There are several ways to feed hay to your horse, each with its own pros and cons. Which one suits best depends on your stable situation, how much time you have, and whether your horse is sensitive to eating hay too quickly (see also the different types of forage and grass and sugars for the background to that). Curious why that feeding method matters so much? Then also read why a slow feeder matters.
On the ground
The simplest method, and right away the least ideal. The forage gets dirty or blows away, and your horse inevitably eats some sand or soil with it. Over time, this increases the risk of sand colic. For an occasional bite in between it is no disaster, but as a permanent feeding method we advise against it.
In a hay net
Better than on the ground: the hay stays clean and less is wasted. The challenge is in the execution. A regular net with coarse mesh is quickly filled, but your horse empties it just as quickly. A net that hangs loosely from one ring can also swing or tilt, and if your horse keeps catching a hoof in it, that is a real risk of injury.
Hay rack
A rack can be filled all at once, and that is its great advantage. The downside: there is little resistance between your horse and the hay, so a portion meant to last for hours can be gone within an hour. A rack also takes up a relatively large amount of space in the stable, and when used outdoors, rust over time is a point of attention.
Slow feeder net
A hay net with smaller mesh, so that a horse spends considerably longer eating: closer to the 14 to 16 hours a horse would naturally spend grazing. This promotes saliva production (important for stomach protection) and ensures more even digestion, as we explain in more detail on the page why a slow feeder matters.
The known problem with many existing slow feeders: the nets are still loose or open at the top, so the horse can still reach the hay quickly and the slowing effect largely disappears. That is exactly the flaw Albertine ran into herself at the time, and the reason she developed the Easy Slowfeeder.
The Easy Slowfeeder solution
With the Easy Slowfeeder, you open the levers, fill it, and close the levers again. The net stays closed on all sides, including while your horse is eating: no open top, no gap to get around the slowing effect. The frame hangs firmly from two points with stainless steel and galvanised fixing hardware, so no swinging net and no rust after a winter outdoors. Super easy & slow for your horse.
Browse the full collection, or read more about the 80 cm, 100 cm and 120 cm versions.
