6 Best Horse Slow Feeders For Easy Keepers That Reduce Hay Waste
Slow feeders help easy keepers maintain a healthy weight and reduce hay waste. We review 6 top models to aid digestion and save you money on forage.
You look out at your pasture and see a horse that could get fat on air. That’s the reality of an "easy keeper"—a horse that maintains or gains weight on minimal feed. While it seems like a blessing for the budget, it’s a constant management challenge to prevent serious health issues like laminitis. The key isn’t to starve them, but to manage how they eat, and that’s where a good slow feeder becomes your most valuable tool.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Why Slow Feeders Benefit Easy Keeper Horses
An easy keeper’s metabolism is incredibly efficient. This trait, once a survival advantage for tough ancestors, becomes a liability in a modern pasture with rich grass and readily available hay. Without careful management, these horses are prone to obesity, insulin resistance, and the dreaded founder.
Slow feeders are the single best solution. They force a horse to work for each bite, mimicking the natural, continuous grazing behavior they evolved for. Instead of inhaling a day’s worth of hay in an hour, they spend hours nibbling, which keeps their digestive system working properly and prevents the blood sugar spikes associated with large, fast meals.
This extended eating time also solves another common problem: boredom. A horse with nothing to do can develop vices like cribbing, weaving, or chewing on fences. A slow feeder provides mental stimulation and a "job" to do, leading to a calmer, more contented horse.
And let’s not forget the hay savings. When you throw hay on the ground, a good portion of it gets trampled, used as a bathroom, and wasted. A slow feeder contains the hay, keeping it clean and edible. For a small farm, reducing hay waste by 20-30% makes a real difference to the bottom line.
Hay Chix Net: Top Choice for Versatility
Reduce hay waste and promote healthy digestion with the Hay Chix slow feed hay net. Made from durable, UV-treated marine-grade nylon, this half bale net features a patented closure for easy filling and secure feeding.
When you need one system that can adapt to almost any situation, the Hay Chix net is hard to beat. These aren’t your flimsy, old-school hay nets; they’re made from tough, knotted or knotless nylon that stands up to persistent nibblers. Their real strength lies in the sheer variety of options available.
You can get small nets for the trailer, medium-sized ones to hang in a stall, or massive nets designed to cover an entire round bale. This flexibility means you can create a consistent feeding system across your entire property. The most important feature for an easy keeper is the choice of hole size. You can select openings as small as 1 inch, which significantly slows down even the most determined eater.
The main tradeoff is convenience. Stuffing a net, especially a large one with small holes, can be a chore on a cold, wet morning. You also have to be mindful of placement. Always hang nets high enough so a horse can’t get a hoof tangled, and be extra cautious with shod horses, as a shoe can easily get caught.
Porta-Grazer: Natural Grazing Position
The Porta-Grazer addresses a key drawback of many hanging feeders: eating position. Horses are designed to eat with their heads down. This posture allows their jaw to align correctly for proper chewing and helps their sinuses drain naturally. The Porta-Grazer, a durable barrel-style feeder with a rotating grate, encourages this exact position.
The horse pulls hay through the holes in the grate, which sits on top of the hay and drops as the hay is consumed. This design is incredibly effective at reducing waste, as the hay is completely contained. It’s a fantastic option for horses in stalls or dry lots, keeping them busy for hours in a healthy posture.
The investment is the biggest consideration here. A Porta-Grazer is significantly more expensive than a hay net. It’s also bulky and can be heavy to move, so it’s best for a more permanent feeding station rather than something you plan to move daily. But for its health benefits and waste reduction, many find it’s worth the upfront cost.
Tarter Equine Hay Basket for Durability
If you have a horse that is tough on equipment, you need something that can take a beating. The Tarter Equine Hay Basket is essentially a fortress for your hay. Made of heavy-gauge steel, this feeder is designed to live in a pasture and withstand years of use and abuse.
Its primary purpose is to get hay off the ground, which it does exceptionally well. By itself, it’s a waste-reducer, not a slow feeder. However, its genius lies in its compatibility with slow-feed grates or large hay nets that can be placed inside, turning it into a rugged, high-capacity slow-feeding station for one or more horses.
This is not a portable solution. It’s heavy, and once you place it, you won’t want to move it often. The cost is also a factor, especially when you add a quality grate or net. But if your goal is a permanent, buy-it-for-life pasture feeder that will keep hay clean and contained, this is a top contender.
Haygain Forager: Mimics Natural Behavior
The Haygain Forager is designed with a horse’s mind in mind as much as its stomach. This upright feeder has a regulator grid that the horse must pull hay through, similar to other models. However, its design specifically encourages the side-to-side head and neck movement associated with natural grazing.
This feeder truly shines as an enrichment tool. It slows down eating while promoting a healthy posture and providing a mental puzzle. For a horse on stall rest or living in a small paddock, the Forager can be a game-changer, helping to prevent boredom and the stress that comes with confinement. It’s also easy to fill and clean, which is a big plus for a busy owner.
Like other premium feeders, the Forager comes with a higher price tag. It’s an investment in your horse’s overall well-being, not just its diet. While it holds a decent amount of hay, it’s best suited for single-horse use rather than as a group feeder in a large pasture.
Shires Haylage Ball for Paddock Enrichment
Sometimes, the goal is less about feeding a full meal and more about breaking up the monotony of the day. The Shires Haylage Ball is a durable, multi-sided plastic ball that you fill with hay. The horse must nudge, kick, and roll the ball around the paddock to get small wisps of hay to fall out of the holes.
Think of this as a toy that dispenses food. It’s an excellent way to encourage movement and satisfy a horse’s natural foraging instincts. For an easy keeper in a dry lot, it can turn a small amount of hay into an hour-long activity, burning a few extra calories in the process.
This isn’t a primary feeding solution. It doesn’t hold much hay and can be frustrating for some horses (or get pushed under a fence by others). But as a supplementary tool for mental stimulation and enrichment, it’s an affordable and effective option.
Derby Originals Slow Feed Hay Bag for Travel
Every hobby farmer needs a simple, portable feeding solution. The Derby Originals Slow Feed Hay Bag is the classic workhorse for trailers, temporary stalls, or taking to a show. These fabric bags are affordable, lightweight, and incredibly easy to use—just stuff it, hang it, and go.
The front of the bag typically features a nylon webbing grid with small openings (usually 1-2 inches) that forces the horse to pull out small bites. They are perfect for controlling intake during travel or when a horse is stalled for a short period. Their low cost means you can have several on hand without a major investment.
The tradeoff for convenience and price is durability. A determined horse can chew through the fabric or webbing over time. They also require careful hanging to ensure a horse can’t get a leg caught, and they can be more difficult to clean thoroughly than a solid plastic or metal feeder.
Choosing the Right Feeder for Your Pasture
There is no single "best" slow feeder for every horse and every farm. The right choice depends entirely on your specific circumstances. Before you buy, ask yourself a few key questions:
- What is my budget? A simple hay bag can be under $30, while a durable, rigid feeder can cost several hundred.
- Where will it be used? A heavy basket is great for the pasture but useless for a trailer. A lightweight bag is perfect for travel but might not last a week in a field with a destructive horse.
- How aggressively do I need to slow my horse down? The hole size is the most critical factor. For a severely insulin-resistant horse, a 1-inch hole net might be necessary.
- Is my horse shod? If so, safety is paramount. Rigid feeders or carefully placed hay boxes eliminate the risk of a shoe getting caught in a net.
Often, the best solution is a combination of feeders. You might use a large, durable Tarter basket in the main pasture, a Porta-Grazer in a sacrifice paddock, and keep a couple of Derby bags in the trailer. By matching the feeder to the situation, you can effectively manage your easy keeper’s weight, reduce waste, and keep them healthy and happy.
Ultimately, managing an easy keeper is an exercise in thoughtful observation and proactive management. A slow feeder isn’t just a piece of equipment; it’s a fundamental tool that allows you to provide forage safely and economically. By choosing the right one for your horse and your farm, you’re investing directly in their long-term health and your own peace of mind.
