Talkative Tidbit

To go with my lesson today, I'm going to talk about slow feeding hay nets and hanging them safely in your horse's paddock. If you saw my video on stuffing hay nets the easy way, then I think there might be a chance that when you saw the net hung up at the end you took credibility from me. Let me explain. First, with slow feeding hay nets, I can't fit my fist (far more malleable than a hoof) through any of the holes no matter how much I try. Second, my horses are barefoot, so there is no chance of the fabric sliding between a hoof and shoe that isn't there. The draw string at the top has been cut off so that there is no chance of a horse getting any body part through that space (the risk is there if you have it no matter how high you hang it. What if the horse rears and struck through it?) I close the top with 1-2 carabiners and clip it onto twine on the fence so it will break off just in case. Finally, why hang it low to begin with? To simulate a grazing horse. Horses are designed to eat and drink with their heads to the ground. Not up high, not at chest height, but on the ground. Deviating from this behavior has the potential to lead to choking (hey "beet pulp chokes" believers) because it's harder for the horse to swallow, as well as inhaling mass amounts of dust from the hay. So, by taking the precautions I do, I am able to feed my horses at a more natural height that still keeps the hay off the sandy desert ground (to prevent sand colic) safely. These nets are great to use because it's harder for the horse to get the hay through the holes which helps the horse to slow down its eating. This also simulates grazing as horses have to take time sorting out grass from rocks and dirt as well as actually pulling it from the ground. Forcing a horse to eat at a more natural pace keeps them entertained longer as they try to get it, and it also helps to prevent ulcers. A horse that eats as fast as it can becomes more stressed from not having food when it's done, and it also has a harder time with the sudden onslaught of food. I've found that when my horses have hay in slow and not 24/7, they actually eat less than when they get it only at certain times of day. There's no rush to eat it all because they know it'll always be there.