Slow Horse Feeder designed to replicate natural grazing patterns
HayLo Slow Horse Feeder is designed to replicate the natural grazing patterns of the horse when access to adlib grazing is neither viable nor available. HayLo allows the horse to eat from a low head position, and the design and placement of the feeding holes allows them to search, rip and chew as they would when grazing naturally.
It comprises of :
> A tub to contain the forage.
> A screw in bung to allow for soaking and draining of hay.
> A removable rim to keep the feeding grill within the tub.
> A feeding grill with two interchangeable feeding discs through which the horse extracts the forage- Each disc has a feeding hole size of either 70mm or 90mm, enabling you to choose the best size for your horse’s particular feeding requirements.
What Forage can be fed ?
HayLo can be used to feed Hay (both dry and soaked) and Haylage.
How much Forage can it hold ?
The feeder can hold approx. 6.5kg of dry hay from a round bale and 8.5 kg of dry hay from a sectioned bale; 10kg of Haylage from a round bale and 12kg of Haylage from a vacuum packed bale
By how much will it slow down the eating process ?
The feeder will on average slow down the rate of consumption by up to four times the length of time it would take your horse to eat loose on the ground. You will find that as your horse becomes accustomed to having a steady stream of forage available, they will naturally self- regulate their eating and start to graze more slowly from the feeder , thus further extending the length of time the forage lasts. As your horse becomes used to the fact that there is feed available when they want it, they will no longer feel the need to gorge as soon as food is presented; as they will no longer be hungry, frustrated, stressed or uncomfortable. All of which can happen when left for extended periods without food.
How do I fill the Feeder ?
- Squeeze the two red catches underneath the rim simultaneously and twist anti-clockwise to remove the rim.
- Place the forage inside and really pack it in.
- Place the feeding grill on top of the forage insuring that the in and out shape of the feeding grill aligns with the in and out shape of the tub.
- Place the rim on top of the tub and twist clockwise to ‘click’ into place.
With the rim in place it is IMPOSSIBLE for a horse to tip or remove the feeding grill.
Can I Soak Hay in the Feeder ?
HayLo doubles up as a hay soaker. Simply unclip the unit from its fixings if indoors. Hay can then be soaked for the required time inside the unit. Unscrewing the bung at the base of the tub will allow the excess water to drain away easily. The bung can then be replaced and the feeder re-secured ready for use.
How do I Introduce my horse to the Feeder ?
When first introducing your horse to HayLo it is best to provide forage on top of, as well as inside the feeder. This will allow your horse to become accustomed to both the feeder itself, and to eating from it. Start them off by first pulling some hay/haylage through the holes to show them where it is and how to access it. While some horses take to the feeder straight away, others may need a little more time to adapt.
If your horse has been without food for an extended period of time, we would also recommend that a small amount of forage be provided alongside the feeder. This will allow them to satiate their initial hunger without becoming frustrated, and as they start to relax they will then be able to graze slowly from the feeder itself.
Initially your horse may stand and eat continuously from the feeder, but after a few days when they realise that they now have a steady supply of forage, you will find that they will naturally self-regulate their eating and begin to dip in and out of the feeder as they would when grazing naturally.
Which Feeding Disc should I use ?
All animals are individual, and as with people there is no one size fits all. Though the average pony and horse will have a head size corresponding to their height and breed, some may find it easier to eat from a certain size hole than others, due to having either a smaller or larger mouth. If you are unsure as to which hole size would best suit your animal then it is best to go for the larger size to begin. Alternating between the different disc sizes will soon show you which size best suits your horse or ponies needs.
Please note for reasons of safety in order that your horses foot would not be become wedged in a feeding hole were he to place a hoof on the grill, the hoof size would need to be 1 inch/2.6cm/25.5mm larger than the feeding hole size of your chosen grill.
90mm Feeding Disc
We would recommend the 90mm hole feeding disc for feeding SOAKED HAY and HAYLAGE. As your horse becomes used to both eating from the feeder, and realising that he now has a steady stream of forage available, you may then be able to introduce the 70mm hole size disc in order to slow the rate of consumption even more.
For larger horses, the 90mm hole size feeding disc works well with DRY HAY, but if you find that your horse is able to eat down too much through the holes, leaving large dents in each hole, with dry hay collecting underneath the plastic where there are no holes and preventing the grill from dropping as it should, then if you change to the 70mm hole disc the grill will now drop the whole way as it should.
70mm Feeding Disc
We would recommend using the 70mm feeding disc for feeding DRY HAY, SOAKED HAY & HAYLAGE
Your HayLo Feeder comes with both the 90mm feeding disc & the 70mm feeding disc.
How do I secure the Feeder ?
HayLo’s robust design makes it suitable for use both indoors and out; from the stable and the barn, to the paddock, field and track System.
Its four fixing points, two on either side, top and bottom, enable it to be easily secured to a stable wall or fence post ensuring the feeder will remain in place and your horse will notbe able to roll it around the stable or field. (Four wall plates and two straps are provided with the feeder for securing, and directions are provided in the downloadable PDF above & also in the Videos section)
What material is the Feeder made from ?
HayLo is made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Plastic. HDPE is an extremely strong material designed to rip or tear in a malfunction instead of shattering and becoming shrapnel like, thereby making it extremely safe in the unlikely event a horse were to break it. HDPE can withstand temperatures of -30°C to +60°C. The tub and rim are blow moulded, and the feeding grill and discs are injection moulded for extra strength.
What are the Dimensions, Weight & Colour ?
HayLo is 625mm (62.5 cm) H x 650mm (65 cm) W. The height and width of the feeder allows both horses and ponies plenty of head space whilst grazing from it. The depth of the feeder is shallow enough so as not to discourage a shy feeder from fully immersing their head inside the tub in order to access all the forage right to the bottom. Empty, the feeder weighs approx. 10kg making it light enough to be portable but heavy enough to be durable.
The feeder itself is green with red clips on the rim and a red drainage bung near its base. The colour green is very familiar to horses as it is used a lot in yard equipment, and so the feeder should not panic a horse when first introduced to it. The colour also allows the feeder to blend into its surroundings in both the stable and field. The colourful red clips make it easier for you to locate whilst putting on and off the rim, and the red bung makes it easy to find if dropped.
How is The Feeder Tub designed ?
The rounded tub has four inverted sides to allow the feeding grill to move freely up and down as the horse eats the forage underneath. The inverted sides prevent the grill from spinning, thereby allowing the horse to rip the forage from the feeding holes, simulating the ripping of grass as seen during natural grazing. The tub also has a water tight drain plug to allow soaking and subsequent draining of hay and/or release of rainwater if used out doors.
How does The Rim work ?
The rim is designed to easily lock into place once the feeding grill has been placed on top of the forage, and will easily unlock when the feeder is to be refilled. The locking action is such that even the most inquisitive of horses CAN NOT remove the rim, and therefore the feeding grill CAN NOT come out of the tub.
How does The Feeding Grill work ?
The feeding grill has two easily interchangeable disc inserts. Each disc has feeding hole sizes of either 70mm or 90mm. The feeding grill moves vertically up and down inside the tub as the horse eats, allowing access to the forage underneath at all times. The depth of the feeding grill ENSURES it cannot tip whilst inside the tub. As the feeding grill cannot tip or come out of the tub, the horse can ONLY access the forage through the feeding holes. At NO TIME can your horse gain access to any forage underneath or from the sides of the grill itself, once the grill is inside the tub and the rim is secured in place.
The preferred feeding disc insert is slotted into the base of the feeding grill and the design is such that the horse cannot remove the disc from the grill once it has been securely fitted. The discs can be easily interchanged as required to suit your individual horse’s needs.
How are the Feeding Holes designed ?
The feeding holes are designed in a funnel shape allowing room for the horse’s lips as he muzzles through the holes selecting a particular one to eat from. The design of the holes allows the horse’s mouth to gain close access to the forage underneath, whilst maintaining the strength of the disc. The 3mm thickness of the disc at the hole site, allows the horses teeth the required proximity to the forage in order to feed. The holes are designed in an arc shape pattern enabling the horse to eat from side to side as they would when grazing naturally while also satisfying their natural foraging instinct.
How long does delivery take?
Mainland UK 1-2 days on process of order, Rest of Europe 3-5 days on process of order
What Forage can be fed ?
HayLo can be used to feed Hay (both dry and soaked) and Haylage.
How much Forage can it hold ?
The feeder can hold approx. 6.5kg of dry hay from a round bale and 8.5 kg of dry hay from a sectioned bale; 10kg of Haylage from a round bale and 12kg of Haylage from a vacuum packed bale
By how much will it slow down the eating process ?
The feeder will on average slow down the rate of consumption by up to four times the length of time it would take your horse to eat loose on the ground. You will find that as your horse becomes accustomed to having a steady stream of forage available, they will naturally self- regulate their eating and start to graze more slowly from the feeder , thus further extending the length of time the forage lasts. As your horse becomes used to the fact that there is feed available when they want it, they will no longer feel the need to gorge as soon as food is presented; as they will no longer be hungry, frustrated, stressed or uncomfortable. All of which can happen when left for extended periods without food.
How do I fill the Feeder ?
- Squeeze the two red catches underneath the rim simultaneously and twist anti-clockwise to remove the rim.
- Place the forage inside and really pack it in.
- Place the feeding grill on top of the forage insuring that the in and out shape of the feeding grill aligns with the in and out shape of the tub.
- Place the rim on top of the tub and twist clockwise to ‘click’ into place.
With the rim in place it is IMPOSSIBLE for a horse to tip or remove the feeding grill.
Can I Soak Hay in the Feeder ?
HayLo doubles up as a hay soaker. Simply unclip the unit from its fixings if indoors. Hay can then be soaked for the required time inside the unit. Unscrewing the bung at the base of the tub will allow the excess water to drain away easily. The bung can then be replaced and the feeder re-secured ready for use.
How do I Introduce my horse to the Feeder ?
When first introducing your horse to HayLo it is best to provide forage on top of, as well as inside the feeder. This will allow your horse to become accustomed to both the feeder itself, and to eating from it. Start them off by first pulling some hay/haylage through the holes to show them where it is and how to access it. While some horses take to the feeder straight away, others may need a little more time to adapt.
If your horse has been without food for an extended period of time, we would also recommend that a small amount of forage be provided alongside the feeder. This will allow them to satiate their initial hunger without becoming frustrated, and as they start to relax they will then be able to graze slowly from the feeder itself.
Initially your horse may stand and eat continuously from the feeder, but after a few days when they realise that they now have a steady supply of forage, you will find that they will naturally self-regulate their eating and begin to dip in and out of the feeder as they would when grazing naturally.
Which Feeding Disc should I use ?
All animals are individual, and as with people there is no one size fits all. Though the average pony and horse will have a head size corresponding to their height and breed, some may find it easier to eat from a certain size hole than others, due to having either a smaller or larger mouth. If you are unsure as to which hole size would best suit your animal then it is best to go for the larger size to begin. Alternating between the different disc sizes will soon show you which size best suits your horse or ponies needs.
Please note for reasons of safety in order that your horses foot would not be become wedged in a feeding hole were he to place a hoof on the grill, the hoof size would need to be 1 inch/2.6cm/25.5mm larger than the feeding hole size of your chosen grill.
90mm Feeding Disc
We would recommend the 90mm hole feeding disc for feeding SOAKED HAY and HAYLAGE. As your horse becomes used to both eating from the feeder, and realising that he now has a steady stream of forage available, you may then be able to introduce the 70mm hole size disc in order to slow the rate of consumption even more.
For larger horses, the 90mm hole size feeding disc works well with DRY HAY, but if you find that your horse is able to eat down too much through the holes, leaving large dents in each hole, with dry hay collecting underneath the plastic where there are no holes and preventing the grill from dropping as it should, then if you change to the 70mm hole disc the grill will now drop the whole way as it should.
70mm Feeding Disc
We would recommend using the 70mm feeding disc for feeding DRY HAY, SOAKED HAY & HAYLAGE
Your HayLo Feeder comes with both the 90mm feeding disc & the 70mm feeding disc.
How do I secure the Feeder ?
HayLo’s robust design makes it suitable for use both indoors and out; from the stable and the barn, to the paddock, field and track System.
Its four fixing points, two on either side, top and bottom, enable it to be easily secured to a stable wall or fence post ensuring the feeder will remain in place and your horse will notbe able to roll it around the stable or field. (Four wall plates and two straps are provided with the feeder for securing, and directions are provided in the downloadable PDF above & also in the Videos section)
What material is the Feeder made from ?
HayLo is made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Plastic. HDPE is an extremely strong material designed to rip or tear in a malfunction instead of shattering and becoming shrapnel like, thereby making it extremely safe in the unlikely event a horse were to break it. HDPE can withstand temperatures of -30°C to +60°C. The tub and rim are blow moulded, and the feeding grill and discs are injection moulded for extra strength.
What are the Dimensions, Weight & Colour ?
HayLo is 625mm (62.5 cm) H x 650mm (65 cm) W. The height and width of the feeder allows both horses and ponies plenty of head space whilst grazing from it. The depth of the feeder is shallow enough so as not to discourage a shy feeder from fully immersing their head inside the tub in order to access all the forage right to the bottom. Empty, the feeder weighs approx. 10kg making it light enough to be portable but heavy enough to be durable.
The feeder itself is green with red clips on the rim and a red drainage bung near its base. The colour green is very familiar to horses as it is used a lot in yard equipment, and so the feeder should not panic a horse when first introduced to it. The colour also allows the feeder to blend into its surroundings in both the stable and field. The colourful red clips make it easier for you to locate whilst putting on and off the rim, and the red bung makes it easy to find if dropped.
How is The Feeder Tub designed ?
The rounded tub has four inverted sides to allow the feeding grill to move freely up and down as the horse eats the forage underneath. The inverted sides prevent the grill from spinning, thereby allowing the horse to rip the forage from the feeding holes, simulating the ripping of grass as seen during natural grazing. The tub also has a water tight drain plug to allow soaking and subsequent draining of hay and/or release of rainwater if used out doors.
How does The Rim work ?
The rim is designed to easily lock into place once the feeding grill has been placed on top of the forage, and will easily unlock when the feeder is to be refilled. The locking action is such that even the most inquisitive of horses CAN NOT remove the rim, and therefore the feeding grill CAN NOT come out of the tub.
How does The Feeding Grill work ?
The feeding grill has two easily interchangeable disc inserts. Each disc has feeding hole sizes of either 70mm or 90mm. The feeding grill moves vertically up and down inside the tub as the horse eats, allowing access to the forage underneath at all times. The depth of the feeding grill ENSURES it cannot tip whilst inside the tub. As the feeding grill cannot tip or come out of the tub, the horse can ONLY access the forage through the feeding holes. At NO TIME can your horse gain access to any forage underneath or from the sides of the grill itself, once the grill is inside the tub and the rim is secured in place.
The preferred feeding disc insert is slotted into the base of the feeding grill and the design is such that the horse cannot remove the disc from the grill once it has been securely fitted. The discs can be easily interchanged as required to suit your individual horse’s needs.
How are the Feeding Holes designed ?
The feeding holes are designed in a funnel shape allowing room for the horse’s lips as he muzzles through the holes selecting a particular one to eat from. The design of the holes allows the horse’s mouth to gain close access to the forage underneath, whilst maintaining the strength of the disc. The 3mm thickness of the disc at the hole site, allows the horses teeth the required proximity to the forage in order to feed. The holes are designed in an arc shape pattern enabling the horse to eat from side to side as they would when grazing naturally while also satisfying their natural foraging instinct.
How long does delivery take?
Mainland UK 1-2 days on process of order, Rest of Europe 3-5 days on process of order
FILLING THE FEEDER
Place the forage inside the feeder
Place feeding grill on top
Put on rim
Squeeze the two red catches, twist and click rim into place
CHANGING THE FEEDING DISC IN THE FEEDING GRILL
Using allen key provided, unscrew the two nuts on either side of the feeding grill
Seperate the two halves of the feeding grill and remove the feeding disc
Fit the desired hole sixe feeding disc into the groove at the base of the feeding grill
Reclose the feeding grill using the allen key to re screw the 4 nuts tightly/span>
SECURING THE FEEDER TO THE STABLE WALL
Align the 4 wall plates provided with the level of the brackets on the feeder, and screw into the wall
Using the two straps provided secure the feeder by running the first strap through the upper wall plates and brackets securing tightly behind the feeder and repeat for the lower wall plates and brackets
Using one strap secure the feeder through the upper & lower wall plates and brackets on one side and secure tightly. Repeat for the other side
Using one strap secure the feeder through the lower bracket & wall plate and then through the diagnolly opposite upper wall plate & bracket, Repeat with the other strap, tying both straps tightly to form an X behind the feeder
SECURING THE FEEDER TO A FENCE POST
Using the two straps provided secure the feeder by running one strap trough the upper brackets on the feeder and around the fence post, tying tightly behind the feeder.
Repeat with the second strap through the lower brackets.
For Information on the Medical, Physical & Behavioural benefits of Haylo Slow Horse Feeder, Visit this page
