Hay Net: The Natural Feeding Brake for Box and Paddock

Hay Nets: Healthy and Slow Roughage Intake

A high-quality hay net is one of the most useful aids in horse feeding. In the wild, horses eat small amounts of sparse grasses almost all day long. However, if they get their roughage laid loose on the ground in the stable, they often eat it much too fast. A hay net acts as a natural feeding brake. It forces the horse to pluck out the hay blade by blade. This extends the eating time enormously, promotes important salivation, and reliably prevents gastric ulcers and colic. At the same time, the net prevents valuable hay from being trampled in the dirt, which noticeably reduces your hay consumption and costs.

Finding the Right Mesh Size

Hay nets are available in different mesh sizes. A net with large meshes (approx. 8 to 10 cm) is well suited for feeding coarse hay or straw and avoiding feed loss during transport. For a real extension of the eating time (slow feeding), you should choose nets with a mesh size of 3 to 5 cm. These tight meshes challenge the horse mentally and physically, prevent boredom in the box, and are ideal for easy keepers or ponies on a diet.

Tear-Resistant and Knotless Materials

Since horses sometimes pull, tear, and gnaw heavily on the net, the material must be extremely robust. High-quality hay nets are made of weather-resistant, tear-resistant plastic (like polypropylene). Knotless hay nets are particularly gentle on horse teeth and gums. Since hard knots are missing here, the tooth enamel is not attacked even after hours of plucking.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what height do I hang the hay net?
The hay net should hang so high that the bottom of the empty, sagging net ends well above the horse's hooves (about chest height). If it hangs too low, there is an acute danger for horses that paw while eating to get tangled in the meshes with their hoof or horseshoe!

Can I use a hay net for shod horses?
Yes, but with extreme caution. For horses with horseshoes, the risk of getting caught in a low-hanging net is extremely high. Here, the net must absolutely be fastened so high or so secured (e.g., clamped in a feed box) that the hooves can never reach the net.

What is the easiest way to fill the hay net?
Stuffing the net daily can be tedious. It is best to hang the net on two hooks while filling or use a special hay net filler (filling ring). Alternatively, you can put the net over a clean, round feed bucket and comfortably press the hay into it.