What's a Freedom Feeder?

2/11/2012

Have I mentioned that Sydney tends to waste a lot of hay? If not, he does. Once it hits the ground, it's dirty. I don't think that's what he thinks, but whatever his rationale, very little of what hits the ground gets consumed. RM has hemmed and hawed over what we might do to reduce the waste. We've given him a DEEP feeder, we dole out his hay in smaller meals over the weekend, but aside from that, we haven't hit on a solution ... until now.

At the Horse Expo, I passed by the booth for the Freedom Feeder, something I've seen before, but never had the need for. I actually kept on walking, but after talking to a lady in another booth about saddle fitting, we started talking about feeding and she actually escorted me back to the Freedom Feeder booth to show me why she liked their product. Once I started chatting with the folks there, I threw caution, and my credit card, to the wind and plunked down the fifty bucks. Yeah, I know. Fifty bucks for a hay net?!

I followed the directions and hung it up on Sunday morning. Everything is hung with break-away carabiners and the netting is too small for a hoof to get tangled in. I wasn't 100% sure that I liked how it hung from the top so I modified it a bit so the the net wraps around the top rail and snaps back onto itself. This eliminated the hoof-grabbing holes that the first method of hanging created - sorry, no updated photo. The way it's hung, the person feeding is able to fill it from the barn aisle without removing the net, which is far more convenient than most hay bags and all other hay nets.

There's more below ...

I've since added two more carabiners.

Nibble ... nibble

Sydney took to it immediately. I could see right away that he was fascinated by the challenge of the "game." The alfalfa leaves do fall through the net, but since they fall immediately below the net, they don't get dragged around in the dirt. And since they're the yummiest part, it makes them less likely to be wasted.

I watched Sydney work at the bag for the better part of an hour. He didn't seem frustrated by the small bites he was able to get. If anything, the opposite was true. He seemed to enjoy the process. The manufacturer recommends feeding in the previous type of feeder as well as in the net until the horse adapts to the slower delivery method. After watching him, I didn't think Sydney would have a problem. He didn't. I removed the feeder tub mid-week.

This thing has turned out to be a miracle. Sydney is beyond relaxed. He has the calmest, most relaxed look on his face all day. RM, Other Boarder, and Neighbor Feeder have all remarked at his new attitude. And to top it off, he has already gained weight! For most horses that's a problem. For my slow-pokey, never-pig-out ponies whose flesh just barely covers their ribs, this is a great thing.

Who knew that all along the Freedom Feeder was (one of) the solution(s) that I needed? Best $50 I've ever spent!

Val

2/11/2012 12:15:17 am

Great photo!

Those are some awesome results. I researched slow feeders and liked the Freedom Feeder a lot. I ended up choosing the Nibble Net ground feeder, because I wanted to be able to leave it on the ground in the paddock. Unfortunately this was a failed experiment, as Harley's overbite made it very difficult for him to eat through the net, even though the openings were 1.5" squares. His buddy was very good at eating from the net. The end result was that Harley lost more weight and his buddy gained more weight. We had no choice, but to stop using the nets. I was very disappointed, because it is so healthy for the horse to have slow, continuous forage.

I am so glad that Sydney is showing such positive results. This is a real break through!

Karen

2/11/2012 08:26:08 am

Again, thanks, Val! I am sorry the Nibble Net didn't work in Harley's situation. Free feeding is great, but it can get expensive, which is why I was so glad to find the Freedom Feeder. We're still making changes, but it is working. Sydney has learned that if he shakes it really hard, lots of leaves fall through. Unfortunately, some is still getting kicked around and stepped on and then wasted. We've placed a feed tub under the bag to catch the leaves so that they won't become part of his bedding. Always a work in progress...

lytha

2/11/2012 01:05:47 am

fascinating. can you tell me why you think he gained weight with it? i have the same issue - an older horse who needs a "fast feeder" all day long. i just wrote a blog post about a cool slow feeer i found (will post soon) and i wonder if it would work for us. you say your horse seems calmer now but why do you think that is? could it be that he must devote his energy to eating and not just grab a bite and look at what's going on while he chews? interesting!

martina peterson

2/11/2012 01:05:56 am

In looking at the photos I can't figure out HOW Sidney gets the alphalfa out of the feeder. Does he pull it through each hole or what? By your comments it seems as if he has to work to eat so I was just wondering.

Sarah E. Schulman link

2/13/2012 08:51:39 am

Awesome! Personal referrals for products are really worth a lot. Careful with carabiners though: apparently horses' lips can get stuck in them and when they pull back it may tear flesh. Hard to explain, and I can't find a picture example online. But just keep an eye out to make sure he isn't to fussy with them.

2/13/2012 10:28:11 am

Sarah we've restrung it. After watching it in action, we needed to do some modifications. The net now goes over the top rail and clips back onto itself from the back. The open side is now strung up around the second rail to keep it more secure. We also tie to bottom down so that he can't flip it over. The whole thing is much more secure with no foot-sized openings. we've moved a feed bin under the net to catch the falling leaves. I guess I should post some updated photos!

Yozo's mom

2/13/2012 12:52:48 pm

I love it! At this time of year, I am feeling your pain. Yozo wastes a lot more hay when it hits the ground if the ground is at all wet, which happens a lot this time of year. After reading your post, I decided to pull my Nibble Net out of the trailer today and put it in the paddock. I'm going to try putting Yozo's morning hay in it each day and see how it goes. He gets a grass mix in the morning and an oat mix in the evening. The alfalfa was too expensive so my barn stopped feeding it and only if a horse was losing weight did they put the horse back on it. Yozo is surprisingly maintaining his weight so I have not made the alfalfa request at this point. However, he seems to not love the grass mix as much! I got that Nibble Net at the horse expo last summer, and I bought the biggest one they had for sale, which is HUGE. I was mostly thinking of trailering and camping when I bought it, but we'll see how it goes leaving it in the paddock.

2/14/2012 10:50:24 am

I hope it works for Yozo. Wasting hay is expensive, but the worst part is that the horses don't get the calories. And this time of year they need as many as possible! I've seen the nibble nets and think they are a great option. For me, the Freedom Feeder was easier to use since my barn owner and neighbor do the majority of the feeding. I need to post new photos of how we have it hung now. We've made a few slight changes so it hangs a bit better.

Yozo is such a NICE horse. I hope winter is treating him well! :0)

2/17/2012 02:11:56 pm

2/17/2012 02:18:33 pm

I think it is working well, and especially Wed when it was windy! He would have lost a lot of hay! I think with the challenge and game of the nibble net, he manages to eat way more of the hay! The hard part is I could never ask Mario to put the hay in the nibble net. He works hard enough as it is. Plus, he doesn't speak English. This morning I happened to get there right as he was feeding and had him put the grass hay straight into the nibble net. He seemed a little confused about it but got it in there, lol! Poor guy. He must rub his head seeing me there so early in the mornings. It is kinda nice having the barn and arena to myself though! Of course I only get out there in the mornings early enough to get the hay into the nibble net 3-4 days a week, but oh well. I just snap the top shut and toss the nibble net into the center of the paddock. Hopefully he won't destroy it, but so far so good!

I hope one of these days we can meet in the middle at a show in Fresno :) I haven't really done much showing since I've had him. All the showing I did before buying him was IHSA and so different. I have had so many issues with getting Yozo to canter and maintain it that it never occurred to me that showing would be a good idea. But after last fall's derby, I'm gung ho now! My first show I have planned this season is a schooling show March 24 :)

2/19/2012 06:24:32 am

I've heard others talk about using the nibble nets on the ground. That seems like a good idea. I went with the Freedom Feeder because it is so easy to fill. I hated asking my barn owner, or Neighbor Feeder, to fill a bag. It's hard enough to feed everyone and clean stalls before heading to work.

I am planning on doing at least one show in Clovis this year, probably in October. It would be great to see you. I think showing is fun and for me, it gives me riding goals. I've learned that not everyone feels compelled to show. If you think it's fun, go for it! Who cares if you make a mistake or Yozo does. That's how we learn and get better. :0)

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage