FAQs
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| Written by Julie Turner | |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does my horse need the Slow Down™ Hay Feeder Soaker? If your horse is stall or dry lot bound you need the Slow Down Hay Feeder Soaker. Many health and behavioral issues begin because horses are confined. By nature, horses are meant to graze up to 16 hours a day. Health issues such as founder and laminitis, ulcers, colic, choke, cribbing and insulin resistance can be treated using this feeder. This feeder benefits you as well! If you'd like to save money by wasting less hay while saving time cleaning stalls each day, this feeder is for you!
The hay is placed in the tub with the feeder plate placed over it and locked into place by twisting it under the upper guides behind the four posts. As the horse pulls strands of hay through the holes, the feeder plate slowly lowers to the bottom of the tub. When empty, the feeder plate rests on the bottom guides, keeping chaff, sand and debris from easy reach. This material should be emptied on a regular basis to keep your feeder clean and functioning properly.
Does your horse like to eat? If so, as most do, he will figure it out without any coaxing from you. They have a strong sense of curiosity, if not appetite. One or the other will have them poking around at the holes filled with hay almost immediately. If they appear to have difficulty at first. Pull a few strands of hay through a couple of the holes. This will get them started. (click here for demonstation)
While can’t predict exactly how long it will take each horse to finish a quantity of hay, as each circumstance ( types of hay, time of day, soaked or unsoaked, plate size used, experience using the feeder, etc.) and horse are different, many customers, report horses taking 3-5 times longer to consume their hay. We can also tell you the feeder was first invented for one of our mares who had foundered on green grass. Placed on stall rest and a restricted diet, she seemed to begin to inhale her hay. We timed her: One pound in 10 minutes. When eating hay out of the feeder it took her between 30-45 minutes to finish a pound of hay. She stopped chewing on her stall walls, had a much better attitude and lost the weight our vet recommended. Never easier! If you’ve ever had the pleasure of soaking hay by soaking a hay net in a garbage can full of water and then carrying the dripping mess to the stall, tying it up and getting soaked in the process, you will appreciate this aspect of the feeder most of all! With this Slow Down Hay Feeder/Soaker, all you do is throw the hay in, place the plate on and fill it with water Just pull the plug to let the water out and carry the feeder back to the stall. You stay clean and dry and so does the stall! (click here to see how it works)
Does one size fit all? Most averaged sized horses do well with the Large feeder plate, which has 3.5 inch holes. The age and size of your horse, or other animal, will determine which size plate you will need. Foals, miniatures, goats and llamas, will likely need the XS, or smallest holed plate, with 2.5 inch holes. A good rule of thumb is to choose a plate with holes smaller than your animal's hoof. As your animal uses the feeder, it may become more proficient at eating hay. Depending on your needs, smaller holed feeder plates are available for purchase to “slow down” their pace even more if this is your goal. (click here for sizes of plates)
L – “Large” 3.5 inch holed feeder plate - Designed for horses - For horses with a hoof size of 3.5 inches or larger M – “Medium” 3.0 inch holed feeder plate - Designed for horses and ponies - For horses or ponies with a hoof size of 3.0 inches or larger S – “Small” 2.5 inch holed feeder plate - Designed for ponies - For ponies with a hoof size of 2.5 inches or larger How much will it save me? You’ll be amazed at just how much! It will depend on individual situations, but let’s just start with hay costs. By merely feeding or wasting less hay, the feeder can pay for itself in a very short amount of time! Considering the cost of repairing stall walls, fences and whatever else horses destroy when bored or hungry, you’ll be saving money and precious time with less repairs! Also consider the health concerns and the cost to treat those issues that can be helped, if not prevented, by using the Slow Down Hay Feeder/Soaker. Issues such as ulcers, colic, laminitis and founder, just to name a few! You can’t afford NOT to own one! (click here for other ways it can save you money)
Absolutely! It only weighs 22 lbs! Take it with you to the shows, camping and trail rides. The D-rings enable you to clip or tie it to just about anything. It’s light enough to carry one in each hand. It also makes a handy bucket for loading and unloading your supplies!
All hay is baled and weighs differently, but generally it will hold half a small square bale. Or to put it another way, 10-12 two pound flakes of hay or approximately 20-24 lbs. (Click here for filling demonstration)
The feeder tub holds 37 gallons with dimensions of 21 3/4 inches wide by 24 inches tall What is it made of? Over two years were spent researching and testing materials to ensure they would endure not only a horse's large size and potential abuse, but varying temperatures as well. Many materials did not meet our standards due to breakage, longevity and most importantly, safety. We will not compromise our high standards to reduce the cost of the feeder, as we feel most strongly about the horse's well-being and safety.
The Slow Down Hay Feeder Soaker™ has a one year limited warranty. We are proud of our quality workmanship and the durability of this feeder. With proper care it should last for many years.
No problem at all. You can hose it off in minutes. If you think it needs a good cleaning, just fill it with water and add a cup of bleach. Let it soak, rinse and tip over to dry. Simple!
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