52/ NOVEMBER 2013 THE RIDER 5 Reasons for Using Slow Feeder Hay Nets for Your Horses


are an economical way to encourage your horse eat in a way that more closely imitates grazing. Here are 5 reasons for using slow feeder hay nets:


designed to eat small, frequent meals so that food moves continuously through the digestive tract. For horses that live on pasture 24/7, this is not an issue. Unfortu- nately, most domestic horses don’t have access to this type of grazing, many can’t cope with high quantities of grass and not many properties have healthy pasture to offer them. So, most horses are fed larg- er meals less frequently. When horses go for even a couple of hours without food,


By Anne Gage The horses’ digestive system is


• Save money and hay. The slow feeder hay nets stop hay from being wasted by being trampled and soiled with manure and urine.


• Stops your horse gorging at feeding times. Eating more slowly makes the hay last 2-3 times longer and imitates grazing behaviour. • Horses eat at a more natural level. The small holes (1 1/2” to 2”) allows the nets to be put on the ground or hung low. If your horse has shoes, it best to hang the nets up high enough that your horse won’t step on it and get his show caught in the netting. • Saves you time. A full bale hay net can last one horse 24 hours so you don’t have


they can suffer insulin spikes and there is a build up of gas- tric acid in their guts. This acid is the cause of damage to the digestive tract, ulcers, cribbing, and wood chewing. Slow feeder hay nets


tractor tire helps stop the horses from pawing the net, keeps it out of the mud and manure and allows your horses to eat at a natural height.


slow feeder hay nets for my insulin resistant horse. It was easy to soak


Slow feeder hay nets come in several different sizes: • small ones to hold a few flakes (good for ponies & minis) • small square bale large square bale round bale I originally started using the


horses to slow feeder hay nets, make sure there is loose hay available as well. It takes them a day or two to learn to adjust how they eat. Hungry horses who are used to gorging themselves will paw the nets or bite through the netting. As they adjust, they use their lips to pull the hay through the holes. Tying the net inside a box or a


to feed as frequently. keeps your horse healthier. By hav- ing hay available more frequently the gastric acid that causes stomach upsets such as ulcers and colic is reduced. When you first introduce your


and the scarcity of hay, I just bought a round bale net. It took the mares 2 days longer to finish the round bale than without the net. That’s going to save a few round bales this winter. And, there was absolutely no wasted hay. I was already using a Duplessis hay feeder and now with the slow feeder net, the results are even better.


that I bought a few small square bale sized nets for feeding the 3 geldings that live out 24/7. One is allergic to dust so I can’t give them a round bale. He also has had ulcers in the past, so keeping food in front of him more often is much healthier for him. I spread the hay nets around their paddock and away from their water trough to encourage them to move around rather than standing in one place all day and night. Now, they prefer to eat from the hay nets than from loose hay. With the drought this summer


his hay in the net, hang it to drain and then keep him happy for a few hours with a few flakes of hay. Because insulin resistant horses are also hungry all the time, he was hap- pier because he had in front of him for longer periods of time. I liked how it worked so well


these horse keeping tips with people who keep their horses at home, please share this blog with 5 friends, send a Tweet or post on your Face- book page. The horses thank you. You are welcome to use this


article in your newsletter or blog as long as you include my credit infor- mation.


www.facebook.com/ConfidentHorse- manshp


www.twitter.com/AnneGage Down The Road


hear the sound of a soft bell. Looking around for the source of this bell sound, you will see that it comes


is a field, with two brown horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop, you will notice that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but instead has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If you are listening you will


Just up the road from my home


from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always check- ing on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend


Janet Henderson


Coach for all disciplines with basis in dressage, including western dressage "We all ride horses"


EC Judge - dressage, hunter, jumper, hunt seat eq., hack, saddle seat eq., Arabian


janet_arwen@icloud.com


Port Colborne, Ontario 905-228-3091


near London, Ontario, is a family owned and operated facility. Barry Hunter, his wife Mary, and sons Craig and Preston, work together to offer a compassionate and efficient service. With service Ontario - wide, a government licensed truck will col- lect your horse. Their fully bonded company will arrange a private cre- mation using the unique Saniflame system. Saniflame Inc. has developed a


and guarantees that the ashes you receive are those that belong to you. You may have had your horse for many years, or just a few days, but the loss can be made a little easier by knowing that with the option of cre- mation, you can have a private home burial or a special keepsake to remember your friend. Ontario Equine Cremations,


the Toronto Mounted Police Unit died - Brigadier in 2006, and Royal Sun in 2012 - Ontario Equine Cre- mation Service arranged their crema- tions and the return of the ashes in time for the memorial services. The tragic loss of these special animals brought to public attention that the deaths of large animals are as emo- tional a losing small pets. Arrange- ments can be made for a private cre- mation and a personalized cremation certificate is given for a lasting memorial. The company is fully licensed


be very traumatic, but death is even more devastating. Whether the death is sudden, slow or as a planned euthanasia, the next question is what to do afterwards. Ontario Equine Cremation Service, provides horse owners with a caring option. They offer you a chance for a dignified goodbye and a lasting tribute. Spe- cializing in large animal cremation with many years of experience help- ing families deal with the death of their horse. When two beloved members of


isn’t too far behind to hear the bell. Dealing with a sick horse can


Confident Horsemanship www.annegage.com


Anne Gage


and share your experiences by post- ing a comment below. If you would like to help share


many different styles of feeders from scratch or from materials around your farm. Check out the ideas on Paddock Paradise for photos, videos and instructions. Give the slow hay feeders a try


buying the netting to make your own hay nets. For my North American readers, this company is located in Welland, Ontario, Canada and ships across North America. For the DIYers, you can build


You can save more money by


mations - www.ontarioequinecrema- tionservices.ca or toll free - 1-888- 668-2989.


highly efficient and convenient pro- cess that was carefully engineered to excel in areas where other incinera- tion systems fall short. Their unique gasification system utilizes innova- tive technology designed to cremate a single horse, or can be adapted for other safe agriculture purposes. To contact Ontario Equine Cre-


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