I have a horse who enjoys trampling hay in with his bedding each day, wasting both and making stall cleaning an unpleasant activity. I’d like to keep feeding him on the ground and am looking for suggested ways to contain it without a net. So far I’ve found this and similar:
Has anyone used something like the above? Pros? Cons? Does it take up too much room? Cause respiratory issues? My stalls are 12 x 12s.
Thank you!
I have a porta grazer. I love it and so does my horse. It’s the size of big barrel and I have no issues using it in a 12x12 with my 17 hand horse. It also promotes eating with their heads down.
I saw those and worried about the space in the stall. It’s good to hear that it’s not too obtrusive. Thank you!
I have a Slow Feeder Saver Jr (High Country Plastics) which works quite well. The Porta Grazer can be a little claustrophobic for some - my mare won’t eat out of it. And if you feed alfalfa you need a different top for it.
it wouldn’t work for me…mine would still grab and walk and toss it on floor and for that much $$ not ok (and yeah, my stalls are smaller than I would like too) But want to say: while you feel you want to still feed from ground height/don’t want nets. ----- I could not LIVE without my hay hoops/small openings slow feeder nets. literally? about the same ‘top height’ as this feeder and net goes almost to floor, so you get the same experience of NOT a net hanging up high. The ease of opening them and putting in your own flakes, I LOVE. I really recommend trying one…for the cost, I think you’d be VERY pleased. it has made ALL the difference in hay waste (almost none) and lower head eating concerns as well as slower feeding! https://corroshop.com/products/10167?variant=29060072767533&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=g-us-shopping-desktop-and-tablet-jt-intl-tough-1-category&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=460623582399&matchtype=&network=g&mobile=&search=1&content=&creative=460623582399&keyword=&adposition=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImtH39oXN6wIVUyqzAB3aCQSoEAQYAyABEgKF3PD_BwE
I’m going to second the hay chix recommendation. I used their version of the hay hoop and it worked really well. Easy to install, easy to feed into and my horse didn’t trash his stall.
:eek: That’s a pretty pricy solution.
I think my horses would just grab hay out of it & still waste.
How about something like this:
Haychix has similar, but for more $
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail…CABEgK1UPD_BwE
@ayrabz, did not see your link - Same-O Same-O :winkgrin:
I’m looking for a slow feeder arrangement that would work for my shod horse (front shoes). All four of the walls on my horse’s stall are vertical bars on top half with wood on the bottom, so I"m not sure how to hang a hay hoop/net without it becoming too low and risk tangling in her front shoes. Would love to hear others thoughts and experiences.
One option I was considering : https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/smartpak-slow-feed-hay-bag-13939
I use hay hoops with small hole nets and love them.
I have a similar style of corner feeder in my stalls. Work great for two of my horses, but the third is a “banger”, and he loved to start banging on it with his front hoof at 2 a.m., hoping I’d bring him a snack. I had to remove his, but the others do fine with them. Mine are ProPanel, and there’s no hay wasted. My friend bought the same type from Noble, and she likes hers a lot, too.
My previous boarding facility had the same feeders are you linked and they worked really well. Very little, to no waste, and all of the horses were happy to eat out of them. You do kinda have to clean them out weekly or so if your horse is a picky eater to stop uneaten hay accumulating at the bottom and going moldy (depending on your climate) but that wasn’t a huge big deal and if your horse tends to eat everything they are given, it wouldn’t be necessary.
A gal at our barn has this for her mare. She uses a hay bag and then tosses it in the feeder to keep her mare extra occupied. The only downside discovered was the mare like to pull the feeder out into the middle of her stall, so it’s bolted to the wall now. Makes it a pain in the butt when it needs to be pulled out and cleaned behind.
If you look at the pictures on the Hay Chix link above, you can see how it’s safely hung thru the bars. You could also make a long, double loop with rope to affix to the top/highest bar like a giant slip knot. Bring the end down, snap the caribiner onto the end and then pull it up to the height desired before tying it off. 
Why not use a hay net? Smartpak makes its own hay net that I’ve used with my messy eater for several years. It hangs from a hook in her stall. There’s very little wasting of hay as a result.
Thanks everyone. I do use the hay chic / hay hoops in my run-ins, but this particular horse won’t eat out of a net. I’ve tried. 
I might give this a try and see if it helps. I also spotted this option which is a little more affordable: https://www.sstack.com/high-country-plastics-corner-feeder/p/41481/
@Tiramit why not try a muck bucket to see if that will work for your horse? It is a cheaper way to see if your horse is the type who will just eat in the container or will pull all the hay out and drag it all over their stall.
If the muck bucket works then you can upgrade to one of the more expensive corner feeders.
I use a small 100 gal water trough to feed hay in the Winter. I still have one who will scoop it all out when the mood strikes. I agree to try and find something like a 55 gallon plastic barrel( I use them to put feed in, i can buy them for $10). Maybe cut it to a decent height and see how long the hay stays in? That way you are only out a few bucks, especially if yours flings it all out.
Clever and entirely practical! Love this and the barrel idea as a tester. Thank you!
@candyappy Do you have a pic of the 300 gallon plastic barrel you speak of? I am looking for a larger hay feeder option for in the field. I am currently using a 110 gallon water tub with a net rig on top and it just isn’t lasting long enough.
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