Our Customers are Raving About the Savings!
Background: I have had my horse at a boarding stable since I purchased her in 2003. She is a Morgan mare with a tendency towards insulin resistance and metabolic issues. I monitor her feed carefully to avoid/prevent serious problems. I have been at the mercy of the boarding stables for years, though as
both places I have boarded at fed round bales. No matter how good a job I did with mineral balancing, drought stressed hay that was sweeter than usual, would cause her get tender on rocks and I would be back to booting her for competitive trail rides. The stable manager even brought in oat hay once and that was a disaster. I just did not have enough control over the hay that was provided at the stables. Four weeks before this ride at Parrie Haynes, I installed a round bale haynet over the round bale in my mare's paddock. My horses were so angry at me! They had to work at eating the hay, and their rate of consumption was greatly reduced. Previously, a round bale lasted two mares about 10 days. (They were eating a huge amount of hay!) Now, the round bale was lasting over three weeks. In spite of the cold and slower hay consumption, both horses were maintaining a nice weight! My overweight Arab mare was even starting to slim down. This is where the haynet part of the story becomes very important. Over the 3-4 weeks where she had been restricted in her hay consumption, her metabolics were slowly improving.
That being said, this was an excellent test of how my horse is doing metabolically. Nothing beats riding a barefoot horse on rock! I contend that that is the safest way to handle the terrain if your horse has healthy feet. And I am definitely sold on the slow feeder concept for assisting with maintaining optimal horse health.
both places I have boarded at fed round bales. No matter how good a job I did with mineral balancing, drought stressed hay that was sweeter than usual, would cause her get tender on rocks and I would be back to booting her for competitive trail rides. The stable manager even brought in oat hay once and that was a disaster. I just did not have enough control over the hay that was provided at the stables. Four weeks before this ride at Parrie Haynes, I installed a round bale haynet over the round bale in my mare's paddock. My horses were so angry at me! They had to work at eating the hay, and their rate of consumption was greatly reduced. Previously, a round bale lasted two mares about 10 days. (They were eating a huge amount of hay!) Now, the round bale was lasting over three weeks. In spite of the cold and slower hay consumption, both horses were maintaining a nice weight! My overweight Arab mare was even starting to slim down. This is where the haynet part of the story becomes very important. Over the 3-4 weeks where she had been restricted in her hay consumption, her metabolics were slowly improving.
That being said, this was an excellent test of how my horse is doing metabolically. Nothing beats riding a barefoot horse on rock! I contend that that is the safest way to handle the terrain if your horse has healthy feet. And I am definitely sold on the slow feeder concept for assisting with maintaining optimal horse health.
Testimonial-Betsey
Betsey - 12-10-09
Feel free to add my post to your collection of stories for your website. As far as installation is concerned, I still do not have that fine tuned ;-) I use the nice style of hay ring that you have in your photos. At first, I just tried to use the tie down ropes around the base of a wooden pallet that the hay bale sits on. Because of the shape of the net, that is not optimal. I think that next time, I will just try to tie them to the legs of the hay ring. I only have two horses on the bale, so it probably is not as much of an issue for me as it would be for some other folks. The only other negative is that I currently don't trust the stable hands to correctly install the net without my assistance. So, I just have them call me when it is time to put out a new bale. This is not a big deal though, as I work 15 minutes from the stable. For now, I just feel compelled to help protect my investment. Since I am saving the stable manager so much money in hay now, they are happy to call me and allow me to micro manage.
The best thing is that the horses did not waste a bit of that bale!!! So in addition to slowing them down, the hay handled the rain much better. Since the bale was not torn apart, it still had it's round shape for most of the time. The shape is what allows the bales to shed the water. Thus, the hay at the bottom was not as spoiled as it has been in the past.
Feel free to add my post to your collection of stories for your website. As far as installation is concerned, I still do not have that fine tuned ;-) I use the nice style of hay ring that you have in your photos. At first, I just tried to use the tie down ropes around the base of a wooden pallet that the hay bale sits on. Because of the shape of the net, that is not optimal. I think that next time, I will just try to tie them to the legs of the hay ring. I only have two horses on the bale, so it probably is not as much of an issue for me as it would be for some other folks. The only other negative is that I currently don't trust the stable hands to correctly install the net without my assistance. So, I just have them call me when it is time to put out a new bale. This is not a big deal though, as I work 15 minutes from the stable. For now, I just feel compelled to help protect my investment. Since I am saving the stable manager so much money in hay now, they are happy to call me and allow me to micro manage.
The best thing is that the horses did not waste a bit of that bale!!! So in addition to slowing them down, the hay handled the rain much better. Since the bale was not torn apart, it still had it's round shape for most of the time. The shape is what allows the bales to shed the water. Thus, the hay at the bottom was not as spoiled as it has been in the past.
Testimonial-Kathy Doyle
Kathy Doyle - 1-10-10
Happy New Year. I wanted to touch base with you about our recent purchase of the TX Hay Net (in Dec 09). The hay net seems to be working very well for us. My filly who usually gets terribly fat when there is a round bale in the pasture hasn’t put on an excessive amount of weight. I keep my three horses unshod and they live on pasture 24/7. They seem happier knowing that hay is always available to them, and I can do that using the hay net. We found an easier way to change bales and use the hay net. We attach it to the inside upper edge of the horse bale ring. When getting a new bale ready for the horses, we tip the horse bale ring over on its side with attached hay net. We position the new bale and just drop the ring and attached hay net over the bale. Thanks again for making the hay net available. This will help me keep my horses in the most natural state possible.
Happy New Year. I wanted to touch base with you about our recent purchase of the TX Hay Net (in Dec 09). The hay net seems to be working very well for us. My filly who usually gets terribly fat when there is a round bale in the pasture hasn’t put on an excessive amount of weight. I keep my three horses unshod and they live on pasture 24/7. They seem happier knowing that hay is always available to them, and I can do that using the hay net. We found an easier way to change bales and use the hay net. We attach it to the inside upper edge of the horse bale ring. When getting a new bale ready for the horses, we tip the horse bale ring over on its side with attached hay net. We position the new bale and just drop the ring and attached hay net over the bale. Thanks again for making the hay net available. This will help me keep my horses in the most natural state possible.
Testimonial-Linda
Linda - 2-15-10
I love my hay net!. I think you hit on a great idea and everytime I look at it, my mind turns round and round thinking of ways you can market it. (You are going to be rich on this!) I just love the way it holds the hay together. When it rains, the bale doesnt soak through like it does when the horses get picking it all apart. And NO waste. The horses eat every drop. It's saving me money and effort. I only set out 1 bale every 12-14 days, where I used to have to set one out every 6-7 days. I also like that it seems to keep the horses busy. I think they actually enjoy picking the bits of hay little by little. The same way they enjoy grazing I suppose.
I do love my net and tell everyone I know with horses about it. Gotta be crazy not to use one.
I love my hay net!. I think you hit on a great idea and everytime I look at it, my mind turns round and round thinking of ways you can market it. (You are going to be rich on this!) I just love the way it holds the hay together. When it rains, the bale doesnt soak through like it does when the horses get picking it all apart. And NO waste. The horses eat every drop. It's saving me money and effort. I only set out 1 bale every 12-14 days, where I used to have to set one out every 6-7 days. I also like that it seems to keep the horses busy. I think they actually enjoy picking the bits of hay little by little. The same way they enjoy grazing I suppose.
I do love my net and tell everyone I know with horses about it. Gotta be crazy not to use one.
Testimonial-Lynn
Lynn Swearingen - 2-14-10
I own 8 performance horses. One is an APHA Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle champion. The others are AQHA pedigreed. 2 are champion reiners, 1 is a 2 yr. old in reining training, 1 is a NCHA World Finals champion, another is a 2 yr. old in cutting training, 2 are just riding horses. I advocate natural horsemanship, natural hoof care, and natural horse keeping. Why? Because it is best for the horse, mentally and physically. I would like to mention that my trainer is fully on board with my natural barefoot and natural horsemanship and natural horse keeping program. He believes in taking the babies slow and has a 100 % soundness record; never pushing the babies too fast. I am also a certified natural hoof care professional. I do not trim but I do consult. The latest research proves that our horses need lots of turn out and movement, a high fiber/forage, low non structural carbohydrate diet, which means free choice hay with minerals balanced to the hay. Slow grazing is natural to the horse and benefits the horse best. Your hay net serves to slow down the horse's eating a round bale. This slower more natural feeding lifestyle promotes a healthier and more relaxed horse/herd.
I am adding your hay net to the list of products that I endorse for natural horse keeping. Best wishes in your business and design for the natural and happy horse!
I own 8 performance horses. One is an APHA Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle champion. The others are AQHA pedigreed. 2 are champion reiners, 1 is a 2 yr. old in reining training, 1 is a NCHA World Finals champion, another is a 2 yr. old in cutting training, 2 are just riding horses. I advocate natural horsemanship, natural hoof care, and natural horse keeping. Why? Because it is best for the horse, mentally and physically. I would like to mention that my trainer is fully on board with my natural barefoot and natural horsemanship and natural horse keeping program. He believes in taking the babies slow and has a 100 % soundness record; never pushing the babies too fast. I am also a certified natural hoof care professional. I do not trim but I do consult. The latest research proves that our horses need lots of turn out and movement, a high fiber/forage, low non structural carbohydrate diet, which means free choice hay with minerals balanced to the hay. Slow grazing is natural to the horse and benefits the horse best. Your hay net serves to slow down the horse's eating a round bale. This slower more natural feeding lifestyle promotes a healthier and more relaxed horse/herd.
I am adding your hay net to the list of products that I endorse for natural horse keeping. Best wishes in your business and design for the natural and happy horse!
Texas Haynet is the original Inventor of hay nets for round bales!
