SMHN Attachment Problems

See most recent posts Blue Heron Farm Blog posts here. Be sure to visit: Tennessee Paddock Paradise Page Hoofmaiden Performance Barefoot

See most recent posts Blue Heron Farm Blog posts here.

Be sure to visit:

Tennessee Paddock Paradise Page
Hoofmaiden Performance Barefoot

5/27/09 - Small Mesh Hay Nets

Well, I finally got my small mesh hay nets (SMHNs) up and running, but I made a mistake that may have caused a serious problem, so I want to be sure to caution others about it. JoAnn recommends HERE replacing the string in the hay nets (which holds the bag closed) with a shacklebolt, and then attaching the shacklebolt to the screweye in the tree or fencepost with a
double-ended snap. See photo on LEFT below.

I apparently got too-large shacklebolts and was unable to find snaps large enough to go around them. So despite warnings about them, I used carabiners between the shacklebolts and the snaps. See photo on RIGHT below.

Again - the photo on the LEFT shows the CORRECT way. The photo on the right is WRONG.

It took less than 24 hours for things to go wrong with my jerry-rigged attachment system! The morning after I put the hay nets out, I came out to find one of the hay nets, including shacklebolt and carabiner, gone entirely. I haven't been able to locate them, so they may have gone down the creek. I speculate that Destiny got the carabiner caught on her lip (since they press inwards, this is quite possible, even likely) and then freaked out and tore the whole thing up. Disaster just narrowly averted!

I caution you to be VERY careful putting up your SMHNs! If done CORRECTLY as JoAnn recommends, they are safe. Please DO NOT use carabiners. An even better and easier way to do the attachment is shown at right: shacklebolt + snap with loop on one end (large enough to fit easily through the shacklebolt's bolt). I prefer this method as it means even fewer "moving" parts.

I caution you to be VERY careful putting up your SMHNs! If done CORRECTLY
as JoAnn recommends, they are safe. Please DO NOT use carabiners.
An even better and easier way to do the attachment is shown
at right: shacklebolt + snap with loop on one end (large enough
to fit easily through the shacklebolt's bolt). I prefer this method
as it means even fewer "moving" parts.

The good news is that the hay nets are working great! On the left is a video of the girls (Maggie is the Haffie and Destiny is the chestnut draft X) demonstrating. On the right is Destiny's first try. I pulled out a few hunks to help her get the idea, but being a complete pig and a genius, she didn't really need any help. ;-)

pawsplus	Latest page update: made by pawsplus , Sep 25 2009, 4:01 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by pawsplus view changes - complete history)
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