Frequently asked questions about our slow feeders

In the wild, a horse eats 14 to 16 hours a day. A slow feeder supports natural eating behaviour, because it extends eating time by making the horse eat through small mesh.

• Horses take longer to eat, which is good for digestion. A horse’s digestive system is designed for continuous eating. A slow feeder ensures there are fewer long periods without feed.
• Less risk of (obstructive) colic and stomach ulcers due to gradual hay intake. When a horse eats, saliva is produced, which neutralises stomach acid. If your horse has few ‘eating hours’ per day, the stomach acid is not properly neutralised, which can cause stomach ulcers.
• Less boredom.
• Forage stays clean and is not wasted.

You can choose from a net with 3, 4.5 and 6.5 cm mesh.

The smaller the mesh, the longer your horse’s eating time, because small mesh slows down feed intake.

So choose the smallest mesh if you want your horse to spend a long time with its forage. Choose a larger mesh if you want your horse to need slightly less effort to get the hay out of the net.

For a Shetland pony, a 3 cm mesh is relatively less small than for a Shire. So also look at how big your horse’s mouth is.

Many people worry about this, but it is not necessary. We have sold many Easy Slowfeeders, and not a single horse has opened one by itself.

Sometimes horses rub against the Easy Slowfeeder when they are itchy. A lever may then move up. Usually it does not go far enough to come loose. If one lever does open, that is not a problem either, because the Easy Slowfeeder stays closed with just one lever closed. If you wish, you can also adjust the levers to be a little stiffer, so they move less easily.

We have made the Easy Slowfeeder as safe as possible. The net is knotless and made of soft material, so it is gentle on the horse’s mouth. There are also no sharp parts.

For safety, it is best to remove the halter so it cannot get caught in the net. With a horse that wears shoes, be careful that it does not paw at the net. This is usually a sign of frustration. Some horses cannot cope well with a slow feeder: they have no patience to eat from small mesh. One option is then to choose an Easy Slowfeeder with 6.5 cm mesh. If your horse is not yet used to a slow feeder, you can first borrow a ‘regular’ slow feeder net from someone to see whether this way of feeding suits your horse.

There are 3 sizes: 80, 100 and 120 cm wide. The 80 cm holds approximately 10 kg of hay, the 100 cm 12.5 kg and the 120 cm 15 kg. These weights are based on small bales of hay.

The size you need depends on:

• The amount of forage your horse gets per day. The more this is, the larger the Easy Slowfeeder should be.
• How often you feed per day.
• How compact your forage is. The more compact it is (for example small bales of hay), the more fits in the Easy Slowfeeder. If you feed from a large bale, you usually first pull the hay off the bale yourself, so it is looser and less fits in the Easy Slowfeeder.

Of course, you are free to choose how high you hang it. But make sure your horse does not have to raise its neck to eat from it. Too low is not good either, because your horse then has to twist its neck to eat. The best height lets your horse eat with its head straight in front of it.

In the Netherlands, many horses are overweight, which is not good for their health. A slow feeder is a handy way to give your horse less forage, while keeping it pleasantly occupied.

The frame has a 2-year guarantee, but in principle it is indestructible. There is no guarantee on the net. The net can last for several years, but its lifespan depends on how much it is used and how your horse eats.

We always try to process and ship your order as quickly as possible. The aim is for it to be shipped within a week, and this usually works. If it is very busy, it may take a little longer. After shipping, a track & trace code is sent automatically to the email address you provided. This track & trace code is sent by MyParcel. It may end up in your spam folder. If you need your Easy Slowfeeder urgently, you can indicate this in the comments with your order. Please also take into account busy periods at the post office, such as December. Shipping will then take a little longer than usual.

Shipping costs depend on your country and the total weight of your order. You can find the costs per country in the shipping overview.

We aim to ship every order within one week. During busy periods, such as December, it can take longer. After shipping, MyParcel sends you an email with a track & trace code. Check your spam folder if you do not see it. More details are in our shipping and delivery section.

Yes. You have 14 days from the day you receive your order to withdraw from the purchase. The direct costs of returning the product are for your account. Read more in our right of withdrawal section.