{"id":14265,"date":"2022-12-05T20:17:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T00:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=14265"},"modified":"2023-12-11T20:55:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T00:55:30","slug":"best-hay-bags-for-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/best-hay-bags-for-horses\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Best Hay Bags for Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever had to travel with your horse for shows, you probably know about hay nets. You pack a few and hook ’em up to keep your horse happily munching away… But have you thought about using a hay bag<\/strong> instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, hay bags are a thing, and they’re growing in popularity among the horsey community for all the right reasons. They can prevent wasted hay, prevent having to clean up scattered hay, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s more about why more people are switching to hay bags, along with the best hay bags for you to add to your wishlist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    What Is a Hay Bag for Horses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A hay bag for horses is essentially a tote bag that you fill with hay, except one of the sides is not solid, but instead lined with mesh or netting. The horse can neatly nibble at their hay, while the bag provides more stability than a hay net, since it won’t swing around quite as much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why Use a Hay Bag for Your Horse?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As mentioned, hay bags are great for those who compete and have to travel with their horses to shows. You can pack several hay bags, wrap them in a few old feed bags to keep things super tidy, and it’s like you’ve got lunch ready and packed for your horse! Simply pull out a hay bag, hook it up, and watch as your noble steed nibbles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The best thing about hay bags is that they come in so many designs that any horse can adjust to them. Likewise, these bags limit the amount of waste from hay falling out, while providing a neat feeding station for your horse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A durable hay bag will also serve as a toy for bored horses to flip over and play with, and with better control over the size of mesh or feed openings, your dear-fatty-pony can finally get the correct amount of hay they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Best Hay Bag for Daily Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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    If you don’t have time to read right now, let me quickly give you my top recommendation. The best overall hay bag is the Harrison Howard Premium Durable Horse Hay Bag<\/u><\/a>. This hay bag is durable, large, easy to fill, and great to hang. Plus, at a budget-friendly price, I bought several for my horses to keep them busy at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Choose the Best Hay Bag for Your Horse<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When I look at purchasing any new horse or barn equipment, I am always cautious, as there are some pretty dodgy products on the market that won’t last and can even be dangerous to your horse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In considering different hay bag options, I used the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quality of Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    No matter how cute the hay bag, if the fabric or fittings are of poor quality, it’s going to be a bad buy. Heavy duty ripstop canvas is best, or a high-Denier rated fabric that won’t tear when an inquisitive horse explores with their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Type of Hardware<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Hay bags have one weakness that can kill a great design in no time: the hanging mechanism. These bags are meant to hang from a sturdy hook, doorframe, or trailer bar. If the hanging mechanism fails, the hay bag will end up on the floor where your horse can poop and pee in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Size of Grazing Apertures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The part of the hay bag where your horse eats will influence whether your horse will enjoy nibbling or become destructive and frustrated because they can’t get enough hay through the feeding apertures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the same time, slow feed hay bags or slow feed hay nets are designed to restrict the amount of hay your horse can eat and prevent gobbling of hay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cost of Hay Bag vs Cost of Hay Net<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Most of us are looking out for our bottom dollar, so investing in a hay bag needs to outweigh the cost of a hay net in terms of quality and service. After all, hay nets are easier to repair and often cheaper to purchase, too. So a hay bag needs to really offer value for money to make it on my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Size of the Hay Bag<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Some hay bags are cute, but not at all suited to seeing a horse through their night’s supply of hay, so size is a definite consideration. Bigger is better (in this case).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A hay bag should be filled with enough hay to keep your horse occupied for the amount of time you need them to be busy and prevent boredom. If you need more feed time from a hay bag, you can always opt for a second one, but the overall size of the hay bag needs to merit the cost and time of filling it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5 Best Hay Bags for Horses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now you know what to look for when considering the purchase of a hay bag, it’s time to investigate the best options out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Best Slow Feed Hay Bag<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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    A clear winner as the best slow feed hay bag is the Kensington Slow Feed Hay Bag<\/u><\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>Not only is this a great brand, but their slow feed hay bag is really well designed and sturdy. Plus, it holds a lot of hay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n