Have you guys seen these? I went to a horse expo up in Washington over the weekend and stopped at the Porta-Grazer booth. This is a genius idea. It
basically is a simple barrel you put hay in then you add a a restrictor pan that has holes for the horse to eat. Why is that cool? It simulates natural grazing. As hay is pulled through the holes, sand and dirt fall to the bottom of the barrel and hay never comes in contact with bedding or manure. The horse stomach is designed to receive a constant supply of forage in a slow, continuous manner. This is perfect for that. If you want to soak your hay...now it is easy. 
A couple more things to think about with this simple "barrel". You can take it with when you travel, your horse will be ready to ride at any time, and you eliminate boredom if your horse doesn't get turnout everyday. I just think this is such a brilliant idea, I had to pass it on. My barn owner bought one and she is testing it out. She plans to buy 6 more in Albany at the NW Horse Expo. She thinks she will save money in hay waste, it will keep barn cleaner, and she can fill it a little fuller if she has too work late and horses will have stuff to munch on all day long.
10 comments:
That's very clever! Sadly, I'm pretty sure my boy would knock the whole thing ever - he's a little bit destructive/curious like that.
Someone's brain was working. A very good idea!
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. What prevents them from knocking it over?
What a super idea. You could add some eye rings and snap hooks to fasten it to the wall. It certainly wouldn't be hard. Bet the manufacturer will eventually make a model with that option.
That looks like a great idea. Let us know how it works out at your barn.
LOVED this!!! When I saw Willow eating from it the other day, she looked content...pulling her strands out.
The kind of hay makes a differance in how easily it is eaten too. hers was course. For 2 flakes-it took her 3 hours!
Though I heard noises and wondered if she'd lift the resticktor out..nope..it has to be perfectly LEVEL to come out..two handed humans and not mouthy horses lift it out, and definately if it were knocked over, it would not release the hay!
Attaching it to the stall wall-for daily use-is the way to go.
But for the BEACH SAND and the Central Oregon sand, we are going to ride in this summer...THOSE are perfect!
No more "Sand Clear" doses for fear of sand colic!
Great!
KK
On the website, there is a video of horses rolling them around then giving up and tipping them back up to continue eating...so it seems if tipped, you can't spill the hay. I was thinking they need a "corner" model or a mechanism to easily attach to wall.
I heard about these and they've a pretty hefty price tag. It will be interesting to see how they actually work.
I've been using this for about a year (the designer is my farrier) and my horse loves it! The barn staff put it inside his old feeder (a large water tank bolted to the wall) and it works great. He likes it so much, he ignores all the loose hay that gets dropped on the stall mats when they carry the hay into the paddock.
my friend has one and i have one. We love the porta grazer. If i were you i would by one. the moneys worth it.
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