Safety for shod horses or foalsUpdated a month ago

If you have foals with small feet, or ponies then don’t let their feet get in contact with the netting if the size of the netting hole is larger than the size of the hoof. Therefore, 6cm / 2 1/2" sized nets are not recommended for ponies or any animals with hooves smaller than 6cm diameter (unless you tie the net high enough or put it in a box or some other device that separates hooves from net). 4cm / 1 3/4" and 3cm / 1 1/4" nets are the safest for foals and ponies with small hooves but always check that the diameter of their hooves is LARGER than the hay net hole size you are choosing if there will be no barrier between their feet and the net.

Please Note: When using any hay net, always take note of the size of your animals feet.

Most ponies feet are bigger than 4cm / 1 13/4" but foals and mini pony foals may not be. The last thing you want is your foal to get caught in a net. Once your foals feet are larger than the net size then they are safe to be with a hay net at feet level like these 2 gorgeous stock horse babies in the image above.

There are many ways to keep shod hooves out of a net:

There are a few options for keeping hooves away from your hay nets, here are some tried and tested methods from our customers:

Boxes: Building or repurposing a sturdy box around the net creates a physical barrier, keeping hooves out while containing the hay.

Water troughs: An empty trough placed around or beneath the net can serve the same purpose, particularly in yards or stables where a purpose-built box isn't practical.

Hay Rings: A hay ring positioned around the net keeps hooves at a distance while still allowing normal grazing access. This won't be a viable option for everyone, but it's a great, practical idea where it fits. A ring can also be substituted with a rubber tyre, as one of our customers has done.

Tying the Hay Net Higher: Raising the net height keeps it out of reach of hooves entirely, useful for foals until their hooves grow large enough to safely use a net at ground level.

Hay Huts: These provide weather protection as well as a physical barrier, and work well with GutzBusta Slow Feed Hay Nets.

Click here for other safety ideas and things to consider when using slow feed hay nets with your horses or livestock.

Scott's Boarding Setup

One of our USA customers, Scott, created this setup for his horse boarding operation. Scott runs ScotLyn Farm & Stables LLC and uses Extra Large Knotless Hay Nets in his quarantine buildings, though he says they'd work well anywhere on the property. He built hay boxes roughly 3 - 4 feet high, with the nets hanging inside from carabiner clips, it's a simple but effective way to keep hooves out while keeping the hay well contained.

"These hay nets work well for our Horse Boarding operation... the bag actually sits in a hay box that we built."

This setup is a particularly good option for shod horses. Adding a clip or two to the bottom or side of the wood panels to secure the netting in place would help prevent it from being tossed out, making it an even safer choice where horses are wearing shoes.

Hole Size Recommendations

6cm/2½" nets are not recommended for ponies or any animal with hooves smaller than 6cm in diameter, unless the net is tied high enough or placed inside a box or similar barrier that separates hooves from the net.
4cm/1¾" and 3cm/1¼" nets are generally the safest options for foals and ponies with small hooves.
Regardless of net size, always confirm that the animal's hoof diameter is larger than the net hole size before use without a barrier.

When considering buying a slow feed hay net, there are many factors to take into account. Please click here for more information on taking into consideration the type of hay you are feeding, quality of the net, choosing the right size, shoes and youngstock.

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