Healthy eating behaviour
Extend eating time and prevent colic and stomach ulcers
In the wild, a horse spends 14 to 16 hours a day grazing. Its digestive system is fully adapted to this.
Feeding a quantity of loose hay two or three times a day therefore does not match natural eating behaviour. Your horse often finishes that portion within an hour or two, so it has an empty stomach for a large part of the day. This poses a major risk of stomach ulcers.
The horse has a small stomach, and the stomach produces stomach acid continuously. This acid is neutralised by saliva. Unlike in humans, the horse only produces saliva while chewing. Stomach acid without a buffer of saliva and fibre increases the risk of stomach ulcers. It is therefore important that the horse keeps eating, and so keeps chewing, for a long time.
From the stomach, the feed passes to the large intestine. This is full of micro-organisms that break down fibres (from grass and hay). A constant flow of fibre is needed to keep bowel function stable and to prevent colic.
Natural eating behaviour
Less boredom
There is also a behavioural side. For a horse, eating is not a task to tick off; it is the most important activity of the day.
A horse that has finished its hay within an hour often then waits for the next feed, or for something to do. This leads to boredom and sometimes unwanted behaviour such as crib-biting, pawing, kicking the stable wall or wind-sucking. It can also become depressed from boredom, or start destroying things.
A horse is naturally a herd animal, which means it likes to stay close to other horses. Several horses can eat from the same Easy Slowfeeder at the same time, or next to each other from different Easy Slowfeeders (as shown below), which makes it a social occasion.
Materials and use
A closed slow feeder that does not rust
Not every slow feeder keeps its promise.
A net that stays open at the top gives your horse quick access to the hay, so the slowing effect disappears. Thanks to the practical closing system, the Easy Slowfeeder stays closed on all sides. You do not need string to close the hay net, and the Easy Slowfeeder is filled and locked in a few seconds.
Hay racks or screws made of ordinary steel rust within a few months in a damp environment. The Easy Slowfeeder frame is made of galvanised steel, and the levers, brackets and screws are made of stainless steel. This means the Easy Slowfeeder keeps looking good in all weather conditions, and it can be used both indoors and outdoors.
The Easy Slowfeeder is available in 3 sizes, 3 mesh sizes and several colours. See also our product pages for more information.
