Slower Feeding is Safer Feeding

gorging on grass.
There are a number of devices designed to decrease speed and amount of hay consumption. An Internet search will turn up a variety of ingenious styles including nets boxes barrels and tubs that hold a lot of hay so they dont have to be filled too frequently. The idea behind all of the devices is the same bars ropes or nets block direct access to large mouthfuls of hay. The horse can pull out only small bits at a time mimicking natural feeding behavior and keeping the horse interested and occupied for hours.

To slow grain consumption available devices range from dispensers that dribble grain out a few pellets at a time to large heavy ground feed tubs with a series of shallow wells. Each well holds only a little grain and the horse has to work to find and eat all the grain.

Other feeders are in the form of a large plastic ball or barrel with holes spaced around the perimeter. The horse noses the feeder around eating the pelleted or cubed feed that falls out of the holes. Like the restricted hay feeders these grain feeders keep the horse occupied for long periods of time and prevent grain from being gobbled too quickly.

Like anything else designed to be used around horses the feeders you select need to be built of sturdy materials that will not splinter or break. Inspect the devices frequently for proper operation excessive wear and sharp corners. Look at the designs
with an eye toward your particular horse and his surroundings. If he wears a halter could it get caught on the feeder? If he is shod could he catch a shoe in a feeding net or bag that is designed to lie on the ground or stall floor? Homebuilt copies of popular slow feeders should be carefully thought out constructed of heavyduty materials and routinely examined for safety.