Page 23 - AEF-AlbertaBits_Fall-2025

“That really opened our eyes pretty early into horse
ownership. Horses really do need a high level of care,
a very natural way of doing things and so we just
wanted to make that better,” says Shura.
While a machine might not sound like the more
“natural way” to feed equines, slow feeders are
helpful for creating conditions more like the foraging
behaviour that supports horse wellness.
Aside from helping with insulin dysregulation
(such as equine metabolic syndrome and other health
issues), foraging from a slow feed hay net or slow
feeder also helps horses psychologically, preventing
stress and behavioural problems like cribbing,
weaving and eating straw and feces, which can stem
from boredom. Eating from a slow feed hay net can
prevent insulin from spiking and keep cortisol lower —
meaning less stress on the horse.
University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine Associate Professor Jean-Yin Tan points to an
alarming statistic: 30 per cent of horses in Canada are
overweight. Obesity can cause a host of health issues
in horses — which can be mitigated by introducing a
slow feed hay net, along with diet changes. Tools like
the hay nets can also help horse owners become more
conscious of how much they’re feeding their horses, so
horses aren’t given too much to eat.
Horse owners should exercise caution with slow
feeders. Small horses and ponies might paw at slow
feed hay nets and get their hooves stuck. It’s important
for owners to observe their horse(s) and find the kind
of slow feeder that works best for them. It might take
some trial and error.
For a food motivated horse, something like the
Hay Play slow forage feeder might work well, keeping
horses entertained and engaged, which can prevent
psychological and behavioural problems.
Dr. Tan mentions that Hay Chix slow feed hay nets
have demonstrated benefits for horses in some studies.
Slow feeders help horses stay healthy and happy,
but they benefit those caring for horses, too. Wiklund is
a nurse, and she’s seen the toll taken on horse owners’
and caregivers’ lungs after years of inhaling dust and
particles from hay. Nordic’s slow feeder minimizes the
amount of dust and reduces hay waste.
Slow feeders like the Nordic AutoFeed, or the
OptiMizer InStall from Wishing Well, also reduce the
amount of work that horse owners do — so horses
can eat multiple times a day with less hands-on work
needed. This is particularly helpful for aging owners,
owners who can’t physically be around consistently
due to off-farm work or those dealing with problems
like arthritis.
“We would love for people to be able to shift their
energy and the commitment of horses, from the work
of it, to the enjoyment,” says Shura.
“
 We would love for people to be
able to shift their energy and the
commitment of horses, from the
work of it, to the enjoyment.”
— Ashton Shura
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