I have 4 horses turned out together that eat different amounts of the same feed, and I would like to feed them outdoors. Any regular horse feed bag users out there who can describe whether your horses have learned the routine of getting these on and off? If you have a hard keeper, can you load the bags up with enough feed? Any drawbacks or problems you have run into? One of my four can be a bully and presumably would need his feedbag first. I would like to be able to put these on over the fence without having to enter the fray
one time is all it has taken our horses to know FOOD is in the bag
We do not continually feed them using feed bags but they really took no time at all to learn to drop head so the strap could be slid over their ears
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I had a hard keeper on one. Occasionally heād try to drink water wearing the bag and it ruined the feed, according to himā¦
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The times Iāve used feed bags, Iāve stayed near by, doing other things, to keep an eye on what was happening. Putting them on and taking them off was easy as the animals knew just what their reward was.
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I used to use them all the time. The only reason I stopped was because I had an er, āintellectually challengedā horse who could not get the hang of it. But she was a special flower. 99.9% of horses do fine with them and learn the routine immediately.
Huge pros: no fighting over feed, everyone gets their exact amount, no wastage
Minor cons: some horses insist on drinking with them on, which isnāt a problem with the mesh kind, but it gets the water gross. Some horses will wander off when finished, which can be annoying. Some horses are rough on them and break them relatively quickly. They can be messy.
That cons list may look long, but the pros definitely outweigh them.
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I use them when everyone is loose and itās feeding time.
It took my pony a long time to figure it out - she would lift the head to the sky, pouring the grain all over the floor, and then be pissed she couldnāt get to it. That irritated me, because then I had to clean up the grain or they would fight over the morsels. I stood next to her for a few feedings, asking her to put her head down and she worked it out.
Agree with @Texarkana about some horses going straight for the water, itās annoying but not the end of the world.
I have fed the 10+ horses on my farm using feedbags for years. First of all, feed in pecking order, and it will go smoothly ā feed the alpha first, and no one will crowd you; then the next in pecking order etc. If you have a hard keeper who needs more food than the bag holds, give them 2 feedbags.
Horses have zero trouble learning about feedbags. They are happy to have a faceful of grain!
Feedbags can be soaked as well. I board retirees, so everyoneās feed is soaked. I prep the next meal, and put the filled bags into a coleman cooler thatās filled about 1/4 of the way with water. Keeps the bags from freezing in winter or fermenting in summer. Another bonus is that you can put meds in the bag, and know the horse has gotten their dose.
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My BO started using feed bags like a year ago, and Iāve continued the practice now that I have my own farm again. The horses picked it up basically instantly. I LOVE them, absolutely amazing way to keep labor down but still ensure everyone gets all their food and supplements when theyāre out 24/7. However, I go into the paddock to put them on and take them off. I guess you could probably train them to put their head over the fence to do it if you so desired. I havenāt bothered; I just have three that are well-behaved and my fence is 5ā tall with electric on top.
The fit probably up to 8 quarts of feed comfortably while leaving room for their nose, so if youāre feeding more than that at one time, or a large volume of soaked feed, they might not work for you.
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Thank you everyone! Just ordered some mesh ones and we will see how it goes. Appreciated hearing all the positive experiences
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I liked the concept of feed bags, but man once I start feeding and going and doing and riding I look up and itās noon and my poor baby horse is looking at me woefully from her pasture gate like you forgot meā¦ so I am a terrible human and forget themā¦
She also discovered that she could dunk her mesh feed bag in the water trough and make morning soup.
Now my gelding thought they were freaking hilarious. If you whip it around really hard the grain spills everywhere or falls at your face so you can gobble more. And if you keep flinging it around it will come off. Itās just a toy to disturb the other horses with.
So, we have nice feed bags on a shelf that never get used.
Iām sure they work great with older horses and calm demeanors and not tyrants under the age of 5.
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My BOās yearling and 4-year old used them just fine. All horses are different.
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I had the same issue as above with a mare who liked to dunk the bag into the water tank- generally when it was mostly full of feed. Waste of feed, mess in the water tank, and gross.
The gelding who was out with her was an air fern, and he ate from a bucket. When he was done, he would occasionally grab the side of the feed bag and shake her head like a pinata, hoping to make the bag fall off, or food come out.
Generally, Iām a fan. I do find that the cordura bags wash better than the canvas ones.
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I used them for a while, and do occasionally now when we camp. the mesh style is best IMO, you can actually get them clean and they dry quickly in the sun.
You wonāt get them to cooperate over the fence. I donāt see that happening.
Maybe you ābagā feed the bully then feed everyone else in their regular bowls in the field. With the bags, you have to stick around til everyone eats anyway. Iām a complete drill sargent when it comes to who eats out of which bowl and never ever vary in the order in which I dole it out. The lowest totem pole horse actually gets started first, because he eats the slowest, then the boss, then the middle guy.
