FAQs about HayPal and slow-feeding horses
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If you have any questions, please send us a photo of your fence or wall and we will happily make suggestions.
Shorter fences do well with our Fence Top Feeders, short children may do better with our through-fence feeders, and barn staff love our wall-mounted feeders.
We have built feeders to suit many scenarios.
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Stationary feeders (which are mounted directly to walls or fences) typically require a solid mounting surface. If your wall is only 1/2” plywood, you may have to attach a piece of 2×4 (for example) to create a stronger backplate.
Portable feeders are build to fit up to 2” diameter material (standard wood rail fences or metal panel fences). We can accommodate larger fencing by request (for example, 3.5” round pole fences). Please contact us prior to ordering to request custom sizing.
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If your hay feeder is mounted at a desirable height for ease of use, but your net is hanging too low, simply take the net off of the feeder and re-string it a few holes down. Once the correct height is found, either leave the excess net hanging on the feeder, or cut the net off and seal the frayed ends with a flame.
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Yes, you are welcome to use your own hay nets, providing the mesh size (hole size) is at least 1”. Hay nets are strung right onto our feeders, and the tube size is just under 1”.
We like to provide the hay net because we can ship the feeder with the net pre-installed. Find out more out HayPal hay nets here.
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This is a great question with a frustrating answer.
Years, months, days, or hours.
An easy-going horse paired with a high quality net may not need a new net for a year or more. A first-time hay net experience with an aggressive horse unhappy about his new 1” hole hay net may only last long enough for them to rip it off the wall.Typically, with daily use (3-4 feeds per day), we find that good quality hay nets last months to a year or more. Minor repairs can be made by tying breaks back together with baling twine.
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Like any piece of equipment, it is important to check that connections are secure. Loose joints can typically be tightened with a screwdriver or allen key.
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HayPal began in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Our products are made in Canada, with parts sourced in Canada. We sew our nets in Canada.
What are slow-feeders and why are people slow-feeding their horses?
*Hay Net Feeder Best Practices
Keep empty hay nets minimum 6” off the ground.
Head angle: Position nets so that the horse’s neck is in a downward angle from the withers
hay nets are generally not recommended for shod horses
*Reduce stress: horse and human
Horses spend longer time feeding, less time worrying about their next meal. This equates to fewer behavioural issues.
Using a HayPal slow feeder helps eliminate horse owner stress about who might be feeding your horse. HayPal feeders take the mystery out of how to fee your horse. Feeding is consistent when using our hay net slow feeders.
*Boarding Facilities: Save money on staff costs
Save labour, save money. In the following example, a 20-horse barn feeding three times per day will save 2.5 hours every day when using HayPal slow feeders:
example 1: hand-stuffing hay nets: 3-5 minutes to refill each net and hang it in the stall (60 feeds) = 3 hours
example 2: using HayPal hay net feeders: 30 seconds to load HayPals (60 feeds) = 30 minutes (2.5 hours LESS than hand-stuffing)
*Quality of life
HayPal systems literally improve staff morale and will likely reduce stress (yours and your farm help). It’s satisfying to create efficient systems that save both money and time. Your staff will appreciate the systems put in place to reduce their workload.
*Quality & Durability
HayPal products are built of anodized aluminum and stainless steel materials. We use only the best materials available, and they do not rust. HayPal is a professional system built to last a lifetime. HayPal feeders are virtually indestructible. They are made to withstand the temperatures of Canada and rigors of the horse world.
Hay Net Basics
Hay nets should be hung low enough to the ground that your horse feeds with their neck angled downward from their withers. This keeps the horse’s neck in a natural eating position and reduces any potential stress on their neck and back. Very important: Keep the bottom of the hay net minimum 6” off the ground. You do not want your horse stepping on the net.
Hay Net Materials:
polyester, polypropylene (PPE), nylon
In general, polyester absorbs less water & stays softer than nylon
Net Structure: knotless or knotted
This choice is primarily a personal preference.
Hay Net Mesh (Hole Size):
Perhaps the more important choice is the size of holes in the hay net.
Bigger holes equal faster eating; smaller holes, slower eating.
Not all horses will tolerate the smallest hole (1”).
If you’re unsure of which hole size to choose, try a 1.5” hole net (sometimes offered as 1.75”). Most horses adapt well to this size and do not stress about accessing food.
Some nets are as large as 4” holes. These nets are primarily designed to keep hay off the ground rather than slowing feeding down.
Hay Net Best Practices
Keep an empty hay net minimum 6” off the ground (adjust net length or placement of feeder to reach this minimum)
Head angle: Position nets so that the horse’s neck is in a downward angle from the withers
Not recommended for shod horses
Research Sources
Effect of hay nets on subluxations, pain-pressure thresholds, and cervical range of motion in the axial skeleton of adult horses (Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, February 2025) Hay nets can influence neck & cervical vertebrae; head position is important. Nets did not alter jaw, poll or wither pain-pressure thresholds.
Hay Nets, Horse Body Weight, Body Condition, and Dental Health (The Horse, September 19, 2024, based on the study linked in the previous listing) Hay nets can help horse owners reduce hay waste and prolong feeding time, which can reduce horse boredom and promote a more natural style of trickle feeding without negative effects to the horse’s dental health.
Studying the Shape Variations of the Back, the Neck, and the Mandibular Angle of Horses Depending on Specific Feeding Postures Using Geometric Morphometrics (Edited by Chris W Rogers; posted on National Library of Medicine, US) Different feeding positions are able to modify the shape of back and neck postures; best practice is head below height of withers, a more natural feeding position.
“How to use slow-feed haynets and slow feeders without endangering your horse’s limbs, hooves, and teeth” Article published in The Horse, April 19, 2021 by Christa Leste-Lasserre
*Slow-feeding generally refers to the use of a hay net to feed your horse.
Feeding horses in hay nets slows and extends the intake of forage, creating a more natural ‘grazing’ style of feeding. This more continual type of feeding keeps the equine stomach working, and reduces the risk of gastric ulcers from a build-up of acid in an empty stomach. Horses naturally spend 12-18 hours a day grazing.
There is more research coming out that largely supports the use of hay nets for boarded horses.
HayPal has designed a suite of hay net feeders (aka ‘slow feeders’) that hold hay nets in ready-to-use positions, reducing the time-consuming process of hand-filling hay nets. Imagine a boarding facility of 20 horses, feeding 3 feeds per day. Filling 60 nets every day is a labour-intensive activity. HayPal hay net feeders significantly improve the process of slow-feeding your horses.
