Q: How do you tie a hay net safely?
A: Follow these steps to tie a hay net safely:
- Fill the hay net with hay. An average-sized hay net will normally hold 3-4 slices from a rectangular bale.
- Pull the drawstring on the hay net so that the top closes.
- Tie a knot, so the bag stays closed. The material hay nets are made of is quite slippery, so it is rare to tie a knot so tightly that you can’t easily undo it.
- Loop the loose end of the drawstring through the ring or over the rail that you will hang the hay net from. This should be at the horse’s head level. Make sure that whatever you attach the hay net to is strong enough to withstand the attentions of a hungry horse!
- If there is a metal ring at the bottom of the hay net, loop the drawstring through it and draw it back up to the ring or rail to which you are tying the net. Pull the net upwards, so the rings on the top and bottom of the net are as close as possible. If there is no metal ring, you can loop the drawstring through one of the holes on the bottom of the bag.
- Knot the drawstring with a quick-release knot around whatever you are tying the hay net to.
- The net should fold in half rather than sag downwards when tied as described above. One of the biggest risks with hay nets is a horse getting their foot caught in the net (particularly if they are shod), so keeping them up and preventing them dangling downwards is very important.
- Check hay nets frequently and tie them up if they are beginning to sag.
Top tip
Hay nets shouldn’t be used for regular feeding as with hay nets, horses have to eat with their head and neck up rather than in their natural grazing position. This can put strain on their bodies, particularly their backs and necks.