Why NOT to Use Hay Nets or Bags

How Feeding with a
Porta-Grazer is the Better Option

Porta-Grazer provides a more natural head down grazing - which allows the the jaw, neck, back, and hocks to be in proper alignment. 

Eliminates hay waste.  

Helps prevent ingesting sand, dirt, bedding. 

Can be used by horses wearing shoes, blanket, and halters 

Gives the horse a more natural way to graze slowly by providing the horse a way to size each bite same as if grazing on pasture..  

Hay Nets Can Be Dangerous,

Using a hay net or hay bag can be dangerous for your horse due to the netting material being ingested or the horse becoming entangled.  Nets can also be a hazard for horses with shoes, or wearing a halter, blanket etc that can get caught in the net.

Horses with COPD/Heaves should not use hay nets.

Porta-Grazer Helps Prevent Hock, Back, Neck, and Dental Issues

When eating from a hanging hay net / bag the horse stands in an unnatural position. This affects the conformation.  His back hollows out, hocks are positioned in a camped out manner, his neck is twisted, his jaw alignment is no longer where it should be which causes his teeth to wear unevenly. This can also cause  TMJ- temporomandibular joint syndrome 

Horses can also get hay and debris in their eyes when feeding from a net.

With proper head down feeding it brings the jaw, neck, back, hocks etc all into proper alignment.  But even if using a net or bag at ground level you still run the risk of the horse becoming entangled, especially if wearing shoes and the hay is in contact with the ground, which can lead to mold growth, and again ingestion of sand, parasites, etc.

conformation
Even with the net lowered you can see how the horse twists its neck to eat. ..ouch!

Wasted hay and more

One thing that all hay nets / bags have in common is that they waste hay. Wasted hay is wasted money. So, even if your horse does consume some of the hay that has fallen to the ground, he is able to ingest sand, dirt, debris, and parasites while picking up the loose hay laying on the ground.  Which can causes you to spend money on combating colic, parasite infestation etc.

why not to use hay nets or bags
Wasted hay mixed in the bedding
why not to use a hay nets or bags
All that wasted hay!