6 Best Stall Guards To Prevent Creep Feeding Old Farmers Swear By
Stop foals from stealing feed with a reliable stall guard. Our guide covers 6 time-tested options that veteran farmers trust for managing herd nutrition.
You’ve seen it happen. You pour the mare’s grain, turn your back for a second, and her little foal zips right under her belly to steal a mouthful. While it might look cute, this "creep feeding" is a fast track to problems for both of them. A good stall guard is a simple tool, but choosing the right one can save you a world of headache and vet bills down the line.
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Why Creep Feeding Wrecks a Mare’s Condition
Creep feeding isn’t just about a foal getting extra snacks. It’s about the mare not getting the calories and nutrients she desperately needs to produce quality milk and maintain her own body weight. That carefully balanced grain you feed her is formulated for a lactating mare, not a growing foal with a completely different digestive system.
When a foal consistently steals feed, the mare starts to drop weight. Her topline softens, her ribs become more prominent, and her milk supply can suffer. You end up feeding more and more grain just to keep her in decent shape, which gets expensive and can upset her digestion.
Meanwhile, the foal is getting a diet that’s too rich and improperly balanced for its needs, which can contribute to developmental orthopedic diseases. It also teaches the foal a bad habit: that pushing and stealing is how you get fed. A simple stall guard stops this cycle before it starts, protecting your investment in both mare and foal.
Tough-1 Heavy Nylon Stall Guard for Durability
When you’ve got a foal that thinks a barrier is just a suggestion, you need something that can take a beating. The Tough-1 Heavy Nylon guard is exactly that. It’s built from thick, webbed nylon that resists tearing and fraying, even when a persistent foal leans, pushes, or chews on it.
The hardware is just as important as the fabric. This guard typically comes with heavy-duty snaps and D-rings that won’t bend or break under pressure. You can install it with confidence, knowing it will hold firm when that little bulldozer tries to force his way through to the grain bucket.
The main tradeoff here is airflow. Solid nylon doesn’t breathe like a mesh guard, so it might not be the best choice for a stuffy barn in a hot climate. But for sheer strength and longevity, especially with a strong and pushy foal, this is the one many old-timers rely on.
Shires Airflow Stall Guard for Better Ventilation
In the heat of summer, a stuffy stall is miserable for both mare and foal. The Shires Airflow Stall Guard is designed specifically to combat this problem. Its open-weave mesh construction allows for maximum air circulation, keeping the stall cooler and fresher.
This is a game-changer in humid climates or for barns that don’t have the best natural ventilation. A cooler mare is a happier, healthier mare who is more likely to eat well and produce plenty of milk. The increased visibility through the mesh also seems to reduce anxiety for some horses who like to see what’s going on in the aisle.
Of course, the open mesh isn’t as indestructible as solid vinyl or heavy nylon. A particularly oral-fixated foal might find it a tempting target for chewing. However, for well-mannered foals in hot environments, the comfort and health benefits of superior ventilation are hard to beat.
Weaver Leather Adjustable Guard for Versatility
Not all stall doors are a standard size. This is where the Weaver Leather Adjustable Guard shines. It’s built with multiple adjustment points, allowing you to get a custom, snug fit in wider or narrower doorways where other guards might sag or be too tight.
Weaver is known for its quality leatherwork, and that expertise shows. The combination of durable nylon with reinforced leather ends creates a guard that is both strong and flexible. The leather stands up to the constant friction and stress at the attachment points, which is often where cheaper guards fail first.
This versatility makes it a great long-term investment. You can move it from a standard stall to a wider run-in shed door as needed. While it might cost a bit more upfront, its adaptability and robust construction mean you won’t be replacing it every season.
Centaur Solid Vinyl Guard for Determined Foals
Some foals are just too smart for their own good. They see the grain through a mesh guard and become obsessed with getting to it. The Centaur Solid Vinyl Guard creates a solid visual barrier, effectively hiding the temptation from view. Out of sight, out of mind.
This guard is incredibly tough. The solid vinyl is easy to wipe clean and nearly impossible for a foal to rip or chew through. Most models include a smaller mesh window at the top, which is a brilliant design choice. It allows for some airflow and lets the mare look out without giving the foal a clear view of the feed bucket.
This is your go-to option for the truly food-motivated foal. If you have a little Houdini who has already figured out how to push through, wiggle under, or otherwise defeat a standard guard, the solid nature of the Centaur is often the final solution. It sends a clear, undeniable message: this side is for the mare only.
Cashel Stall Door Guard for Maximum Security
When you need absolute, foolproof containment, you need the Cashel Stall Door Guard. This is less of a simple guard and more of a half-door system. It often features a more rigid structure, sometimes with a lightweight metal frame inside, providing a level of security that simple fabric guards can’t match.
This guard is for the serious escape artist. It’s taller and more rigid than most, making it nearly impossible for a foal to go over or push it down to crawl under. The installation is typically more robust, ensuring it stays put no matter what.
The tradeoff is price and portability. This is a premium solution for a serious problem, and its cost reflects that. It’s not something you’ll quickly snap on and off. But if you have a valuable foal or a mare on a critical diet, the peace of mind that comes with this level of security is worth every penny.
Dura-Tech Ripstop Guard: A Weatherproof Option
If your stalls open directly to the elements, you know how quickly sun and rain can destroy standard nylon. The Dura-Tech Ripstop Guard is built like a good horse blanket, using the same durable, water-resistant ripstop material. This makes it the perfect choice for shedrow barns or any setup exposed to weather.
The ripstop fabric has a special crosshatch pattern that prevents small nicks and tears from spreading, significantly extending the life of the guard. It also sheds water and resists fading from UV exposure, so it won’t look ragged after a single season.
This guard combines durability with practicality. It’s tough enough for most foals while offering the unique advantage of weather resistance. For anyone whose barn aisle is also a paddock, this is the smart, long-lasting choice.
Proper Stall Guard Height and Installation Tips
A great stall guard is useless if it’s installed incorrectly. The goal is to create a barrier the foal respects but that the mare can comfortably eat over. There’s no magic number, but a good starting point is to hang it so the top edge is level with the middle of your mare’s chest.
From there, observe and adjust. If the foal can easily pop its head over, you need to raise it. If the mare has to strain her neck to reach her feed tub on the floor, you need to lower it or, better yet, use a hanging feed bucket set at a comfortable height.
Here are a few non-negotiable installation rules:
- Use heavy-duty hardware. The little hooks that come with some guards are a joke. Go to the hardware store and get 3-inch screw eyes.
- Anchor into solid wood. Screw the hardware directly into the solid wood of the door frame, not the flimsy stall siding. A determined foal can rip a screw right out of a thin pine board.
- Keep it taut. A sagging guard is an invitation for a foal to try and wiggle underneath. Check and tighten the straps regularly.
- Eliminate side gaps. Make sure the guard is wide enough for the opening. A foal can get its head stuck in a gap between the guard and the door frame, leading to a dangerous panic situation.
Ultimately, the best stall guard is the one that fits your barn, your mare, and your foal’s personality. By preventing creep feeding, you’re not just keeping a foal out of a feed bucket; you’re protecting your mare’s health, ensuring your foal’s proper development, and saving yourself money and stress. It’s a small piece of equipment that pays for itself almost immediately.
