Hay Net FAQ

What is slow feeding?

Slow feeding is when you use a mechanical method to slow down the rate at which your horse consumes its food. This means your horse will be eating for more hours in the day.

Why slow feed?

Horses are designed to eat 'little and often'. Sadly today's feeding practices and owners busy schedules mean most horses are fed twice a day and consume their feed in a very short space of time. Slow feeding allows horses to eat over a longer portion of the day, closer to the way nature intended.

Is slow feeding just for overweight horses?

No. Horses at pasture are slow feeding themselves. Any horse that spends a large portion of its time yarded or stabled, or is on a restricted ration, can benefit from slow feeding. Eating over more of the day reduces boredom and keeps the digestive system working the way it was designed to, giving you a healthier happier horse. If your horse has a history of choke, ask your veterinarian before changing its feeding routine.

What size hay net do I need?

Choose by hole size first: our 3cm small hole hay nets are the slowest feed, for ponies and horses on restricted diets; the 4cm knotless hay nets suit most horses new to slow feeding; and the 5cm knotted hay net gives a milder slowdown. Then choose capacity: Mini (about a third of a biscuit), Medium (1 biscuit), Large (3 biscuits) or a full bale net.

Will the Full Bale net fit a square bale?

Yes. Our Full Bale nets hold one whole small square bale, the standard small bale most horse owners buy. They aren't made for large square bales or round bales. Choose the 4cm square bale hay net for general slow feeding, or the 3cm small hole version for easy keepers and ponies.

How long will it take my horse to get used to the small holes?

Some will adjust straight away and others will take a little longer. For the first couple of uses try pulling some hay through the holes so your horse gets the idea a little quicker. You can also offer a small portion of the feed in your usual way and the rest in the small holed hay net until you are happy that your horse has worked it out.

What are Greedy Steed Premium hay nets made from?

Our Premium nets are made from tough, UV-stabilised polyethylene mesh. It is woven into a soft knotless braid that is gentle on the muzzle while providing dependable durability for everyday feeding.

How do I fill a hay net?

Lay the hay net flat on the ground with the opening to the side, grasp the net and a piece of drawstring in the middle of the opening edge and lift the net open. Slide each biscuit in individually. Pull the drawstring tight to close.

How do I fill a Standard (knotted) hay net?

Method 1: Lay the hay net flat on the ground with the opening to the side, grasp the net and a piece of drawstring in the middle of the opening edge and lift the net open. Slide the first biscuit in halfway then position the rest of the biscuits on top. Grab the sides of hay net and pick it up so that the biscuits slide all the way in. Pull the drawstring tight to close.

Method 2: Lay the hay on the floor in a tall pile or stand a small square hay bale up. Spread the net open and cover the pile of hay or with the bale just the amount you desire. The bottom of the net is laying on top of the pile of hay with the open part of the net enveloping the pile. Grip opposite sides of the net and bring one of the sides of the net up with the draw string and scoop up the hay in one action. Pull the drawstring tight to close.

How do I tie up a hay net safely?

Hang the net as low as is safe: low enough for a natural eating posture, but high enough that a hoof cannot get caught, allowing for how far the net drops as it empties. A net hung too high can encourage an unnatural neck posture, and no study has found an ideal height, so adjust it to suit your horse and check the net and its ties regularly. Use a single net rather than one inside another, which makes horses pull harder.

Tying the bottom of the net as well as the top stops an emptying net sagging to hoof height, but one study found it increased the force horses used to pull hay through. Weigh that up for your own horse and setup.

Method for tying top and bottom: Lift the hay net into position, then wrap a loop of the drawstring around the rail you are tying the hay net to. Then bring the drawstring down as far as you can on the side the horse will be eating from and loop the drawstring through the lowest point of the net you can reach, then pull the drawstring firmly back to the rail so there is no loop of drawstring then tie the drawstring to the lowest point of the net you can reach on the opposite side (the side the horse is not on).

Can I soak hay in a hay net?

Fill the hay net as per the above methods. Fill a large container with water and place the hay net inside. Soaking leaches some of the sugars out of the hay for laminitis or founder prone horses. Many owners soak for 30 to 60 minutes; longer soaks remove more sugar but also more nutrients, and there is no single researched soaking time, so ask your veterinarian or equine nutritionist what suits your horse. Hang the net to drain before feeding. Warning the soaked hay will be very heavy.

For regular soaking we recommend the 5cm knotted hay net: the knotted cord doesn't soak up water, so the net stays lighter to lift and dries quickly between feeds.

What are your shipping costs?

Shipping costs will be displayed as soon as you add items to the shopping cart. We deliver to any destination in Australia at the prices quoted by the shopping cart.

Do you accept international orders?

No. We only ship to addresses within Australia.

What delivery service do you use?

Most orders are sent by Australia Post.

Do you ship to PO Boxes?

Yes.

Has my order been shipped?

You will receive a confirmation email once your goods have been shipped. You can check the status of your order at any time by using the link in the 'order confirmation' email.

When will I receive my order?

Orders are dispatched same or next business day. Shipping times are estimated at between 3-7 business days depending on your location within Australia. See our Shipping & Delivery page for full details.

Can I return an item?

Yes. Unused items can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, and we'll replace or refund any faulty or incorrect items. See our Returns & Refunds Policy for the details.