Wondering if anyone here has used the Tartar hay baskets? Wondering how they hold up and also curious if minis/small ponies can use them without problems?
We love ours. Not sure if it would be great for a mini or pony - I imagine it would be hard for them to reach over and into the basket. They may be able to get some out of the side slots, but is more designed for a horse.
Have had ours for about a year - holding up great. We do tie part of the slow feed net to the side because it’s really long and we don’t want it being pulled out of the Tartar feeder and onto the ground where a shoe could get caught. Otherwise - we load it with 4-5 bales under the net and are good for a week.
Mine has been great with 4 horses abusing it for 5 years now. Really nice especially if you do all your work yourself. One person can move it around easily.
DON’T buy it from TSC! I got mine at my local mill for $150 less than TSC. Check around at your local feed mill or anyplace that sells gates, etc. and you should be able to find it cheaper. Tartar has a list of dealers on its website which should help.
Caution with minis. A friend had her mini donkey get his foot stuck in one of the side holes. Unfortunately he didn’t make it. I was looking at getting one, however I worry my 2 year old might still be a touch small to use it safely
We bought ours at the local coop for far less than the TSC price.
I called and spoke with someone at Tarter, before purchase, to make sure that my smallest horse could safely reach the hay throw in the basket, and the rep was able to put my mind at ease (she referred me to photos on the website, describing the heights of horses pictured eating from one, and also mentioned a basket-owning neighbor with horses the same size as mine). He has no problem with the basket, although I have sometimes found him snacking from the bottom holes.
But neither of my horses have small enough feet to become caught.
A hay basket seems to be the best solution for my horse and his pasture mate so that hay doesn’t get too wet or stuck in the mud on wet days BUT the horses actually MOVE the hay basket around! One time the horses knocked it over , so the barn owner chained it to the fence. Then my horse was moved to another field. So tried the hay basket again. This time the horses actually moved it about 20 feet without knocking it over. Does anyone have a remedy for making the hay basket immobile? Thanks in advance for your ideas!
Mine never knocked it over, although they could push it around somewhat. Never anywhere near as far as 20 feet, but it didn’t matter to me if they did move it a bit, and I never tried to stop them from doing so.
This was with no more than three horses, always at least two.
