Has anyone made a feeder for a stalled horse who eats soaked hay? Maybe something where the water would drain into a basin instead of all over the stall? And preferably something very easy for a non-handy person to make? 
Could you put the hay in a net, then hang the net outside for a while to drain before putting it in the stall? Could be as simple as just screwing a hook into the wall.
You could soak it for a bit and then drain in before putting in to some sort of bucket or feeder
Way back when I worked at a barn, we had a dolly that we could stack up about 4 bales, drop it on the handles to soak and then feed. It was super simple and made feeding easy.
Or maybe get one of those large waste bins, cut a hole in the bottom, soak the hay outside so it could empty itself. If you get one on wheels it would make maneuvering it simple too.
What about using two Rubbermaid containers - drill holes in one, then set in the second tub and soak hay. Then lift the top tub up, allow hay to drain, and place in stall?
WE soaked 2 large flakes in a clean muck tub [that was only for hay soaking] and then put it in this in the stall
http://majesticgaits.com/hayfeeder.htm
Yes, it was very durable and easy to use.
ETA I donât see why this could not be filled, soaked and then hung, unless you are hanging it very high such that the weight and mess would be the issue.
[QUOTE=SolarFlare;8815181]
What about using two Rubbermaid containers - drill holes in one, then set in the second tub and soak hay. Then lift the top tub up, allow hay to drain, and place in stall?[/QUOTE]
Iâve seen people use a laundry basket inside a muck tub⊠hay in laundry basket, laundry basket into muck tub, soak, pull out laundry basket and voila!
I put my hay in a nibblenet and soak it in a rubbermaid tub. I then let it drain on the ground for a few minutes before I hang the net in the stall. Some water will still drip from the net, but it doesnât make a tremendous mess.
I have done several things.
Soaked hay in a muck bucket in the stall, horse eats out of the muck bucket + water, and then drinks the water.
Currently feeding in a smaller size Nibble Net that I soak in muck bucket for a few minutes, drain by holding it on the edge of the muck bucket, then hang with a strap that goes around the bars or the stall.
I figure the easiest way means he is most likely to get his wet hay.
[QUOTE=2miniB;8815116]
Could you put the hay in a net, then hang the net outside for a while to drain before putting it in the stall? Could be as simple as just screwing a hook into the wall.[/QUOTE]
This is what I do. I hang it on a fence post or leave it in the open mesh wagon for awhile before hanging it. Works great.
Wow all that work, I dump water on the hay out in the grass, bring the horses in dump grain then put the hay in the stalls, yes the stall gets a little wet but no big deal.
Why would you not drain it?
I do what others have saidâŠput the hay in a small hole hay net and soak it in a muck bucket. After soaking I hung the bag on a post outside and I rinsed it (soaking to remove sugar). It was then left there for however long it took me to do whatever else I had to do before I brought the horses in (10 minutes to an hour) and then transferred to the stall.
If you are soaking it as for laminitis (fully submerged for a while such that every stalk is soaked), even a drain period is not going to eliminate drips. BTDT for a year! I would let it drain for half an hour but it still dripped some. Not huge but enough that I did stuff to deal with it.
I usually just put a thin coat of bedding under the net and replaced that little bit daily to âsopâ up any drips. You donât want to mix the used stuff in your good bedding because even though it is âjustâ water, in a day or two it becomes stinky old hay water which takes on a bit of a fermented smell if you donât get rid of it. Then the stall smells like beer which might appeal to some people, but doesnât appeal at all to me. If it made the stall smell like margaritas I might have just used it.
We use those big rubber tubs-they are about 2.5 -3 feet in diameter, or for horses that like to tip them a muck tub with the rope handles - snapped to wall with snaps and eyes.
Hay is soaked in a large wheelbarrow, transferred to another wheelbarrow with fork - gets rid of some water- then delivered to tub. Tub still has to be dumped out once a day as some water remains.
An advantage with this method is can use wb #1 to soak hay for a few horses - delivering with wb#2 to each stall
We use wheelbarrows for hay soaking because makes it easier to dump the water out. We have tried all the other methods. This one is easiest on my back 
Thanks everyone! Iâm going to have to experiment. I love the laundry tub in a muck tub idea.
[QUOTE=retrofit;8816189]
Thanks everyone! Iâm going to have to experiment. I love the laundry tub in a muck tub idea.[/QUOTE]
Tried that one- too hard on the back lifting out the laundry tub full of wet hay
but there are many ways to do it- find what works for you
good luck
I keep the wet-hay mess under control by doing it this way:
-place muck/soaking tub into a wheelbarrow. Stuff muck tub with desired amount of hay.
-place wheelbarrow in wash stall*, fill the muck tub, and soak the hay.
-when soaking time is completed, tip up the wheelbarrow and wedge it/tub against the wall, so that the water can drain out, but the tub is held within the bed of the wheelbarrow. If you get your âwedgeâ correct, you can leave the wâbarrow in that position, and the wet hay can drain for an indefinite amount of time.
I try to have my hay drain for at least 20minutes. Then, I lower the wheelbarrowâwith one hand steadying the tubâand wheel it straight into the stall. Itâs the lengthy draining time that makes for the drier stall, and I also do what another poster noted: the wet hay is places on the stall mat directly to avoid wasting good bedding.
[*all thatâs needed is a place to wedge the wheelbarrow once it is ripped up: a tree trunk or wall or edge of a picnic table.]
Hay net soaked in tub. Dump tub on the lawn after soaking, let drain, hang hay net in stall over empty feed tub.
Great upper body work out. :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=2miniB;8815116]
Could you put the hay in a net, then hang the net outside for a while to drain before putting it in the stall? Could be as simple as just screwing a hook into the wall.[/QUOTE]
This is what we used to do. Weâd soak a full hay net, then hang for a while on a hook before feeding. Easier still if you have a dutch door, you can hang it slightly outside the open half.
