Agriculture Reference
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clogged tear ducts. Hay nets can be a good temporary way to feed hay, but care must be
taken to tie the hay net so that when it is empty it does not hang dangerously low where a
horse can get a leg caught. As an added safeguard, hay nets can be fitted with a breakaway
fastener so that if the horse does become entangled, he will not hang himself. Feeding hay
at ground level on stall mats is an excellent natural choice, as long as the mats are swept
periodically to remove tracked-in dirt and sand.
Grain fed in shallow tubs on the ground is a natural way for horses to eat, but some
horses tip the tubs over and spill the grain. A good solution is to feed grain in a shallow,
corner-mounted grain tub that is located at a level about two-thirds the height of the horse
or about 38 to 42 inches off the ground. Feeding grain in buckets is OK, but horses tend to
gulp when fed grain in a deep bucket, and buckets tend to be a toy that horses chew on, rub
on, bang against, and tip over.
Since a horse drinks from 8 to 12 gallons of water per day, it is essential to find an effi-
cient watering system. A water bucket system probably will not work well, unless you use
a 3- to 5-gallon bucket and fill it two or three times per day. The water supply will stay
cleaner if it is located away from the feeding area. If you have turnout pens attached to each
stall, you may want to locate the water out there in barrels, tubs, or troughs.
Automatic waterers are much more convenient than buckets, but they have drawbacks as
well. They are expensive and should be installed while a barn is being built, not afterward.
You never really know if a horse is drinking and, if so, exactly how much. However, some
new models can measure consumption. Also, with some models, horses learn how to keep
the water running and flood their stalls. In cold climates you'll need to outfit automatic
waterers with heating accessories to keep them from freezing. These waterers are safest if
they are round and set in a corner. If they are square, the corners should be covered with a
protective edging, or, better yet, the entire waterer can be installed flush with a wall. Check
automatic waterers daily to be sure that they are clean and functioning properly.
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