Can eating from a haynet cause back problems in horses?
Horses are grazing animals that have evolved over millions of years to graze at ground level. They eat low value, high fibre food for up to 18hrs a day. They do browse on bushes, trees and shrubs at different heights, however their heads would be down and grazing at ground level for the majority of the day.
Horses are constantly moving while they graze and rarely stand still unless dozing or sleeping – naturally they would move one of their feet every few seconds.
When we give a horse a stationary haynet, or a hay rack up high to eat from for a long period of time, this is quite unnatural for them – both physically and mentally. The constant, repetitive pulling of the head and neck and the long periods of time spent standing in one position can cause physical problems. Also we may see horses becoming frustrated, perhaps because it is difficult for them to get the quantity of hay they want easily (especially with small-holed nets) or that eating this way goes against their natural instinct to move whilst grazing.
Just as many horses prefer to knock their feed out of their bowl to eat from the ground, some will similarly paw at their haynet in an attempt to pull it down. So there is also a risk of injury or the horse getting their feet caught in the net.
Ideally we should feed horses from various sources at differing heights, however I would recommend feeding the majority of their forage ration from the floor or from a ground level manger if possible, as this allows them to move with their heads down, therefore using their neck and back correctly. This will mimic their natural grazing behaviour and reduce the risk of frustration.
There are some key benefits from feeding at ground level: horses are more relaxed, they chew each mouthful more thoroughly and therefore absorb more nutrients from their food. There is also reduced exposure to respiratory irritants and it will help improve their posture and topline.
If your horse has to be stabled then keep an area on the floor clear of bedding for his forage ration. If he is prone to drag his food into the bed you could invest in a low manger or a hay bag suitable for ground level. Large rubber tyres can make great low-level mangers. You can still hang haynets and enrichment items around the stable at various heights, but the bulk of the forage ration should be at ground level. If your horse insists on trashing his forage at a low level you could buy a haybar or similar as a compromise.
Feed your horse a variety of forages to prevent boredom from just one type. Suitable shrubs or herbs can also be cut and scattered amongst their forage ration. Horses love cow-parsley, cleavers, mint and dandelions – find out what your horse enjoys and cut something different for him every day.
If your horse is on a restricted diet you can still offer different food sources by soaking hay, using slow feeders, offering different short chopped forage in buckets or bowls, feeding good quality straw and providing enrichment opportunities. Speak to a nutritionist about what is suitable for your horse.
Part of a horse’s diet would naturally be bark and branches. So put horse-safe logs and suitable branches around the stable and field for your horse to browse on. Just check they aren’t poisonous first!
A VETERINARY PHYSIOTHERAPIST’S PERSPECTIVE – Jen Taylor from Pegasus Physiotherapy
As an equine physiotherapist I regularly advise owners to feed forage on the floor or in low feeders where possible. There are many health benefits of low level feeding which can attributed to the natural feeding habits of wild horses where they graze with their head and neck stretched down to the floor. However, the height of haynet and the horses health and environment are always taken into consideration.
Horses that are stabled for long durations will normally spend a lot of time at the haynet, pulling and yanking at it in different directions. Whilst this movement does occur when horses are in the wild, when they eat shrubs etc, this is different to the repetitive use of a haynet. This can lead to repetive strain injuries, poll tightness and reduced movement in the neck.
Feeding from a haynet also tends to lead to a higher head position than the natural feed intake position and therefore uses different neck and back muscles. This can lead to increased muscle size and tightness in the underside of the neck. These are the opposite muscles, that as riders, we normally try to develop with our horses.
Research has shown that elevated head and neck positions induce extension in the back (hollowing). Carrot stretches, pole work, ridden exercises all aim to increase abdominal and top line muscles by working in the reverse direction to this hollowing. Therefore all the hard work you do may be nulled by your horse standing eating out of their haynet for extended periods.
In addition the musculoskeletal benefits of feeding low or from the floor there are digestive and respiratory benefits. However their are also risks with an increased risk of parasite re-infestation with hay being dragged through bedding. Therefore there are some questions which you can ask when trying to work out what’s best for your horse:
do I need to limit or slow my horse hay consumption rate for medical reasons?
does my horse drag his haynet round the stable?
what proportion of feeding is haynet to grazing?
does my horse show pain related behaviours or difficulty with schooling?
I would always recommend booking in with an ACPAT physiotherapist (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy) for an assessment of the muscle tension or tightness and spinal movement of your horse and to discuss the best feeding management for you and your horse.
Originally published in Horse magazine October 2017, you can find the article here.