The SlowFeeding evolution.
The Evolution of SlowFeeding® – From Hay Chaos to Hay Harmony
Once upon a dusty stable floor…
Hay was dumped straight onto bedding soaked in ammonia. Horses had no choice but to eat nose-to-ground, inhaling fumes 50 times stronger than what’s safe for their sensitive lungs. Yikes.
(Yes, when we can smell ammonium, the concentration is already 50 times higher than what is considered okay for horses to breathe in.)
💡 Enter: SlowFeeding® 1.0
Hanging nets
- Flat hay nets – the original envelope-style solution
My very first SlowFeeding designs were launched in the U.S. by one of my students. These flat, envelope-shaped Small Mesh Hay Nets (SMHN) quickly became popular — and widely copied. But we now know they’re not really that effective.
They reduce hay waste and slow eating, but only by 35%, and worse — they force horses to eat in unnatural, awkward positions. Not exactly relaxing. The reason for this is anatomical: The horse’s upper lip extends past the lower lip, which actually makes it better for the horse to eat from the back side of the net than the front.
- Hay Sacks – are the worst time taker.
And come with the same vertical eating problem.
We prefer not to produce and sell these nets anymore, but if you are interested in purchasing flat nets, let us know what size you would like; we can make them all.
But slowing down isn’t the real goal…
The true purpose of SlowFeeding® is to help horses return to their natural rhythm:
✔ Eat slowly and calmly
✔ Take breaks without stress
✔ Stop eating when full — even if hay is still available
The secret? Your horse must be totally relaxed — physically and mentally. That means standing in balance, free from the anxiety that hay might run out. Even for 5 minutes. Because some horses start stressing the moment they sense the hay pile is shrinking.
🧠 Did you know?
Horses don’t sleep all night — they graze more actively during the night hours! So if you want to keep their gut and mind calm, hay should always be available, even while you’re sleeping.
🏆 SlowFeeding® 2.0 – The Ultimate Upgrade
Now we’re talking real state-of-the-art equine dining:
✅ Natural eating angles – better than pasture
✅ Efficient slow feeding with soft horizontal nets
✅ Super quick to fill — just minutes for >24 hours of supply
✅ Designed for continuous feeding — perfect for healing ulcers (EGUS)
✅ Hygienic — no more hay soaking up ammonia, sand, or dust
✅ Encourages true relaxation and natural grazing behavior
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Ready to ditch stress feeding and say hello to a happier, healthier horse?
You’re officially in SlowFeeding® 2.0 territory.
Let us present our flagship SlowFeeding Optimal