Slow Feeder Experiments
It seems I’m always in an experimental phase when it comes to taking care of my equine and canine partners. In an attempt to do what is best for them I am always running across ideas and processes online. Many of the stories and examples get logged away somewhere in the vastness of my memory, but some tug at me – suggesting it may be that I really should look at this method – it could make the difference.
In the equine world there are three things that really attracted my attention and that I am always looking for more information on; Natural Horsemanship, Barefoot Trimming and Paddock Paradise. My studies of barefoot trimming have led to changes in how I feed my horses, specially Moli, the Arab with chronic laminitis. Somewhere along the way, my research and interest in barefoot trimming scratched up some information on the Paddock Paradise system and slow feeders. I have been trying to make something that would work as a slow feeding system for my horses and today tried out the first prototype on Moli. My big goal is to have all three horses using a slow feeder that would provide free choice grass hay. I have a very long way to go!
I found several examples of slow feeders online, the ones that looked like something I could actually build were boxes, with a gridwall – grill type mesh top - that sits on top of the hay. The horses have to work the hay out a little at a time and cannot just grab large bites. This forces them to eat slower, which allows their digestive systems to work the way they were intended. Horses are built to eat most of the day, foraging here and there for small tidbits of grass or other tasty plants with the nutrients they need. Feeding two big meals per day really throws their entire system out of whack. I normally feed three times per day – but believe Moli may have much better luck if she could just have free choice. I’ve tried to get her to the point where she has hay available all the time, but many things have gotten in the way and made that difficult. I’m hoping the slow feeder will help. If it works for Moli, my plan is to slowly wean the other two off alfalfa and get them on the same program. The reason Moli gets to go first is I’ve already weaned her off the alfalfa.
Because I felt a wooden box would not last long here – it would either be eaten by a horse (or three) or be destroyed by the weather, I designed mine to work with my galvanized water/feed troughs that I have been using for years. I drilled about six holes in the bottom of the trough, then using an old panel of pig fence and some rebar. Once the top grid was working, I dug a hole and filled it with three – six inch rock (they call it leach field rock around here) and placed the trough on top of that to help drainage. Then I used four pieces of rebar to hold the trough in place (Moli likes to knock over her hay trough with her nose to express her “need for feed”). Here are some pics of the feeder, along with some pics of Moli. I’ll keep an eye on her and see how the system works (lose weight – gain weight?)
Not much hay in there right now (about eight lbs) I will work up to filling it, but wanted to make sure she is getting at least as much hay as before. The plan is to eventually have hay in here 24/7 (I’m talking grass hay, ‘round here when folks say hay they are usually referring to alfalfa.)
Here is Moli today. She is very weak as she has been having a rough time with laminitis – which I haven’t had
much luck with treatment and she also has a ligament/tendon injury in her front right that makes it even harder. Treatment for the ligament injury requires that she not move around much, and treatment for the laminitis is the need for exercise – so it’s a catch 22.
The long term goal here is to create an environment that encourages the horses to move – provides free choice grass hay – and keeps things as close to nature as possible. What a journey!
In the equine world there are three things that really attracted my attention and that I am always looking for more information on; Natural Horsemanship, Barefoot Trimming and Paddock Paradise. My studies of barefoot trimming have led to changes in how I feed my horses, specially Moli, the Arab with chronic laminitis. Somewhere along the way, my research and interest in barefoot trimming scratched up some information on the Paddock Paradise system and slow feeders. I have been trying to make something that would work as a slow feeding system for my horses and today tried out the first prototype on Moli. My big goal is to have all three horses using a slow feeder that would provide free choice grass hay. I have a very long way to go!
I found several examples of slow feeders online, the ones that looked like something I could actually build were boxes, with a gridwall – grill type mesh top - that sits on top of the hay. The horses have to work the hay out a little at a time and cannot just grab large bites. This forces them to eat slower, which allows their digestive systems to work the way they were intended. Horses are built to eat most of the day, foraging here and there for small tidbits of grass or other tasty plants with the nutrients they need. Feeding two big meals per day really throws their entire system out of whack. I normally feed three times per day – but believe Moli may have much better luck if she could just have free choice. I’ve tried to get her to the point where she has hay available all the time, but many things have gotten in the way and made that difficult. I’m hoping the slow feeder will help. If it works for Moli, my plan is to slowly wean the other two off alfalfa and get them on the same program. The reason Moli gets to go first is I’ve already weaned her off the alfalfa.
Because I felt a wooden box would not last long here – it would either be eaten by a horse (or three) or be destroyed by the weather, I designed mine to work with my galvanized water/feed troughs that I have been using for years. I drilled about six holes in the bottom of the trough, then using an old panel of pig fence and some rebar. Once the top grid was working, I dug a hole and filled it with three – six inch rock (they call it leach field rock around here) and placed the trough on top of that to help drainage. Then I used four pieces of rebar to hold the trough in place (Moli likes to knock over her hay trough with her nose to express her “need for feed”). Here are some pics of the feeder, along with some pics of Moli. I’ll keep an eye on her and see how the system works (lose weight – gain weight?)
Not much hay in there right now (about eight lbs) I will work up to filling it, but wanted to make sure she is getting at least as much hay as before. The plan is to eventually have hay in here 24/7 (I’m talking grass hay, ‘round here when folks say hay they are usually referring to alfalfa.)
Here is Moli today. She is very weak as she has been having a rough time with laminitis – which I haven’t had
much luck with treatment and she also has a ligament/tendon injury in her front right that makes it even harder. Treatment for the ligament injury requires that she not move around much, and treatment for the laminitis is the need for exercise – so it’s a catch 22.The long term goal here is to create an environment that encourages the horses to move – provides free choice grass hay – and keeps things as close to nature as possible. What a journey!
Comments
Post a Comment