My horses have been able to figure out everything that I do and their hay wasn't lasting long at all. I've gone through a vertical slowfeeder, Buffet Bags, nets with 2 inch holes, nets with one inch holes, hay bags on the ground...you name it I've tried it. And they've figured them out in no time flat!! So this is my latest attempt...It's 3' by 3' and covered in antifatigue mats with rubber mats over that...my horses paw and Orion really wore down one side of his hoof on my first slow feeder. The grid is made from dowels and right angle copper connectors. It has Shrimp netting stretched across and attached. This is attached to the bottom of the feeder as it is too light to just rest there. They spent the first 4-5 days staring at it and would only eat if I pull some hay out. Now they are eating from it regularly and it really does slow them down...finally!!! BTW the holes are only one inch.

JoanneNL
May 24, 2009

Slow feeder for challenging horses

The netting doesn't stay tight...it just falls onto the hay. The cord just keeps them from removing it from the box.

Update -
I'm having problems again. They've chewed through the net in a few places. (I made hay bags out of the same net and threw them on the ground since last October...they've bit, chewed, pawed etc. at them but no holes.) I'm now in the process of getting a steel frame welded together and I'm making the grid from nylon webbing. Will take pics when I get it done. This design is worth pursueing...I can keep hay in front of them all day and they are sooo content with it. I'm determined to make this work!!

JoanneNL
June 4, 2009


Originally posted to the EC Photos Yahoo Group
_______________________________________________________________________________________

See these wiki discussion threads for more about challenge feeders for horses who have learned to outeat the basic slow feeder designs:
Hay Nets and Eating Time
_______________________________________________________________________________________

New page for Challenge Feeders