What to Do If Your Hay Net Develops a HoleUpdated 41 minutes ago

Our Hay nets are designed to be strong, safe, and long-lasting. However, horses are powerful animals, and at the end of the day, if 500kg / 1100lbs animal wants to destroy something, then it will! Knowing what to do early can significantly extend the life of your hay net and prevent further damage. 

This isn’t a common problem, but of course, with horses, anything is possible. Nikki, our founder, uses hay nets every day across multiple horses and feeding setups. In her experience, the Knotted hay nets typically last between 2–6 years (needing repairs after that time), while the newer Knotless nets have been in use for 5 years now without holes. While every horse and setup is different, overall longevity across the range has been very strong.

There are so many variables on how individual people use the nets, their horses and their behaviour, how and where the nets are used and kept. 

When customer contact us in regards to a hole the first question we consider is that the material doesn’t suit some? We have found in the past that for some reason, some horses are suited to Knotted and some to Knotless. Unfortunately, there is no way to work out which material suits your horses best, other than trying them. What we have found in the past when this happens, that if a customer tries a Knotted net and the horses put a hole in it, then we advise them to try Knotless and that usually fixes the issue. The same does happen vice versa as well. There is no recipe to work out what suits individual horses unfortunately, other than trying them.

To help better understand how the damage may have occurred, please consider the following questions:

• Are any of your horses the type that pull rugs off fences and wreck things?
• How long ago did you first start seeing the holes? Did you fix them immediately as we recommend on the instructions?
• How many horses are sharing the net?
• Is one horse in particular using this hay net with the hole?
• Is the hole size too small and the horse is getting frustrated? Or if the horse is new to slow feeding nets, has there been a gradual transition period? 
  
  

If You Notice a Hole

• Fix the hole immediately, or if you don't have time, take the hay net out of use. Simple baling twine can do as a quick closure of the hole and a short term fix.
• Order a repair kit, or contact us for instructions/advice. Repair instructions are available HERE.
• Even a small hole, can quickly become larger if left unattended.

It is important to fix any holes immediately as recommended on the instructions that come with the net. The reason for this is that you can aid your horse in ‘learning’ to put holes in the nets if you don’t fix the holes as soon as possible. Meaning a nose size hole can quickly turn into a head size hole if you don’t fix the hole quickly.

How to Repair a Hole

• Use a hay net repair kit available on our website
• If needed, a temporary quick fix using baling twine or thin rope is better than leaving the hole unrepaired.
• Do not continue using a damaged net without repair
  
  

Is your Horse New to Slow Feed Hay Nets?

As mentioned above, a hole or net damaged could of occurred because the hole feeding size is too small and the horse is getting frustrated. Or if the horse is new to slow feeding hay nets, there has not been a gradual adjustment or transition period.

Introducing slow feed hay nets gradually is important to help horses learn how to use them comfortably. If you’re noticing resistance, frustration, or avoidance when first introducing a hay net, we recommend reading our Troubleshooting – What If My Horse Refuses to Use the Hay Net? article for helpful step-by-step guidance on transitioning your horse successfully. Or if you are brand new to slow feed hay nets please check out our article 'Introducing Slow Feed Hay Nets to Horses'.

Contact Us About Hay Net Damage

We always want our customers to be happy with their purchase and we genuinely welcome feedback. If your hay net becomes damaged and you’re unhappy with the purchase, please get in touch with us so we can assist and assess the situation.

Please note hay nets damaged after purchase will be assessed differently. A claim is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. As usage, horse behaviour, and setup vary greatly, and all damage claims are different.

Future Hay Net Usage

As a suggestion for future hay net use, it is important consider trying an alternative material if damage has occurred prematurely. Some horses respond better to Knotted hay nets, while others suit Knotless hay nets, and switching between the two can often resolve ongoing issues. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to predict which material will suit an individual horse best, other than through use, but changing materials has proven helpful.