Throwing a hay net out in the paddock is about as easy as feeding gets. But before you do, there’s one thing to check... and it’s at the bottom of your horse’s feet.
Feeding on the ground is the most natural position for a horse to eat in, and plenty of owners do it every day with great results. But there’s one thing that decides whether it’s a safe option for you, and that’s whether your horse is shod.
Unshod
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Tie a simple overhand knot at the base of the net once it’s filled, so the hay net is closed up tight, and then undo the knot at the very end of the drawstring so there is no loop left. This leaves just 2 loose rope ends that cannot entangle a leg or hoof.
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Tie the leftover drawstring with a daisy chain knot.
I have fed this way for over 15 years without an issue, but I know every horse and every setup is different. At the end of the day you know your horse best, so have a think about their personality and your paddock and feeding set up before deciding if it’s right for you.
If your horse is an excessive pawer - then you need to have a barrier between the horses hooves and the netting - whether they are shod or barefoot. This is for the safety of your horse and the longevity of your hay net.
Quick FAQ's
How to tie a daisy chain knot
Drawstring FAQs: Extending, Daisy Chains, and Replacements
Shod
If your horse wears shoes, their hay net should never be on the ground, a shoe can catch in the mesh which could decrease the longevity of the net, or worse, your horse could get hurt and that’s a risk not worth taking. The good news is you’ve still got great options:
Try a tub or trough instead: Placing your hay net inside a tub or trough keeps it contained and creates a barrier between the net and your horse’s feet. Your horse still gets to eat head-down, without the hay ending up trampled or in the mud.
Hang it high and secure: Any of our hay nets can be hung in your stable, yard or paddock. Tie it to a rail or fence, high enough that the net stays well clear of your horse’s legs, even once it’s empty. It's also important to take up any excess drawstring so there are no loose loops left dangling.
Hay-Stay Hanging Hay Net: Our Hay-Stay hay nets are a semi-permanent option designed to stay in one place but easily moved to another place if required. Mount them along a stable wall, yard or fence rail, or even string them between two trees. Instead of bringing the net to the hay, you bring the hay to the net and fill it on the spot. With a long rope on either side of the net, you can hang them at whatever height suits your horse and your setup.
One of our customers Colleen in the UK, was struggling with the mud and was fighting a losing battle! Every time she put hay out on the ground, a good chunk of it was pulled out, trampled and lost, and it was costing her a fortune in wasted hay.
She put her Knotless nets inside large feed tubs, and secured the nets with ties and clips,
so the net stays put and the hay stays off the ground. Her horses still eat with their heads down in a natural grazing position, but every bit of hay is contained, so nothing ends up trodden into the mud.
The key is containing the net so it can’t be dragged around or pawed at, and making sure hooves can’t get caught in it. A tub, box or tire does exactly that, which is why it’s one of the most popular ground feeding setups we see. With her nets contained, there’s none lost in the mud anymore, and they’ve even stood up to Layla, a mare Colleen describes as an absolute "thug".
No more hours spent digging up £££££££'s of wasted hay!!
“They have reduced my hay bill as there is none wasted in the mud now. I bought the knotless ones with 30cm / 1 1/4" holes. My grey mare is a thug and will destroy anything!!
She gets a bit hangry with them as she can no longer get more in her mouth than she needs🤣 but the Gutzbusta nets are stronger 💪 than her. Believe me that they are very well made and very tough to have stood up to Layla!! She is an absolute thug she'd be a good tester for people claiming their products are indestructible 🤣.” Colleen
We know every horse, property and owner is different, so no two setups look quite the same. Some of our customers hang their nets, some use tubs or boxes on the ground, and others build their own hay huts or troughs from whatever they have on hand.
There’s no right or wrong way to use a slow feed hay net, what matters most is that it’s safe for your horse: securely fastened, contained and set up so hooves and shoes can’t get caught.
