Hay Feeding Systems: Nets, Bags, Feeders & More

When it comes to feeding forage, horse owners have more options than ever: hay nets, hay bags, ground feeders, automatic dispensers, hard slow feeders and everything in between. But the best choice depends on more than just cost or convenience.

Different tools affect:

• How fast your horse eats
• How much hay is wasted
• Digestive health and ulcer risk
• Feeding posture and long-term musculoskeletal wellness
• Barn chores and labor

This guide breaks down the science and pros/cons of each method, backed by peer-reviewed studies and real-world data.

Hay Nets vs. Hay Bags vs. Feeders: A Quick Comparison

When picking a feeding method, consider what fits best into your daily routine and aligns with your horse’s needs. It’s not just about the style—it’s about the purpose each product serves and how it fits into your horse care practices.

🩺 Ulcer & Colic Prevention

Horses secrete stomach acid constantly—even when not eating. Slow-feeding devices help by:

• Keeping forage in the stomach for continually
  • Hard Slow Feeders and Small‐mesh hay nets (1–2 inch holes) prolong “forage time” by 50 %–80 % versus loose hay, maintaining a continuous layer of forage that buffers acid [5].
• Buffering stomach acid (via saliva)
  • Continuous chewing produces saliva rich in bicarbonate, neutralizing acid and protecting gastric mucosa [1, 7].
• Lowering ESGD ulcer scores compared to meal feeding
  • Studies show horses on continuous‐access forage (via slow‐feed nets or ad libitum pasture) have significantly lower Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) scores than horses on twice‐daily meal feeding of hay [7, 9]
• Reducing sudden feed volume spikes (which can lead to colic)
  • Rapid boluses of hay (loose on the ground) can overwhelm hindgut motility, increasing colic risk. Slow consumption minimizes abrupt shifts in digesta flow, reducing impaction and gas‐colic risk [10].

Even modest adjustments—like switching from loose hay to a slow hay feeding method—can significantly reduce ulcer severity.

📦 Capacity & Refilling Frequency

When you’re managing your horse’s feed, feeder capacity matters:

• Exact refill intervals depend on mesh size, hay quality (leaf-to-stem ratio), and horse temperament (fast or slow eater).

• Automatic feeders must be calibrated: typical programs for a 500 kg maintenance horse dispense 1 kg every 3 hours.

🧠 Tip: Overstuffed hay nets may tangle; underfilled feeders may frustrate horses. Balance hay type, mesh size, and your horse’s natural pace.

Each system has its advantages depending on your operational needs and the feeding habits of your horse. Opting for a feeder that best fits your existing routine can help streamline farm chores. Balancing horse needs with practical capacity considerations is key to maintaining an effective feeding program.

🦴 Feeding Posture & Musculoskeletal Health

A horse’s feeding posture significantly affects musculoskeletal health:

1. Natural Feeding Posture: Wild equids graze with a “long-and-low” neck position, which aligns cervical vertebrae and promotes normal nasal‐pas­sage drainage [6, 12]. Maintaining this head‐down posture helps distribute muscular forces evenly across the neck and thoracolumbar region.
2. Risks of Hanging Feeders Too High
   • Hanging a net or bag well above the withers (e.g., “face level”) forces the horse into a prolonged “head-up” posture. This:
     • Strains the cervical spine and nuchal ligaments.
     • Inhibits nasal drainage, increasing respiratory irritation risk (dust, particulates) and exacerbating equine asthma/COPD [12].
3. Risks of Hanging Feeders Too Low
   • If a small-mesh net is hung below withers—so that hay is just at or below chest level—Hodgson et al. (2022) found that:
     • Horses must pull harder (higher pull forces) to extract hay, especially from double-layered nets or when feeding haylage (40 %–60 % moisture), further increasing force [12].
     • That added pull force causes over-flexion of the cervical spine, compressing vertebrae and straining dorsal neck/upper back musculature over time.
4. Benefits of Ground-Level Feeders
   • Ground rings, hay pillows, or skid feeders placed on a level, non-slippery pad (e.g., gravel) fully replicate a natural grazing stance. Smith et al. (2019) used EMG and found significantly lower neck and back muscle activation when horses ate from ground rings versus hanging nets [13]

⚠️ Important Note: The Hay Pillow is not recommended for horses with shoes, as shod hooves can become entangled in the fabric mesh. This poses a serious risk of injury or torn shoes, especially in confined areas. Always choose shoe-safe feeders or use it only with barefoot horses.

While Hodgson et al. (2022) do not explicitly prescribe a hanging height, current data show that hanging small‐mesh nets at withers level (so the horse’s muzzle drops about 10–15 cm below the withers) produces a near‐natural 90° nose–poll–withers angle with minimal pull force. More research has to be done.

📝 Important Reminder on Feeding Posture

Remember, your horse will spend most of their life eating in the position you set up for them daily. It’s tempting to think, “Wild horses occasionally eat from trees and bushes, lifting their heads, so elevated feeding isn’t a big deal.” But in reality, the majority of wild grazing occurs with their head down. Your horse’s daily feeding posture isn’t just occasional—it’s a long-term, repetitive activity.

Choose a feeding position thoughtfully, knowing your horse will maintain that posture for many hours, day after day. Prioritizing a natural, head-down grazing position will significantly benefit your horse’s musculoskeletal and respiratory health over their lifetime.

For instance, if your horse typically eats from the ground, and then you head off to a competition where you briefly hang a hay net higher outside your trailer while he waits, it’s usually not something to be overly concerned about. Short-term adjustments are manageable. The key is that the primary, everyday feeding posture supports your horse’s long-term health and comfort.

Unnatural position, there is still waste and the food is consumed quickly.

Ground feeder: Better position, but there is waste and the horse eats fast.

Ground feeder with hay net: will slow down the consumption rate with a good head position.

⚠️ Safety vs. Waste: Managing Risks

Common Risks:

1. Limb Entanglement
   • Loose nets or bags hung without breakaway attachments can catch a hoof or shoe.
2. Fraying Seams / Broken Clips
   • Torn or worn fabric/rope increases snag points.
3. Rust / Sharp Edges (metal ground feeders)
   • Coatings wear; rust or burrs can injure lips or legs.
4. Ground-Level Feeder Hazards
   • Some ground feeders (e.g., hay pillows) can entangle shod hooves or cause slipping if placed on uneven/muddy surfaces.

Best Practices:

• Use Breakaway Ties: Leather loops or baling twine that release under ~10–15 kg force prevent entrapment [15].
• Inspect Weekly: Check all nets, bags, and feeders for fraying, rust, or splinters.
• Hang at Safe Height: Position nets/bags so that hooves cannot reach them—but not so high that trap neck posture. Aim for withers height.
• Choose Shoe-Safe Designs: If ground feeding, use hard‐plastic rings or skid feeders with rounded edges; avoid “fabric” ground feeders for shod horses.

Waste Comparison (field trial averages):

• Ground Rings: 20 %–30 % wasted (soiled/trampled) [4].
• Loose Hay: 40 %–50 % wasted, particularly in wet or muddy stalls [4].
• Hay Nets (small-mesh): 15 %–25 % wasted [4, 5].

Bottom Line: Balancing safety and efficiency is key. Proper installation, breakaway fittings, and regular maintenance ensure both horse welfare and economic efficiency.iciency of your equine operation.

Durability, Material Considerations & Long-Term Cost

When choosing hay feeding tools, weigh durability against cost:

Prices vary regionally; ranges above reflect U.S. (2023–2024) average retail.

Labor savings from automatic feeders (estimated 30 minutes/horse/day in large barns) can offset capital costs within 12–18 months when feeding 20+ horses [11].

Personal Experience and Recommendations

From my own experience managing horses in both pasture and stable settings, I’ve found that ground feeders combined with slow-feed nets work exceptionally well for herd or pasture management. I prefer using feeders that are roofed to protect the hay from weather, significantly reducing waste and spoilage. Having several of these feeders distributed across each pasture makes feeding straightforward—I typically refill them once per week, simplifying farm chores dramatically.

For stabled horses, I’ve had great success with the Porta-Grazer slow feeder. By tying the Porta-Grazer securely in the corner of each stall, horses enjoy continuous access to their free-choice hay without hassle. I refill these feeders just once per day, and they have made feeding worry-free. Of course, I still supplement their diet with alfalfa, ration balancers, or additional feedings twice daily to meet their nutritional needs comprehensively.

I have not tried the OptiMizer, but I definitely would like to give it a try and will be buying one in the future to be able to review it for you.

Overall, these solutions have streamlined my feeding program, enhancing both efficiency and equine welfare.

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