Can you soak hay with a Gutzbusta Hay Net?Updated a day ago
If you’re soaking hay to reduce sugar levels or support your horse’s digestive health, it’s important to consider the most practical way to do it. One common question is whether hay should be soaked loose or inside a hay net.
GutzBusta hay nets can be used for soaking hay and, in many cases, offer a more efficient solution. Soaking hay in a net can make handling, draining, and transferring hay significantly easier, while also helping to minimise waste.
Due to the material used, we generally recommend soaking hay with our knotted hay nets, as they do not absorb water. This makes them lighter, easier to handle, and quicker to drain after soaking.
Knotless hay nets can still be used for soaking; however, they absorb water, which can make them heavier to lift and handle, particularly in colder or wet environments.
Our hay nets do not shrink (unlike cotton nets) when used for soaking.
We recommend rinsing the net in cold water prior to first use for a few minutes.
Knotted:
Our knotted hay nets are ideal for soaking or steaming hay. They’re made from high-quality polyethylene, a material designed for durability in marine and outdoor environments. Because polyethylene does not absorb water, the nets stay relatively light even when wet. With a quick shake, most of the excess water drains off, making them easy to handle, move, and hang back up.
This non-absorbent, water-resistant material is what makes knotted nets the preferred option for soaking or steaming hay, especially if you’re doing it regularly or working in wetter or colder conditions.
Knotless:
Soaking hay in a knotless net is perfectly fine. However, when your hay net is new, and you intend on using it to soak hay with, we recommend rinsing the net in cold water prior to first use for a few minutes.
There are some considerations if you are in particularly wet environments, such as the UK, NZ or it’s a really long wet winter where you live, anywhere in the World.
We suggest regularly washing the net with a high-pressure hose if you choose to soak with it in these environments. Additionally, if you reside in colder, wetter areas where the nets tend to stay damp for long periods of time, it's important to let them air out occasionally to dry.
The woven material does retain moisture, which may lead to bacterial or fungal growth. This is particularly a factor to consider in consistently wet climates, like the UK, where the nets seldom have a chance to dry. In contrast, this is generally not an issue in Australia or many regions of the USA, but it's still something to keep in mind. We have never had a reported incident of this happening, this is only precautionary.