Horse care during the winter can be incredibly tough for some owners. Wet fields, limited grass, longer stabling hours and rising hay costs, it is hard to keep your horse happy and healthy, without expending all of your energy and time, of course. Slow-feed hay nets are a simple way to support healthier feeding routines and reduce waste during the winter. This means you spend less money on hay, spend less time clearing up mess, all while supporting healthy horse habits.
Winter feeding provides different challenges than feeding during the summer. While some might think it’s about giving your horse more hay, it is actually more important that foraging is available and consistent over the winter, while being manageable for you.
Grass quality and availability usually drop during the winter, and horses are natural trickle feeders, so long gaps without rich foraging can affect comfort, behaviour and routine. As owners, we need to balance enough hay with controlled intake, as the cold weather increases the importance of steady forage access.
Slow-feed hay nets are a practical solution for winter foraging for both horse and owner.
Slow-feed hay nets encourage horses to take smaller mouthfuls, which means the hay lasts longer, saving you money on new hay. They are helpful to use overnight, during longer stable periods and poor turnout days. There is the added health benefit of controlling the speed at which your horse consumes hay.
As we have covered many times, one of the biggest reasons we recommend slow-feed hay nets to people is that they support natural foraging behaviour. This is especially good during the winter when your horse can’t get outside to graze. The slower feeding can help mimic more natural eating patterns and reduce boredom during the winter months.
On those cold winter nights, there is a long list of things you would prefer to do than sweep up excess hay. When you use slow-feed hay nets, you reduce the chance of loose hay being trampled into the mud or bedding – especially helpful in wet UK yards.
In wet, icy and muddy conditions, using slow feed hay nets during the winter requires special consideration. There are a few safety tips you should follow to keep you and your horse safe.
By storing your filled nets under cover where possible, you can keep them dry. If your net gets wet, it can freeze, putting it out of action. Be sure to rotate wet nets with dry ones.
It is important to monitor whether your horse is eating easily. This is why you need to give consideration to the mesh size you choose for your individual horse. Older horses or horses with dental issues may need easier access.
Where you place your net is also important during the winter. If being hung, ensure it is done securely and is not likely to fall when touched. Avoid positions where legs, shoes, rugs or clips could become caught. Floor-level use should only be done with suitable products and safe supervision.
Slow feed hay nets can be adapted to different horse temperaments during the winter. For fat eaters, good doers and horses needing longer forage time, there is few better solutions than a slow feed hay net. For older horses, poor doers or horses with dental issues, they may have to be adapted.
One of the biggest advantages is being able to not over-restrict foraging behaviour during the winter, ensuring continuity with their foraging behaviour year-round.
Winter feeding doesn’t have to be a guessing game; you can ensure your horse is getting the appropriate care and attention by using a slow-feed hay net. Nibbleze slow-feed hay nets help make hay last longer while supporting natural feeding. Our knotless design is gentle, durable and suitable for everyday use.
Explore the Nibbleze slow-feed hay net range and find a practical, welfare-focused feeding solution for your winter routine. For more information, get in touch.
Discover some of the most commonly asked questions about using slow feed hay nets in the winter.
Yes, when used safely and monitored properly. Explain that they are useful for extending forage time during stabling or limited turnout.
Often, yes. Hay helps support warmth through digestion, so slow feeding should not mean underfeeding.
They can become stiff or icy if left wet in freezing conditions. We recommend keeping nets dry, rotating them and checking access regularly.
Yes, they can help hay last longer overnight and reduce boredom, provided the horse can access enough forage comfortably.