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 Location:   Library | Horse Care  

Preparing a Haynet

How to Give Hay to a Grass Kept Horse or Pony

The natural feeding position of a horse and pony is on the ground, but when feeding hay in the field this can be wasteful. The horse will pick out the best pieces, trampling and spoiling the rest. However, if there are a number of horses turned out together, to prevent squabbles, this is the only way to feed hay.

A haynet or hayrack is probably the most economical way of feeding hay as any left will not get wasted. Haynets have the advantage of being easily weighed. In wet weather the ground will get poached wherever horses are fed and a haynet/rack is easily moved to a different part of the field.

CAUTIONARY NOTE: Haynets are made of nylon and unbreakable, if the horse gets caught in the net, even if the retaining piece of string breaks that is holding up the net, the horse may still be caught and unable to free himself.

Feeding the Individual

When using a haynet/rack it should be placed well clear of the ground, at about the 'head level' of the horse or pony concerned; remember an empty haynet hangs a lot lower than when full. There is a risk that the horse will get his foot caught if the net is too low, or if the net is placed too high they risk getting seeds and dust in their eyes.

If you have a horse and pony together, tie up both nets at the same height, slightly low for the horse and a little high for the pony, as there is no guarantee they will eat from the net that you have tied up specifically for them. Place the nets at least 6m (20ft) apart so that neither can kick the other nor prevent it from eating the hay provided.

1. Open the haynet. Haynet Open
-Shaking Hay 2. Shake out roughly enough wedges of hay to make up the required weight.

(The reason the hay is shaken is to ensure that there are no foreign objects put into the haynet, i.e. sticks/dock stalks/stones etc.)
3. Put the shaken hay into the net. Filled Net
4. Weigh the haynet to ensure the correct amount of hay is fed to the horse.

Where to Tie Up a Haynet in the Field

  • On a post and rail fence, in the middle of the fence never in the corner especially if there is more than one horse.
  • To a suitable tree with no low branches.
  • For one horse or pony the net could be tied up inside the field shelter, or use a hay rack, which the horse is less likely to get caught in.



Comments
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Jill   19th Feb 03

what do I do to prepare the hay for a haynet, if it needs soaking first....

Also, how long should it get soaked for?

thanks
Jill

Clare   21st Feb 03

hi Jill

Answer to your question;-
just fill the hay net up as shown above then tie it to a piece of string some where near a hose and just soak the hay in the haynet and leave to drain then tie up in stable.
Just soak it till it looks really wet and is soaking through.

catrina   29th Apr 03

jill
i've always been told that you should fill up a large plastic bin with water and put the haynet into it and leave it there for about 20 minutes.



Becky Booth   15th May 03

We just got our first horses and have much to learn. I've never heard of "soaking" hay. Is it necessary?


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