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Discussion on Feeding hay in pasture
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Member:
Nightwin
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 8:39 am:
I'm not sure if this is a"nutrition" or "pasture" question. I am looking for some sort of multi-horse feeder for hay that keeps hay very low, yet off the ground, with some sort of pan underneath to catch the pieces and preferably with drain holes. I can only find the ones which I believe are horse unfriendly, ie too high, in view of the fact that eating in the proper position protects their eyes and respiratory system. Any advice/info would be appreciated!
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Member:
Tlcstabl
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 8:52 am:
Hi Wendy:
We have actually switched to feeding our regular hay in round bale feeders. It allows many horses to be positioned around the hay at once and doesn't seem to be too stressful to any of them to have 5-6 horses eating out of one feeding station. We have the large "plastic" version where they won't rub off their manes -- Just several "V" slots around the feeders circumference. There is next to no waste. We just distribute the hay on the inside of the feeder and they all seem to reach it quite well. No rubbing on the neck/chest area either! Hope this helps!
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 9:54 am:
Wendy, i use huge truck tires.. my husband will put plywood on the bottom of then we put them on a pallet that has been reinforced with a few small holes in the bottom for drainage... i have these in all the pastures... when the wind picks up the hay is not blown all over.. and the horses are not fed on the ground...but be warned the horses will climb in.. and paw.. so use a thick plywood and a heavy duty pallet..
good luck , Ann
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Member:
Joelally
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 10:46 am:
Hello Wendy,
We had to figure something out also due to all the rain and mud here in the northwest. After a couple of tries I finally got the right answer for us.
I took 55gallon PLASTIC drums and cut a hole in the length wise section. My horses at first would throw out the hay and then I left the ends intact with about a 5 inch lip to keep the hay in. The sides were cut to above half way of the circumference.Holes drilled along the bottom, I then used 4X4's lag bolted to each end to keep them upright. To keep them close to the fence I used baling twine to tie them to a fence post.
This has decreased my hay bill by at least 25%. I too used the tractor tires and yes they climbed in, destroyed the plywood, and left their previous meals there.
Hope this helps, I set out 5 for 5 horses and it works fine
Joe
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 11:43 am:
Ann, I hope you turn those truck tires inside out before using them! If not, they are a death trap. There have been cases where horse's get their head stuck inside the tire trying to reach hay and suffocating before help can arrive. And, I can imagine they must have panicked trying to get their head out. Even though most people think "it won't happen to me" it only takes one time. Please rethink your tire feeders and change to something that is not potentially fatal.
Thanks.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 3:58 pm:
Holly, i know stuff happens with horses... frankly i don't see how one can get his head stuck , these tires are huge.. plenty of room for the horse to root around the tire to get his feed.. and i do cut them out on top and bottom bigger round so there is more space...some i don't cut but the bottoms to put the heavy duty plywood to...
Ann
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Member:
Goolsby
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:16 pm:
Ann
Where do you get the tires?
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:20 pm:
I think that looks like a very practical idea...and I understand too that if a horse can find a way to get hurt, he will. But these look plenty large enough to avoid any problems with getting stuck. Maybe Holly's referring to a much smaller tire? Thanks for posting a picture. Would also love to see a picture of Joe's described above.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:27 pm:
Holly,opps , i mean Colleen, my husband is a construction engineer, thus he is on job sites all the time.. those big trucks/ dirt movers go thru tires faster then we do.. anyone can stop at a site and ask for the discards.. most of the truckers either haul the old tire away.. or are happy for you to...
Ann
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:31 pm:
No Wait!! Come to my house! I have been trying to get rid of two tractor trailer tires for a year 
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Member:
Stina
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:48 pm:
I too use large tires as feeders, but buy them already inverted at the local ranch store. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the article, but it pictured an ENTIRE horse (not just the head) wedged into a tire. The horse suffocated ad died in the tire. Either the horse fell in or was pushed in by a pasture buddy and in its scrambling to get out, mananaged to inch its way entirely into the tire. The lip of the tire prevented the horse from getting back out. I totally agree Ann, wrap them in bubble wrap and put them in a rubber room and they will still get hurt, but the picture was so horrible I vowed never to use non-inverted tires. I also prefer not to affix a base, as it allows the dust to fall to the bottom and then you just roll the tire to a new location and old hay falls out the bottom.
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 4:56 pm:
Ann, Whew! It doesn't look like that type of tire could trap a horse (thank goodness).
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Member:
Albionsh
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 11:11 pm:
Aileen, is that an open invitation? I can just see the long lines of HA member's horse trailers pulling into your driveway....
Sounds like fun! I'll volunteer my place for a Northwest gathering.....barn is about a month from completion : )
Nancy
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Member:
Nightwin
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 8:11 am:
Thanks very much for all your responses. I recently unearthed an abandoned tractor tire and now will put it to use. Thanks for the picture, Ann. I'll use it in the pasture directly in front of the house for full viewing. And yes, Joe, is there any chance we could see a picture of your plastic 55-gallon drum design? I'll also take another look at the round bale feeders. Some really great ideas!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 10:21 am:
I'll be there Nancy!
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Member:
Albionsh
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 10:22 am:
A while back there was a thread about the danger of using old bathtubs as water tanks due to their rounded bottoms. Should a horse step in or be pushed in by a companion, the leg could go out from under, trapping the poor horse and probably breaking the hip. Is there any danger of this happening in the rounded bottom of a plastic barral set on its side with the top cut out? Seems like a flat bottom is needed for any structure within the stepping range of our equine friends....
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 10:32 am:
I think ANY type of equipment we put in an enclosure with horses is a potential hazard--but But even though we might take every precaution we can think of in making the environment "safe," horses will always devise new and unimaginable ways to get hurt. The best we can do is use good judgment and good workmanship--and be very vigilant.
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Member:
Goolsby
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 2:12 pm:
Nancy
I use a 55 gal drum similar to what Joe described, but mainly for grain because I have a couple that kept turning over their feed dish, spilling the grain. I no longer mount the drum, but just lay it on the ground. Sometimes they get their foot in it, but I dont see how it could be a concern ( of course anything can happen) I also stay with my 4 until they are all finished eating. Here is a pic of the 2 colts eating from the drums.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 5:47 pm:
oh.. great picture , see i was thinking of cutting them in 1/2... thanks for the photo..
Ann
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