FAQ Slowfeeders and hay nets

In the different types of housing for horses the application is also different. Think of:

• Using a slow feeder or hay net in the stable or paddock for a horse or pony.
• A track system where you want to create multiple feeding points.
• Provide greater forage capacity for multiple horses.
• Applying passive physio®

Here too, every situation is different. Where a Shetland pony has to survive 24 hours on 5 kg of hay, a group or single adult horse can require a different volume. The number of feedings and feeding moments during the day also play a role here.

Some horses need more delay due to their diet to avoid longer periods without roughage, while other horses can keep to size and it is mainly about 'anti-spill'.

In short, you can assume the following.

• Maas up to 3cm - strong retardant.
• Maas 4 - 5cm - mildly retarding.
• Maas 6 and larger - hardly any to no delay.

The type of roughage or the type of horse also determines which mesh you can use better. Coarse and long-stemmed roughage and a small mesh do not go well together. And Shetland ponies can handle a small mesh better than a large draft horse.

Want to read more about when to use which mesh? See the Blog here

You can filter our products based on the different properties you have determined above.

• Go to 'all slow feeders and hay nets'
• Click on 'filter' at the top left
• Select your wishes
• Choose from the visible products

Wash a slow feeder regularly, especially for horses with respiratory problems. Dust can accumulate in the weave of the net and in combination with moisture (saliva or drinking water) can become moldy. Washing can be done on a mild program at 30 degrees with little (or no) mild detergent. Use the 'extra rinse' function for an extra clean and residue-free result. Let your hay net dry completely before using it again.

All PaardEerlijk own brand hay nets can be used in a hay steamer. The material is resistant to the temperature of steam (100 ° C). Make sure that the net does not make contact with a heating element.

You can't just put the net of a slow feeder rack in the washing machine. There is another method that can help keep the net as clean as possible.

Spray the rack with the hay net thoroughly with the garden hose at regular intervals. It is best not to use a high-pressure cleaner. We do not know whether the material and the weave can withstand this. Place the rack on the ground while spraying it down so that the jet can exert force on the weave and can take away dirt. Then spray the net down when the rack is upright. Let the net dry completely before using it again.

Adjust the height of your hay net or slow feeder to the size of your horse or pony. A horse eats best in a neutral position, with a strong preference for a low grazing position. With safety in mind, this is not always possible with a hay net. It is therefore best to choose a height between the knee and the chest.

A small portion of the feed can be given in variable feeding positions. For example, higher or more difficult to reach. Femke Dölle can tell you all about how to apply this safely to your horse.

Horses can develop a preferred posture, which means that the head and neck area are constantly being strained in the same place. The chance of this is greatest when using a net in the stable. A smaller mesh is more straining than a larger mesh. It is therefore advisable to regularly turn slow feeder and pillow nets and change their height or place so that neither the horse nor the net is constantly being strained in the same place. Do not give large quantities of roughage too high and, if necessary, support a net that moves too much and makes it difficult for the horse to eat. If your horse is familiar with head/neck complaints, preferably choose a larger mesh.

You can also read more information in the Blog: Which slow feeder or hay net is best for my horse?

Passive physiotherapy is a method with which you can let horses eat in variable positions under good supervision and with an eye for what your horse needs and can physically handle. This trains its body in an unburdened way, as horses would do in nature. Femke Dölle is an expert in this field. Because you are sometimes going to challenge the body, not all types of slow feeders or hay nets are suitable for this. In the selection aid you will clearly find which nets are suitable for this so that you can make the right choice.

In addition to a healthy eating position, you also want slow feeders to be a safe attribute in your horse's environment. The chance of getting caught or entangled in the net should be as small as possible. That is why you will find eight tips here that can help you with this. Nevertheless, always keep a critical eye on your horse's environment and its behavior. You remain responsible for a safe environment.

• Preferably hang Pillow hay nets with a flap with the flap facing backwards. This makes it harder to get into the net. Always close the flap with snap hooks or tension straps.
• Don't hang hay nets too low if your horse has shoes. This is especially important if your horse sometimes mows with its front leg.
• For hay nets with multiple attachment points (e.g. a Tunnel or Pillow) it is advisable to provide an extra break-away. The hay net forms a loop and a playful or inquisitive horse can get stuck in it with its head/neck or legs, depending on the position. By using a tie-wrap or a safe-gum you build in an extra possibility to get loose for the moments when you can't keep an eye on your horse. Choose a solution that suits the size of your horse and the pulling force that your horse or pony can exert in panic.
• Avoid loose loops and cords.
• If you do not trust a normal carabiner because your horse is very playful or inquisitive, use a secured carabiner with a screw or tension strap. Place normal carabiners as much as possible with the opening inwards so that the chance of getting caught or injuries to the mouth is minimized.
• With hay nets with larger meshes, you should also be careful with the hooves of small ponies or foals.
• When using a slow feeder rack, make sure that the rack can never be lifted out of the trough.
• Are you adding something new to your horse's environment? In the beginning, observe how your horse or horses react to this and deal with it.

In a trailer, a large portion is often not needed because an average ride is relatively short. Often the rectangle compact net is a fine net. Around 4 kg fits in here. Preferably choose a slightly larger mesh of 4.5 or 6 cm. Since a trailer ride can often be a bit stressful, it is nice if eating goes reasonably easily. If you are going on a longer trip, e.g. longer than 4 hours on the trailer, a larger net may be desirable.

How long a slow feeder or hay net actually lasts varies greatly and depends on several factors.

We often hear that our hay nets easily last for several years, but of course this depends on the individual situation.

Our hay nets are extra strong and resistant to rough eating and heavy pulling, but this net is not resistant to prolonged chewing on the net itself.

Some practical tips:

• Make sure the type of roughage matches the size of the mesh. Coarse hay in a small mesh hay net will cause more frustration and therefore more 'eating violence'. This will cause a hay net to wear out faster.
• Large 'peak loads' on a mesh should be avoided. Therefore check the area for nails etc. do not hang large and heavy nets on a mesh, but use the suspension loops and support in several places if necessary.
• Keep vermin and rodents under control as much as possible. They can cause unwanted damage.

More useful tips for extending the life of your hay net can be found below.

• Make sure you vary the load on the hay net by turning a Pillow regularly. You can leave a hay net with a drawstring hanging loose so that it turns automatically and your horse can take a bite in a different place each time.
• Provide suitable roughage in relation to the mesh of your hay net. Coarse or very long-stemmed hay types and possibly adding straw work better in a mesh of 4.5 or 6 cm. Mesh 3 is actually too small for that. Finer hay types can work very well in mesh 3.
• Limit the use of hay blocks. Although it is a nice source of enrichment, eating a pressed hay block in a small net can also cause faster wear. The block is hard and your horse will scrape the hay off with force with his teeth. With the net in between… we don’t need to explain more, do we? 😉
• Provide sufficient roughage and other forms of distraction such as branches etc. For young horses that are changing, it can help to hang something else in the stable that they can chew on. This way they will hopefully leave the empty hay net alone.
• If your horse is very hungry, first give it a tuft so that it can then continue to nibble on your hay net. Eating behavior of the horse is difficult to influence further, but it goes without saying that if horses eat very roughly, your hay net will wear out faster.
• If you use a net around a hay bale. Both large round and a 20 kg bale. We always recommend to loosen the strings. If the hay remains compressed, eating is very difficult and horses will naturally pluck more roughly, which will result in earlier wear.
• The same applies to hay slices in a hay net; we recommend shaking this a little looser so that it is less compact and passes through the mesh more easily.
• If you give unlimited roughage and horses always eat from the net, this also gives more load per 24 hours. In these cases you can see if you can give a part without net or if you can put more nets in rotation so that the load is more distributed.
• For the slowfeeder racks and loose nets we recommend turning them regularly. And not threading the net too tight. This will allow you to enjoy your net for longer.

We are convinced of the quality of our hay nets and find customer satisfaction very important.

Since the occurrence of damage to a hay net depends on many external factors over which we have no influence, the warranty is limited to imperfections that can be traced back to the manufacturing process, within a reasonable period after purchase.

Manufacturing imperfections include, but are not limited to, side seam separation or premature separation of a diagonal stitch that may occur in some nets (not the normal weave).

Other damage falls under the heading of usage damage. This damage occurs through (repeated) use over time, through sudden peak power on the net or through e.g. chewing on the net itself. In some cases this causes damage sooner than desirable.

It is good to know that a slow feeder or hay net is a wear product and
term will need to be replaced.

If, despite our high quality, a problem arises shortly after purchase (as described above), please contact us by e-mail. Please include your order number and one or more good, sharp photos of your network and the problem. We will be happy to help you find a reasonable and suitable solution, taking into account the degree of loss of function.