Eliminating waste is one of many reasons horse owners are switching to slow feeding. The Texas Haynet is a slow feed hay net, mimicking intake speed of natural grazing and allowing animals to digest and absorb more nutrients—just as nature intended.
Horses require a continuous supply of forage. In a natural environment, they spend 18-20 hours a day grazing and can consume up to 1.5 pounds of forage an hour. The slow, constant, trickling in of food keeps the horse’s gut moving and balanced. The goal of slow feeding is to imitate this crucial biological process.
However, many horses are confined to stalls or dry lots where meals are rationed out twice a day. When forage is absent for several hours a day, digestive problems such as ulcers, colic, and diarrhea begin to emerge. Weight management and behavioral issues also arise due to an empty digestive system. Conversely, when horses engorge themselves with unlimited amounts of hay, other serious health problems can occur. Excessive gas can build in the hind gut leading to chronic diarrhea or even worse, colic. Texas slow feed hay nets simulate grazing by keeping forage in front of the horse continuously and slowing down consumption to a natural rate. Learn more at texashaynet.com
Published September 2019 Issue
The Northwest Horse Source is an independently owned and operated print and online magazine for horse owners and enthusiasts of all breeds and disciplines in the Pacific Northwest. Our contemporary editorial columns are predominantly written by experts in the region, covering the care, training, keeping and enjoyment of horses, with an eye to the specific concerns in our region.
