Feeding time is one of the most routine parts of horse care - but how you feed hay can have a big impact on your horse’s health, your time, and your yard’s cleanliness. Choosing between a haynet and a hay bag isn’t just about convenience. It’s about making feeding more efficient, reducing waste, and supporting your horse’s natural grazing behaviour.
Whether you’re trying to slow down a fast eater or keep hay tidy in a trailer, understanding the differences between these two feeding tools can help you decide what suits your setup best.
Understanding the Differences
Although both haynets and hay bags are designed to hold forage, they do it in different ways and that can really affect how your horse eats.
Haynets are made from knotted or braided rope, often with small mesh holes to slow down feeding. They’re lightweight, easy to hang, and especially useful for horses that bolt their hay. Hay bags tend to be made from durable fabric with a front opening, making them easier to fill and often better at containing hay without mess. These are a popular choice for travel or show environments, where quick set-up and minimal spillage are key.
Matching the Right Option to Your Routine
What works for one horse might not be ideal for another. Some horses benefit from the slow-feed effect of a haynet, particularly those on restricted diets or prone to boredom. Others may find hay bags more suitable - especially if they’re travelling often or tend to scatter hay across the floor.
It’s common for owners to use both, depending on the situation. Haynets might be the go-to in the stable, while hay bags come out for lorry trips or quick feeds on the yard. And with both options available in different sizes, mesh widths, and designs, it’s easy to tailor your choice to your horse’s needs.
Feeding Setups That Work
Choosing the right haynet or hay bag is only part of the picture. How you set up your feeding area matters too. Many horse owners combine haynets with other practical feed room accessories like buckets, scoops and haylage nets to make day-to-day feeding more efficient. And if you’re organising your stable space, stable and tack room essentials like tie rings, racks and storage hooks can help you create a clean, safe environment for both horse and handler.
Tidy Up with the Right Yard Tools
Cleaning up hay waste is part of daily stable life, especially when using haynets or hay bags. A few reliable yard tools for horse owners can make this job quicker and easier. Stable brooms, shavings forks and hay rakes are essential for clearing up loose hay and keeping walkways clear. Using the right stable cleaning tools not only saves time, but also helps maintain a tidy, safe environment for both horses and handlers.
A Small Change That Makes a Big Difference
While it might seem like a small detail, how you feed hay can make a noticeable difference. Slowing down a horse’s eating can improve digestion, reduce stress, and mimic natural grazing patterns - particularly in horses that are stabled for long periods. Keeping hay off the floor helps reduce waste, and using the right gear for travel makes competition days run more smoothly.
Choosing between a haynet and hay bag isn’t about finding the “better” option - it’s about finding what works best for you and your horse, based on how and where you feed.
