywhere, relatively inexpensive, and works a treat. Best of all, the horses' heads are down, but their hay is untrampled and clean. We're going to have a go at the aforementioned feeder.
 
Haybars are fantastic, you can even net it in the haybar so he wont eat it so fast.
It should be fitted slightly raised from the ground, that way the dust falls out so you can clean it.

That bar contraption scares me, only takes them to strike out at it and force a hoof through- dreadful consequences!
 
Soak it if your worried about dust, both mine have it soaked I think its better for them, but I dont really like them having to pull on the net builds the wrong muscle in the neck.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Soak it if your worried about dust, both mine have it soaked I think its better for them, but I dont really like them having to pull on the net builds the wrong muscle in the neck.
Click to expand...

More lovely ideas thank you!
I soaked all last year and I just hate it :-\ I know its laziness but its hard work and none of them really eat it much? also a problem when my tap freezes. Im a huge steamer fan but sadly no electric.
Muscles in his neck.....theres another one for me to worry about!

fortunately o/h has been shown the photo and thinks it looks fairly easy! woo
 
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