6 Best Wall Mounted Hay Feeders for Horses
Reduce neck strain for arthritic horses. Our guide reviews 6 top wall-mounted hay feeders that promote a comfortable, natural eating posture.
You’ve seen it before: your old timer stands stiffly in the corner, craning their neck up to a hay net that was hung with the best intentions. Every bite looks like a chore, a painful stretch that makes you wince just watching. For a horse with arthritis, especially in the neck or poll, the simple act of eating can become a source of chronic pain. This is where thoughtful management makes all the difference, and it often starts with something as simple as the height of their hay.
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Why Feeder Height is Crucial for Arthritic Horses
Feeding a horse with arthritis isn’t just about the feed itself; it’s about how they eat it. A horse’s natural posture is head-down, grazing. This position allows their jaw to align correctly and their airway to drain properly, but most importantly, it puts the neck and poll in a neutral, relaxed state.
When we hang hay nets or use tall feeders, we force them to lift their head, often for hours at a time. For a horse with cervical (neck) arthritis, this constant upward tension is like asking a person with a stiff neck to stare at the ceiling all day. It aggravates inflammation, causes muscle strain, and can make them reluctant to eat altogether.
The goal is to find a feeder that brings the hay down to a more comfortable level. This doesn’t always mean ground level, especially if the horse also has knee or back issues that make bending down difficult. The sweet spot is often somewhere between the point of the shoulder and the knee, a position that mimics a natural head carriage without requiring a full stretch to the ground.
Choosing the right feeder is an act of compassion. It directly impacts your horse’s daily comfort and quality of life, turning mealtime from a painful task back into a pleasant, natural behavior.
Hay Chix Wall Feeder: Top Choice for Slow Feeding
The Hay Chix system is a smart solution that tackles two problems at once: neck strain and rapid consumption. It consists of a simple, sturdy metal frame that mounts to the stall wall, holding a specially designed slow-feed hay net. You can mount the frame low, allowing your arthritic horse to eat with a comfortable, lowered head position.
What sets this feeder apart is its focus on slow feeding. The netting forces the horse to take smaller, more deliberate bites, extending mealtime and mimicking the constant foraging they would do in a pasture. This is fantastic for managing weight, preventing boredom-related stall vices, and promoting better digestive health. For an easy keeper or a horse on stall rest, this feature is invaluable.
The main tradeoff is the net itself. While effective, the small holes can be a source of frustration for some horses, especially when first introduced. It’s crucial to select the right hole size for your horse’s temperament and the type of hay you’re feeding. A horse that paws or gets easily agitated might need a larger opening to start.
High Country Plastics Feeder: Corner-Fit Design
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. The High Country Plastics Feeder is a heavy-duty, molded plastic bin designed to fit snugly in a stall corner. It’s not fancy, but it is incredibly durable, safe, and effective at getting hay to a comfortable height.
Its primary advantage is its rock-solid, safe design. The rounded edges and corner placement minimize the risk of a horse getting caught, bumped, or injured. You mount it low on the wall, creating a deep basin that holds a good amount of hay. This allows your horse to eat with its head down in a relaxed posture, taking the strain off its neck and back.
This feeder doesn’t automatically slow down eating, which can be a pro or a con depending on your horse. A hard keeper or a picky eater may benefit from the easy access. If you need to slow down a more voracious eater, you can purchase a separate metal grate designed to sit on top of the hay. It’s a straightforward, low-maintenance option built to last a lifetime.
HayHoops Feeder: Safe, Collapsible Construction
Safety is a major concern with any piece of equipment in a stall, and the HayHoops feeder addresses this head-on. This unique feeder uses a collapsible metal ring that holds a hay net of your choice against the wall. It keeps the hay contained and off the floor while allowing you to set the perfect height for your horse.
The standout feature is its collapsible design. If a horse were to get a leg or its head caught in the net, the hoop is engineered to release under pressure, breaking away from the wall mount. This significantly reduces the risk of a panic-induced injury, offering peace of mind that you don’t get with rigid, fixed feeders.
For an arthritic horse, you simply mount the HayHoops low on the wall. The horse can then eat from the net with a lowered head, gaining the benefits of a slow-feed net without the neck strain of a high-hung bag. It’s a smart, flexible system that prioritizes both safety and comfort.
Porta-Grazer Feeder: Simulates Natural Grazing
While not a traditional wall-mounted feeder, the Porta-Grazer is a freestanding barrel-style feeder that is often placed in a corner for stability. Its design is brilliant for arthritic horses because it comes closest to replicating a natural grazing posture inside a stall.
The horse eats by pulling hay through holes in a grate that sits on top of the hay and drops as the hay is consumed. This requires them to keep their head down, their neck straight, and their jaw aligned properly. This posture is the absolute best for reducing strain on the poll and cervical vertebrae. It also encourages proper chewing and can help with respiratory health by allowing nasal passages to drain naturally.
The Porta-Grazer is also excellent at minimizing hay waste, as hay can’t be easily pulled out and dropped on the floor. The learning curve can be a small hurdle; some horses need a day or two to figure out the grate system. But once they do, it provides a slow, comfortable, and natural way to eat that supports their overall well-being.
Tough-1 Collapsible Feeder: An Affordable Option
If you’re looking for a simple, budget-friendly way to get hay off the ground, the Tough-1 Collapsible Feeder is a solid contender. This feeder is typically made of durable nylon or canvas and features a rigid frame at the top to hold it open. It mounts easily to the stall wall with screws or double-ended snaps.
The primary benefit here is cost-effectiveness and simplicity. It’s an inexpensive way to provide hay at a lower, more comfortable height for an arthritic horse. By mounting it just above knee level, you allow your horse to eat without having to crane its neck upwards, immediately improving its comfort during meals.
This is not a slow feeder. The large opening allows the horse to eat as quickly as it wants, which may lead to more hay waste compared to netted options. The fabric construction also may not stand up to a particularly destructive or playful horse. However, for a quiet, older horse who just needs their hay in a more accessible spot, this feeder is a practical and affordable solution.
Savvy Feeder: The Ultimate Ground-Feeding System
For the horse with significant neck or poll arthritis, the Savvy Feeder offers the most ergonomically correct feeding position possible. This is a ground-level feeding box with a grate, designed to eliminate all upward neck extension. It places the hay right where nature intended.
By eating from the ground, the horse achieves a perfect grazing posture. This not only relieves all strain on the neck and poll but also promotes correct jaw alignment for even tooth wear and allows the respiratory tract to drain effectively. For horses with conditions like heaves or other respiratory issues, this is a significant secondary benefit.
Of course, a ground feeder isn’t right for every situation. You need to be sure your horse doesn’t have severe forelimb arthritis or back pain that makes bending all the way down difficult. It also takes up floor space. But if your primary goal is to alleviate neck pain, the Savvy Feeder’s design is functionally unbeatable.
How to Choose the Right Feeder for Your Horse
There is no single "best" feeder; the right choice depends entirely on your horse, your budget, and your management goals. Instead of looking for a perfect product, think about what problem you’re trying to solve. Ask yourself a few key questions to narrow down the options.
- What is your primary goal? If it’s slowing down a fast eater, the Hay Chix or Porta-Grazer are top choices. If safety is your number one concern, the breakaway design of the HayHoops is hard to beat.
- What is your horse’s temperament? A destructive horse will make short work of a fabric feeder like the Tough-1, making a durable option like the High Country Plastics feeder a better long-term investment.
- What are your horse’s specific physical limitations? For severe neck arthritis, a ground-level system like the Savvy Feeder is ideal. But if that horse also has painful front knees, a slightly higher feeder like the High Country might be a better compromise.
- What is your budget? Feeders range from very affordable to a significant investment. The Tough-1 offers a low-cost entry point, while the Porta-Grazer or Savvy Feeder are more expensive but offer unique benefits for health and waste reduction.
Start by observing your horse. Watch how they eat and how they move. Their behavior will tell you what they need most, whether it’s a slower meal, a safer stall, or simply relief from a stiff, aching neck.
Ultimately, choosing a feeder is a small change that can have a huge impact on your arthritic horse’s daily comfort. By lowering their food source, you’re not just feeding them—you’re actively managing their pain and improving their quality of life. It’s one of the most practical and compassionate adjustments you can make for your aging partner.
