🐴 Feeding Horses with a Hay Net: Slower Eating, Better Digestion in 2025 🧺🌿

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Horses were built to graze for 15 or more hours a day. Their digestive systems are designed for slow, steady intake of fibrous forage—not two large meals from a stall corner. In 2025, many horse owners are learning how to mimic natural grazing with hay nets. Let’s explore how hay nets can support your horse’s gut health, prevent colic, and promote a more natural eating rhythm. 🧠🐎

🌱 Why Meal Feeding Isn’t Natural

In nature, horses graze on grass for most of the day—chewing constantly and producing saliva to aid digestion. When we stall horses and feed hay twice a day, we reduce grazing time from:

• 🕒 ~15 hours/day ➜ 🕒 ~2 hours/day

This disrupts their natural digestion and increases risk of:

• 🔥 Gastric ulcers
• ⚠️ Colic
• 🐎 Boredom-related behaviors like cribbing or wood chewing

🧺 How Hay Nets Help

Hay nets work by slowing down your horse’s rate of forage consumption. The smaller the holes, the longer it takes the horse to pull hay through, which mimics natural grazing and spreads out feeding time. 🌾🕒

📚 Research-Backed Benefits

A study by the University of Minnesota compared hay nets with different hole sizes:

• 🔴 Large holes (6 inches)
• 🟡 Medium holes (1.75 inches)
• 🟢 Small holes (1 inch)

Results showed:

• Horses eating from large-hole nets consumed hay just as fast as eating off the ground
• Horses eating from medium and small-hole nets ate significantly slower and for longer durations

Conclusion: Small-hole hay nets (1–1.75") promote slower eating and longer forage access, which supports better digestion. ✅

⚕️ Health Benefits of Slow Feeding

Slowing your horse’s hay intake can:

• 💧 Increase saliva production, helping to buffer stomach acid
• 🧘 Reduce stress and boredom in stalled horses
• 🛡️ Support gut health and lower colic risk
• ⚖️ Help manage weight and avoid binge-eating

Many horses also show calmer behavior when allowed to nibble all day. Less standing around, more foraging, fewer behavioral issues. 🧠✨

🔩 Choosing the Right Hay Net

Not all hay nets are created equal. When shopping for one, consider:

• 🕳️ Hole size – 1" to 1.75" for most horses
• 📏 Durability – choose strong mesh if your horse is rough
• 📦 Portability – some nets tie to stalls, others hang in trailers

Some hay nets can be used in slow-feed hay bags or integrated into ground feeders to prevent waste. 🧺💡

📲 Ask A Vet for Slow Feed Setup Tips

Need help choosing a hay net or adjusting your horse’s feeding routine? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet App for feeding calculators, ulcer prevention tips, and customized forage plans. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the Ask A Vet team are here to help reduce digestive issues and build safer stall routines. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, we know feeding isn’t just about what horses eat—it’s how they eat it. Using a hay net with small holes can extend grazing time, protect the digestive system, and improve your horse’s overall well-being. 🐴🧺🌿

Want a hay net comparison chart or slow-feed plan? Visit AskAVet.com to download now 🕒🌾