Slow feeder designs permit horses to eat a controlled amount of feed, constantly. The hay never runs out, but overeating is prevented. Mealtime anxiety disappears. (Note: this concept works best with grass.) Many horses prefer to eat from a restricted free-choice hay feeder even when loose hay is available. This section shows slow feeders made with small mesh. The most effective slow feeding net hole size is 1-1/2 inches (no larger than 4 cm). Some horses require smaller openings as they become accustomed to this method of feeding. This chart also has clickable links to other web sites for purchasing smhn products.

Freedom Feeder "Pasture in a Net". The original slow feed hay net system Made in the USA. Available in 3 sizes: Extended Day ($50) shown above), Trailer/Mini ($30) and Full 3-string Bale size ($87). Wiki page on this product with video of how to load.	Nibble Net review from JoAnn's blog Nibble Net 1.25" has different closure now.
The Free Up Feeder "Patent Pending" www.cinchchix.com Go Strapless, easy to use, comes with 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" net. $60.00 Includes Shipping on USA orders! Netting can be replaced with the SF 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" or SFX 1" x 1" nets. The ultimate feeder for saving Time & Money! Made In The USA!	The Cinch Net Mini Net "Patent Pending" www.cinchchix.com Comes in Mini 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" $37.50 Mini SF 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" $75.00 Mini SFX 1' x 1" Made In The USA!
Equinet
Hockey goal net and small-mesh bag -- with a view!	"Hay Tree" portable post for low-hanging hay bags (click photo for details)
Puck barrier net - mesh hammock by Bearcat
Cheryl's Plastic Drum Hay Net	Brenda's hockey hay net opens like a change purse.
Jewel with "hay pillow," converted from a Dover (Miller's) small-mesh hay net (smhn). 13-pound capacity.	Texas Hay Net
Nibble Net Hay bag on platform, in use :-) www.thinaircanvas.com	Busy Horse Snackers and small-mesh hay net hung low on Hay Tree.
Busy Horse Snacker on plywood tray	Hockey net hay net easily holds about 12-16 pounds of hay.
Roma 2-inch small-mesh hay net has rings.	Busy Horse Snacker - holds 3 pounds
	CG-L Haynet from Heunetz. Width is 1.5m, height is 1m. Holds 10 to 15kg of hay. Mesh size between 6cm and 7cm.
Baseball hay net by Lydia	Recycled tennis net
Cinderella & Sophie - hay pillows	This Hay Pocket hangs from rigid bars, which does not have the risks associated with an unsupported net hanging suspended from two points.
Trial size idea - timothy hay in a basketball net.	Bracket mount by Maria Siebrand
Russian SMHN	Click to visit Tangledmanes "Satisfeeding" page. (Multiple SMHNs last 24 hours and encourage movement.)
Texas Hay Net in a box feeder	Fish net lid for Cheryle's hard-sided slow feeder
THE STANDARD HAY PILLOW The Hay Pillow™ Available in 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1-1/4" mesh sizes. Can also be hung ! Patent pending MADE IN THE USA	THE HANGING HAY PILLOW The Hay Pillow™ Available in 3/4", 1" and 1-1/4" mesh sizes. Great for stalls and horse trailers. Patent pending MADE IN THE USA
THE MINI HAY PILLOW The Hay Pillow™ Designed specially for miniature horses and ponies, enables them to access all of the netting without standing on it. Available in 1/2", 3/4" 30 twine, 3/4" 21 twine mesh sizes. Can also be hung! Patent pending MADE IN THE USA

Bag Buddy Holds open any slow feed bag for easy filling, just slip it over any fence or wall or I just put mine on the back of my golf cart to easily fill my bags. Then you take the full bag of hay off and hang it up for the horses to enjoy! This is not meant for the horse to eat from, just holds the bag for filling. $39.99 TNT Custom Metal Works, Inc. Bale Bag - Holds one 50-65 lb. 2 - String Hay Bale Made from High Quality UV and Abrasion Resistant Double Braided Poly Cording. These bags will not fall apart or tear! Comes with large snap hook for closure. Made to hold up to the punishment that horse's can deliver. If you want a bag that will last, order from us today! Visit : www.slowfeedhay.com

Stall Bag Buddy . Mounts on any solid wall and opens 90 degrees for easy and fast filling then just snap it closed for horse to enjoy the hay...Click on Photo to go to website: Made in the USA Just $89.99 Includes Slow Feed Hay Bag a $15.99 Value Made from strong 5/8" solid steel rod, and hinges on solid steal plate. This unit is made strong and safe with horses in mind. Frame opens at corner with tapped bolt, so nets can be easily changed when worn. Try our slow feed bags, or use ones you already have. Don't put your horse's safety at risk, our products have been tested. Satisfaction Guaranteed! Visit: www.TNTCustomMetalWorks.com

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SAFETY NOTE: All traditional hay net wisdom says to hang nets higher; Jessica Jahiel's archives specifically state that even small-mesh hay nets should not be down low. HOWEVER, I think the reason is because hay nets have traditionally been tied with long looping rope that could entrap a leg. Also, shod horses could catch a shoe in the netting. My horses are barefoot -- I would not recommend low hanging small-mesh hay nets for a horse with shoes. Their hooves are also significantly larger than the 4-centimeter holes of my small-mesh hay nets. This page shows alternative closing methods to replace the tie string. Use double-end snaps to clip them onto an eye bolt. Do NOT use non-locking carabiners or spring links. See the Pawsplus blog for further explanation.


My own experiments with ground-level small-mesh hay nets (since 2006) for my three horses have gone very well, with no tangling at all.
These are my recommendations:
- Use your own judgment about introducing low-hanging small-mesh hay nets to your horses.
- Keep traditional large-hole hay nets up high if you must use them. They are not slow feeders, and they are not the nets discussed on this site.
- Always eliminate the tie string from ground-level small-mesh hay nets.
- Make sure your horse's hooves will not fit through the mesh (this may be a concern for minis).
- If your horse has shoes, have them removed before using a ground-level small-mesh hay net. Low nets are for barefoot horses only.
~JoAnn Johnson (tangledmanes) 3/23/2009 update 5/28/2009