Hay Hut damaging manes

[Libby2563]

I’ve had a Hay Hut for about two months. I have some complaints about poor workmanship (a lot of the holes didn’t line up for assembly) but it’s the only thing so far that encourages my dominant horse to share a hay source with anyone else. It also keeps the hay dry and they are all picky and won’t touch it once it gets wet so that’s great.

However, their manes are disappearing. I’ve watched and neither of them touch the top of the opening while eating but they tend to lift their heads when backing out. About a third of the mane above the withers is affected, and one guy already has almost nothing left. I need to do something so they can recover before show season. Ideas so far:

DH suggested riveting nylon sheets to the top of the openings.

Start blanketing them just to put a neck cover on. Not a great option and won’t help come spring.

Mane tamer type thing? Do those hold up to turnout?

Would braiding help? Probably not, just trying to think of other options.

Raise the whole thing up on 6x6s since they are larger horses. But like I said they don’t touch it the whole time they’re eating and there’s no way I can raise it enough that they can’t touch it backing out.

Any other ideas?

ETA: They live out with access to it 24/7 so I need a round-the-clock solution.

[beowulf]

Have you wormed them lately? I’d suspect neck threadworms.

Ours lose their mane in the cow roundbale feeder, but I haven’t had issues with the Hayhut so far.

[Libby2563]

[QUOTE=beowulf;9022458]
Have you wormed them lately? I’d suspect neck threadworms.

Ours lose their mane in the cow roundbale feeder, but I haven’t had issues with the Hayhut so far.[/QUOTE]

Yikes! Did not think about that. They were wormed in Dec (with Equimax IIRC–don’t have my records with me). I really think it’s the Hay Hut though, based on the timing, watching them, and the fact that there’s grunge at the tops of the openings that they clearly left there. They don’t seem especially itchy either.

[Come_Shine]

What about Styrofoam like people use to baby proof a fireplace hearth or sharp edge on a coffee table?

[betsyk]

Ours have had hay huts for years and I haven’t noticed any problems with manes disappearing. I would wonder if yours are itchy and are bringing their heads up for a scratch on the way out?

[Libby2563]

[QUOTE=Come Shine;9022491]
What about Styrofoam like people use to baby proof a fireplace hearth or sharp edge on a coffee table?[/QUOTE]

I thought about that too! Wouldn’t last 5 seconds with the young horse though. I think DH’s nylon idea might have a better chance because we could make it tight enough that the little jerk couldn’t get his teeth on it or would be less likely to notice it. I wonder if nylon would help though. The plastic itself is pretty darn smooth.

[fjordmom]

I have used duct tape on a number of place that my horses rub or get rubs - stall door edges, muzzles under the chin…

It is smooth and slippery so does not rub hair off or irritate skin. It’s rather easy to form to most surfaces.

I have used it both indoors and out. Outdoors I have to replace it about once a year, but it’s such a cheap fix. I don’t know how well it would stay on right now since it would be applied in colder weather. I’ve always applied it in the summer/warm weather and as long as it is on tightly going into cold weather it has stayed in place. Maybe something to try down the road for you.

I find the more expensive name brands last longer/stick better. Do apply it to a clean surface though if you want it to stick really well, then rub it down hard.

[FatCatFarm]

I have had Hay Huts for a number of years now and have tall draft crosses, 16.3 - 17hds, and do notice that during the winter when they are eating from the huts a lot, that their manes just in front of their withers do get rubbed a bit thin. They’ve never totally lost their manes from the rubbing, and it does self repair during the warmer months. I like the duct tape idea and would try that first since it’s a cheap and probably the least trouble solution if it will work.

[gypsymare]

I’m not sure how thin the edge is but I was also thinking foam of a sort like the kind made for pipes that has an adhesive strip running the length. It’s super cheap.

[Libby2563]

[QUOTE=fjordmom;9022534]
I have used duct tape on a number of place that my horses rub or get rubs - stall door edges, muzzles under the chin…[/QUOTE]

Good idea, fjordmom. I’ve used duct tape on muzzles too so maybe that would work! The surface of the Hay Hut is really not that rough so I have been thinking it’s the pressure of them rubbing across it rather than the hair snagging on something. But you’re right that it’s cheap and maybe worth a try.

[2horseygirls]

BypsyMare: I’m not sure how thin the edge is but I was also thinking foam of a sort like the kind made for pipes that has an adhesive strip running the length. It’s super cheap.

This idea, combined with zipties through a tiny hole drilled at the edge of each opening and one in the middle to prevent sagging, would probably work in the cold…

[beowulf]

Hijacking this to ask you guys something - do any of you “close off” one or more of the openings? I only have 2 horses on the feeder, and I’m thinking of closing 1 on each side (so there’s 4 openings instead of 6 or however many there are) if so, what do you do it with?

I ask because it’s not uncommon here to get nearly horizontal precipitation – last night especially, I noticed my guys’ hay was served “chilled”; all frozen on the northern side! :eek:

[luvmyapp]

I’ve had my hay hut for 4 years and have the same problem - but just with my mare. She is the tallest, around 16.2 and it rubs the main away just in front of the withers. It really is a bummer, she is a Gypsy Vanner X and has a two inch gap in her beautiful, long mane.
The edge on mine is rounded and smooth; maybe she is catching the inside edge when she puts her head up in the hut (?) My boys do not have this issue.
I do love my hay hut though.

[bdj]

Thinking along the lines of the foam pipe insulation idea - if it works, could you slit a piece of regular water hose and use that to cover the edge? Maybe rivet it on, or drill some holes for zip ties?
Just have some recent experience with foam covering a rough edge (e-collar for a dog) and the foam only works for a few days before needing to be replaced…

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=gypsymare;9022599]
I’m not sure how thin the edge is but I was also thinking foam of a sort like the kind made for pipes that has an adhesive strip running the length. It’s super cheap.[/QUOTE]

I like this idea. Though having used them for their intended purpose I don’t think the “foam” will withstand the test of time. Doesn’t take much to tear them by hand. The adhesive strip definitely will not hold it on for long. If it will even stick to the plastic wall much.

I think it needs to be covered in duct/duck tape to give it strength. Duck taping it on may last a while, even longer. Drilling some small holes and using zip ties as 2horseygirls suggested is a good idea.

Might be far better to use “pool noodles” I think that’s what they are called. They seem to stand up to kid abuse.

Just duck taping the edge to smooth it out that Fjordmom suggested maybe enough. Though I seem to remember they have a pretty thin edge so I am not sure how much “smoothing” it will provide.

[Bluey]

You could use several layers of duct tape, so the edge is not quite so thin.

[buck22]

I was going to suggest a pool noodle instead of the pipe insulation for the same reason as gumtree stated, pool noodles are a bit more roubust intended for play and sun exposure. And likely cheaper - though harder to find this time of year I bet.

Try using Gorilla brand duct tape. I had to do some repairs on the vinyl covering of my hay storage area during a cold wet month and the repairs are still holding over a year later. Just be sure everything is dry when you apply the tape or it will peel.

[China_Doll]

I don’t get the appeal of hay huts. I would think they would get hot inside in the summer

[FatCatFarm]

China Doll, not with all the windows. Keeping the round bales shaded prevents sunlight from leaching as much nutrition from them. Mine have also used the hay huts for relief from gnats and flies by sticking their heads into the hut in warm weather, even when there is no hay in them. They really do cut down drastically on hay waste, particularly if you add a small weave hay net to the equation. In the winter, by putting the round bale on plastic pallet with they and then covering it with a hay hut, I also don’t worry about it getting soaked and then molding in winter weather; or about having to make sure I’ve covered it up ahead of a storm. Love mine and will replace them when necessary, and I wasn’t convinced until someone on here assured me that I really should give them a try. Glad they did.

[BroncoMo]

I can’t really speak to what to do with the hay huts. But I will throw this advice out there. Highly suggest NOT using neck covers to prevent mane rubs. I’ve lost more manes to neck covers than anything else on my place. Maybe mine are weird, I know a lot of people use neck covers. My horses just seem to lose tons of mane when they wear theirs for an extended length of time.

Also wouldn’t braid them; if they manage to rub with braids in, they’ll lose whole braids at a time, rather than just thinning out an area. Not fun, done that too.

I think the pool noodle is a great idea, perhaps add the duct tape on top of the noodle? So it’ll be slick and have some squish to it. If you can’t find pool noodles this time of year, perhaps go to home depot and look for foam pipe insulation. Should get the same result as the pool noodle. ALL of my water hydrants are covered in pipe insulation with gorilla tape on top. I have some that were done a few years ago and show no signs of wear. Granted I do have one that the young and inquisitive can reach, and they pluck at the insulation so it gets patched up from time to time. But it’s easy to fix.