Equilibrium PortionPacer Slow Feeder Haynet

Equilibrium PortionPacer Slow Feeder Haynet

Smarter fibre feeding to support a healthy horse, the PortionPacer Haynet allows you to take control of your horse’s diet with tested feed rates and known fill sizes. With 3-year guarantee.

The PortionPacer Slow Feeder Haynet makes a significant difference to rate of intake. The way in which forage is eaten is just as important as the amount of forage given. Feeding patterns are one of the  risk factors for digestive disorders and a difficult aspect to manage, especially when the horse is stabled for prolonged periods, for example overnight. 

In a field-based observational study looking at 10 horses and 10 ponies fed forage from the floor, a 6cm holed net, or a 3cm holed net, the feed/forage intake rate of horses and ponies using the 3cm net resulted in a more consistent hourly intake pattern. The 3cm net also prolonged feeding time by up to 30% across the group. 

A small holed haynet can help reduce the total amount eaten as well as prolonging the time taken to consume a set amount of forage. For many horses, a controlled calorie intake also means less time spent eating, which impacts on digestive health and general well-being. As horses are designed for multiple meals per day, using a small holed haynet is an easy way of working towards a more natural feeding pattern for your horse or pony, whilst carefully reducing the amount eaten in a 24-hour period.

What is the inspiration behind the PortionPacer™ Haynet?

We know horses are natural trickle feeders but for a variety of reasons, it’s not always possible to know how much they eat or how long their hay lasts them. The PortionPacer™ Haynet solves two problems. The first being that you know approximately how many kilograms each haynet holds, and therefore how much your horse is being offered. The second point is that you know the feed rate in comparison to ad lib floor fed hay, so you can take a decision as to which haynet they may need to manage their weight and if eating times need to be extended. Using this information can help you not only monitor their forage intake, but also reduce the ‘hunger gap’. If horses are left without food for periods of time, it can have negative effects on their mental and physical wellbeing. 

Who is the PortionPacer™ Haynet for? 

The variety of mesh hole sizes and hay net sizes means there is a PortionPacer™ Haynet for every horse and pony. Here’s a few scenarios: 

• For all horses to know how much they are eating and adjust their diet accordingly (if needed). 
• To extend eating times for overweight horses, or those who eat quickly and are therefore left without hay for long periods of time. 
• For underweight horses to monitor the amount they are eating. 
• For horses that tend to wreck haynets. 
• For horses that like to mess their forage, resulting in waste. 

Which haynet would be best for my horse? 

Both haynet options are long lasting and durable solutions to knowing how much forage your horse is eating. They are also effective in reducing waste, could save money, and for horses who mix their forage into their bed and reduced the chance of ingesting bedding. With size options from 2kg for very small ponies, all the way up to 12kg for the bigger horse, there are multiple options to ensure your horse is getting access to the forage they need. 

FAQ’s: 

Can I soak hay in it? 

Yes. The haynet mesh does not absorb water which makes it lighter for lifting soaked hay and less prone to smelly bacteria forming.

What is the benefit of knotless hay nets? 

Traditional nets are believed to cause damage to horses’ teeth with the knots. Being knotless, the horse can grab at the forage with less chance of grabbing the net as well. This also means that the net can last longer and potentially save money in the long-term. 

Why don’t the mesh sizes go smaller than 3cm? 

We found in testing that smaller than 3cm mesh sizes made very little difference to the feed rate, and made some horses display frustration behaviours, and some even stopped trying to eat from the hay net. We found the 3cm is the perfect size to balance this reduction in feed rate, without frustrating the horse. 

Why is 6cm the largest mesh hole size you offer?

In our initial pilot study, we trialled a net with 10cm mesh holes. Initial results suggested the feed rate was very similar to that of the 6cm holed net, but bigger holes could pose a bigger safety risk. We opted for the smaller size to reduce this potential risk, yet not impact feed rate significantly. 

I’ve heard that feeding from hay nets can cause muscular issues in horses? 

While horses do spend a lot of time grazing, they do also like to pick from hedges or trees and move around. Standing to eat from a hay net in one place for multiple hours isn’t ideal for their mental or physical health, however sometimes it is a balancing act with other considerations (their weight, how quickly they eat, if they drag forage into the bed and ingest shavings as a result). There are things you can do to mitigate the negative impact this could have on your horse. Read our article here on feeding at variable heights to help keep your horse more physically mobile and engaged in the stable, while feeding from hay nets.