Feeding horses through traditional methods can be laborious, time-consuming, and detrimental to their health and overall well-being. Horses naturally require frequent small meals due to their digestive system, and feeding them large meals infrequently can result in health issues like colic, ulcers, and laminitis. Furthermore, extended gaps between feedings can lead to undesirable behavioral habits such as cribbing, biting, weaving, pacing, and food aggression. If you’re seeking a solution, read more to learn about automatic horse feeders. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.
Automatic Horse Feeders
Feeding hay can be a messy and time-consuming task, as many horse owners are well aware. Finding reliable stable help can be both costly and challenging. Moreover, frequent handling of hay can pose respiratory issues for humans, including allergies, worsened asthma symptoms, and potential long-term lung damage from exposure to irritants.
Hay feeders are available in a variety of sizes and configurations. Also, prices range from $150 to $3,200 (based on 2021 prices). They come in different designs tailored for specific feeding needs, accommodating small quantities of hay or entire bales, be it small square bales or large round bales. Experts categorize certain feeders as “slow feeders,” enabling horses to access only a small amount of hay with each bite. Others are “free choice” feeders, allowing horses to consume as much hay as they desire. Some owners choose to combine a hay net with a free choice feeder. This can regulate the eating rate and reduce hay waste simultaneously. Livestock equipment dealers typically offer a wide selection of hay feeders to choose from.
