Those of us who learned pony care over 50 years ago will remember when feeding horses hay in a bag was frowned on by many. However, the different types of hay nets for horses on the market today carry veterinarian recommendation for specific uses. There are many reasons to use a forage net, as well as reasons why one kind of net may work better for you than another.
The original design was a simple mesh drawstring bag. Hay was stuffed in and the top was drawn shut by long cords. These cords were used to hang the bag up high, where the horse could reach the forage but there was no fear of tangling the feet in the mesh. Those who disliked them said feeding up off the ground was unnatural and that it let dust clog the eyes and nostrils.
However, there were scenarios when a net was useful. If a horse was tied in a stall, the tie rope would be dangerously long if the animal had to feed off the ground. Hanging forage in a bag kept the rope short and safer. When moving animals in a trailer, using a net provided forage during the trip - and at the destination if horses were tied to the trailer.
Today there are many types of forage bags for many different uses. Mini bags can hold one flake of hay, while the extra large ones can fit around an entire 3-wire bale. There are even mesh covers for the huge round bales designed to be fed in fields or paddocks.
The mesh covers cut down on the speed of consumption and the amount of hay wasted. If horses grab big mouthfuls, much will be dropped and trampled underfoot. Additional design features help owners control how forage is presented and how much will be consumed. One of the recent innovations is the slow-feeder bag.
'Slow-feeder' nets are a relatively new design which horse people have enthusiastically welcomed. These bags have opening of only one to one-and-a-half inches. The horse is forced to nibble rather than grab, which makes the amount of forage that hits the stomach at one time similar to grazing. Greedy animals are kept from massively over-indulging, making it easier for owners to control their weight gain.
The smaller openings also make it easier to keep forage available almost all the time. Rather than throwing a horse a few flakes of hay once or twice a day, or stuffing a net which will run out in an hour or two of steady feeding, the hay can last through the night or until the next feeding. Since the horse must nibble rather than grab, consumption is slowed. Even though the animal has access to forage 24/7, it will not necessarily get more hay in a day.
Having forage always available is good. The horse evolved as a grazer, constantly getting feed in small amounts. Feeding hay once or twice a day means the animal may gobble the hay and then spend a long time with nothing to eat. Veterinarians say this is not healthy. Using a net can cut down on incidences of colic and ulcers. To choose the right net for the job, check online; you can learn a lot from product descriptions, testimonials, and endorsements.
The original design was a simple mesh drawstring bag. Hay was stuffed in and the top was drawn shut by long cords. These cords were used to hang the bag up high, where the horse could reach the forage but there was no fear of tangling the feet in the mesh. Those who disliked them said feeding up off the ground was unnatural and that it let dust clog the eyes and nostrils.
However, there were scenarios when a net was useful. If a horse was tied in a stall, the tie rope would be dangerously long if the animal had to feed off the ground. Hanging forage in a bag kept the rope short and safer. When moving animals in a trailer, using a net provided forage during the trip - and at the destination if horses were tied to the trailer.
Today there are many types of forage bags for many different uses. Mini bags can hold one flake of hay, while the extra large ones can fit around an entire 3-wire bale. There are even mesh covers for the huge round bales designed to be fed in fields or paddocks.
The mesh covers cut down on the speed of consumption and the amount of hay wasted. If horses grab big mouthfuls, much will be dropped and trampled underfoot. Additional design features help owners control how forage is presented and how much will be consumed. One of the recent innovations is the slow-feeder bag.
'Slow-feeder' nets are a relatively new design which horse people have enthusiastically welcomed. These bags have opening of only one to one-and-a-half inches. The horse is forced to nibble rather than grab, which makes the amount of forage that hits the stomach at one time similar to grazing. Greedy animals are kept from massively over-indulging, making it easier for owners to control their weight gain.
The smaller openings also make it easier to keep forage available almost all the time. Rather than throwing a horse a few flakes of hay once or twice a day, or stuffing a net which will run out in an hour or two of steady feeding, the hay can last through the night or until the next feeding. Since the horse must nibble rather than grab, consumption is slowed. Even though the animal has access to forage 24/7, it will not necessarily get more hay in a day.
Having forage always available is good. The horse evolved as a grazer, constantly getting feed in small amounts. Feeding hay once or twice a day means the animal may gobble the hay and then spend a long time with nothing to eat. Veterinarians say this is not healthy. Using a net can cut down on incidences of colic and ulcers. To choose the right net for the job, check online; you can learn a lot from product descriptions, testimonials, and endorsements.
About the Author:
When you are looking for information about hay nets for horses, go to our web pages online here today. Additional details are available at http://www.haynets.biz now.
No comments:
Post a Comment