It's About The Horse

Horsemama

Check this out! Slow Feed Hay System - if you don't have great turnout pastures Or you stall your horses part of the time. These bags are fantastic!
I started using these hay bags last September and just Love Them!

We are having a terrible draught here and I can't put my horses out on the pastures or they'll just tear up the little grass we have. These bags have 2" x 2" holes that slow the horses ability to take big bites of hay, so it takes them several hours to eat a serving of hay.
Horses confined in stalls or paddocks will benefit as the hay takes much longer to pass thru the digestive track, keeps stomach acids lower for a longer time. You'll feel less guilty giving a horse thats too fat less hay because they will still have something to munch on. The horse is not bored in the stall and it Reduces Anxiety!

I save on hay and the horses are busy and less stressed. It's wonderful! My Husband and I designed and have a Patend Pending on the "Stall Bag Buddy" and the "Bag Buddy". We use them in our barn and they take only seconds to fill, and I use the Bag Buddy to fill bags that I hang out in the trees in my paddocks. If you hang the bags where they swing freely, it makes it even more challenging like a big hay toy. I started just with the bags in the pasture, and now use the whole system. It is so good for the horses, and I use the bags in my trailer when I travel too. Try one to start, and you'll quickly see the benefits of Healthier Happier Horses!

I sincerely hope you may find this information of use to solve some problems mentioned below. Good for soaking hay for IR horses and Horses that have issues with dust in the hay.

If you vist my website I'd love feed back on what you think of it.
Thanks[/img]
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Please visit tntcustommetalworks.com Slow Feed Hay System - Better For Your Horse, Better For Your Budget!

ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465

I made my own bag,, big enough to cover my round bales..
made it for fraction of the cost to buy one..
gonna make small ones soon
cut the waist down for sure and did away with the hug hay bellies..
love it!

thebundychick · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject:

Wow! I'm interested!!

Sante's & Rebels paddock isn't that flash at the moment - I could hang these in the stall and would definately feel less guilty!!

ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465

here's some photo's of the bag i made.. I will say I didn't pput the bale in the ring keeper cause my guys are barefoot and didn't get hung up init.
if you use shoes you should use a keeper, or they willget a shoe hung in it..

I made this myself..
should mention I commercial fish,, so netting is something I am VERY VERy fimilar with and have tons of experiance using..

bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4353 Location: Kansas

I have heard of some ugly accidents with these, especially the small ones. I love the idea. I waste so much dang hay, I could feed twice the horses on the stuff that's wasted.
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Clarissa · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:01 am Post subject:

Especially for the Aussies

I posted links to 2 companies that sell just this type of bag in the LINKS section months ago…actually the first one I posted last year!
http://itsaboutthehorse.myfastfor...Riding_Halters_etc_about5851.html
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appellativo · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:12 pm Post subject:

dont forget to check out how to make your own slow feeders at swedishhoofschool.com!
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PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9031

Just a quick note on this thread, the term "SlowFeeder" is a trademark feeder and I've been contacted before about not using it, unless it is the context of their specific feeding system. So, I ask that people be clear that you are talking about just feeders that slow down a horse's feeding and not the name brand.

On a personal note, I've used the NibbleNets and the Small Mesh Hay nets. I've had three horses get wounds on their noses from the NibbleNets to the point they couldn't eat with them. So, I don't use them anymore and have gone just to the Small Mesh Hay nets. I do think they cut down on waste, but don't notice them slow the feeding down much. They learn how to get the hay out and it only slows them down a little.
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Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

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karmikacres · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 1182

Word of caution to anyone using metal grids as feeders. We used them for two years with no issues, within the last few months, we have horses with damaged teeth. Needless to say, they all got changed to mesh or webbing that day...

Still looking for the best material to make the feeders out of. I had some panels made by an industrial barrier netting company that are absolutely indestructible, but also about $80 each. Found some other stuff I like, but am at a 50% destruction rate.

Mike
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ElaineW · Member Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 1465

interesting thread.

i'll put my own disclaimer up,,since I put my pics on there..

I made that hay net,, I made it for less than 60 buxs (hehehehe)
it's made of a commercial fishing netting. we had some popped mashes after awhile, but nothing more.

my mom's horse LOVES to throw hay around and make a mess. he was pissed when he learned he could not dothat anymore with the net.

with levi I noticed he didn't get a huge hay belly right off the bat..

karmikacres · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 1182

karmikacres · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 1182

As suspected, there is nothing listed on USPTO using SlowFeeder. That doesn't mean that they don't have an application in but they certainly don't own the registration at this point. I am sure they are caught up in fighting office actions on the descriptive nature of the intended mark. Don't think it will ever fly.

Karen
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I guess sometimes, on the hopeful path to glory, we get sidetracked and find something better instead.

Blue Flame · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

I think I would prefer the sinking lid type designs - unless someone can tell me about any accidents being caused by them . . .

like in this old thread - http://itsaboutthehorse.myfastfor...g/viewtopic.php?t=632&start=0

Horsemama

I love the Small Mesh Hay Nets, we have them hanging in trees out in the pasture and from the fence line. Maybe my horses are very well behaved but we have not had any injuries (Knock on Wood) so far. Our nets are also made from netting used in crab traps, it's very strong and much better quality than most bags you'll find on the market. The smarter horses ( one part Paso ) who are particularly aggressive eaters, have gotten better at getting the hay out of the bags. It still takes them several hours to empty a bag though. I think it would take them 30-45 minutes if the hay were just thrown out on the ground. I'm going to add a bag to our website that you can put an entire bale in. Have any of you tried this? It will close with a large spring snap and sell for $34.99 our small bags that hold several flakes, a good meal size or more are on sale now for $14.99 and if you use these you really need to try a "Bag Buddy" which will hold the bag open for you while you fill it. A fantastic design my husband came up with! Please check out my Website at http:/www.TNTCustomMetalWorks.com

I'd love to hear your opinions on my website, you can e-mail me directly from the site also. This is a new venture for us and I really think it's very benefical to feed this way. Thanks

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Please visit tntcustommetalworks.com Slow Feed Hay System - Better For Your Horse, Better For Your Budget!

ztmag · Member Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Nevada

If you have a really aggressive feeder, you have to be careful. Dolly has destroyed several "indestructible" feeders already. They do sort of slow her down, but she basically grabs the whole thing and yanks as hard as she can to make the hay come out faster. The Nibble Net has held up the longest so far, but I have better luck with her by tearing the hay apart and spreading it all over so she has to forage for it.
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Playing with Dolly--8 year old QH
and Annie--22 year old mini-Donkey

missing and mourning Po 6-4-89 to 7-26-10