Hay net
Hay nets are a sensible alternative to floor feeding, especially when keeping horses, especially during transport. However, a conventional hay rack is usually the better method for hay feeding, especially in stalls and open stalls .
Attachment
Hay nets should be placed as low as possible so that the horses can eat in their natural pasture. This avoids tension in the neck and back. At the same time, care must be taken that the horses do not get caught in the net with their hooves. In the horse trailer, hay nets with snap hooks are attached to the front of the trailer at the height of the horse's mouth. Here they serve less for nutrition, but above all for calming occupation. In the open air, hay nets can also be attached between two posts. This means that they are accessible to the animals from all sides and can easily be attached to another location at any time.
advantages
The feeding time increases on the hay net, the horses are busy longer and less hay is lost because less is stepped into the ground and soiled. The feeding posture is as close to nature as from the ground, since horses pull the hay from the net, similar to the process that would be used to tear off tall grass.
disadvantage
For larger herds of four or more horses, several hay nets are necessary so that each horse has a place and gets enough hay despite the lower rank. This means that several posts are required, and space is lost for free run-off. If horses of higher rank reach over the hay net to eat, horses of lower rank can be driven from their feeding place. Too high a suspension does not correspond to the anatomically given feeding posture of the horse. Hay nets must therefore be placed low above the ground. In the case of shod horses, this increases the risk of their horseshoes getting caught in the hay net. Since hay nets usually hang over the eyes when eating, eye infections from hay dust are possible.
Mesh sizes
Hay nets are available in various mesh sizes from around four to ten centimeters. Experience shows that even large horses get along well with the small meshes. With larger meshes, there is a risk that horses get caught in the net with their front hooves when kicking .