Save on time, hay and money
By decreasing stress and keeping your horse occupied
Slows down the eating rate, also making them perfect for metabolic conditions
Keeping your steed stimulated, happy and entertained
GutzBusta® Small Hay Nets are capable of taking up to 2-3 biscuits of hay and have a longer drawstring to easily facilitate hanging in a float. These nets will hold up to 4kg of hay.
Our GutzBusta® Small Slow Feed Hay Nets significantly reduce the incidence of colic, choke, stomach ulcers, boredom, hay wastage, and stable vices. This is great for snacks at shows or competitions while floating, for ponies or horses anytime, anywhere.
Dimensions: 85cm Wide x 72.5cm HighOur 3cm hay nets are now 60ply - the strongest available on the market. Due to the increased thickness of this netting and therefore more material per square meter, this netting costs us more to produce, and hence they are a slightly more expensive.
Ideal for various livery scenarios, particularly when the objective is to extend the duration of your horse's eating while reducing both the frequency and time spent on feeding.
What material are the Gutzbusta® Hay Nets made from?
Our entire range of knotted GutzBusta® Slow Feed Hay Nets is made from tough and durable, UV Stabilized, and heat-treated netting in 60ply polyethylene netting. This netting will not absorb water, therefore there is no change to the properties of the netting during inclement weather or if used to soak hay and the net itself does not take on the weight of the water.
What hole size will suit my horse or livestock?
Available in 3cm, 4cm, and 6cm (60ply) hole sizes, our huge range of Hay Nets suit a broad range of horses and livestock. There are many factors to consider. Weather, workload, body weight, health status (laminitis), type of hay (stalky/fine), palatability of the hay, and herd dynamics are just a few things to consider when purchasing a net. The individual personality of the animal can also dictate the size. Some horses cannot cope with 3cm, while others have their owners asking for 2 cm-sized holes. If you are still not sure, 4cm is generally a good place to start. However, please contact us to discuss via phone or email if you really are not sure what is best for your individual animals.
3cm hole size
This size is great for gutsy eaters, laminitic / EMS ponies, and horses, or if your hay is highly palatable and you want to slow consumption even more. We recommend this size for horses and ponies that have tried slow-feed hay nets before. While some horses may be frustrated by this size, others accept it without hesitation. Most Lucerne hays are also recommended for this size due to its high palatability. However, it depends on the quality and stalkiness of the lucerne and the type of horse or pony it’s been fed to.
Despite no top teeth, surprisingly we also have customers whose cattle can still eat from this size with palatable hay. Available in strong and durable 60ply.
4cm hole size
Our most popular hole size. 95% of horses have no trouble accepting this hole size. It's also perfect for cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and alpacas, too. A good general slow feed hole size that restricts grazing a little, but not too frustratingly slow for most horses.
6cm hole size
Works well for broodmares, old horses, young horses, or any horse, cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat that you are not trying to restrict hay consumption with, but still want to reduce hay wastage. You can also use less palatable, coarse, or stalky hay with this size. 6cm nets will contain the hay and stop it from being blown away, tossed around, and wasted, but has little slow feeding effect.
This link has many more ideas to help you decide on what sized hole hay net may suit your individual animals and situation.
Why use a GutzBusta®?
Our products are the most generous in size and designed to be easier to put on compared to other hay net brands available on the market. We have been making hay nets for over 10 years and we know how the netting behaves over time. This is why we have developed a size and shape that works to enable these nets to last longer and remain easy to use throughout their life.
Caution:
When choosing a hay net hole size, several factors should be considered. Here is a summary of the key points for each hole size mentioned:
Extra Small: Float/yard sized net capable of holding up to 1 generous biscuit of hay. Suitable for stables, yards, and floats.
Small: Float/yard sized net capable of holding up to 3 generous biscuits of hay. Versatile and strong, suitable for stables, yards, and floats.
Medium: Capable of holding up to 4-6 biscuits or half a bale of hay. Ideal as an overnight net for stables, yards, and floats.
Large: Full small bale-sized net available. Easy to load a full small bale of hay into. Suitable for stables, yards, and paddocks.
Extra Large: Perfectly fits a 3-Stringer Bale.
Round Bale: Available for different round bale sizes (3x4, 4x4, 5x4, 6x4). Comes in various net sizes (3cm, 4cm, 6cm).
8x3x3 / 8x4x3 / 8x4x4: Large square bales in sizes 8x4x4, 8x4x3 and 8x3x3. Available in different net sizes (3cm, 4cm, 6cm). Can fit all sizes of round bales.
Note: Custom sizes are not available for premade hay nets.
Our Knotted and knotless hay nets are made from UV-stabilized polyethylene netting and have been in use for 8 years. They come in various ply sizes and are tough, durable, and easily repairable. They have been used by many horses and can last 2 to 6 years. Knotted nets are suitable for soaking hay and do not take on the weight of water. They are available in black and offer hole sizes of 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm.
On the other hand, the knotless hay nets are made from high-strength, UV Stabilised polypropylene and have been available since 2019. They are softer and do take on some weight when soaked. The deluxe knotless nets are considered more luxurious and have become popular due to their softness. They are the strongest on the market with 240 ply and come in hole sizes of 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm. Knotless nets are also only available in black.
When it comes to strength and longevity, there isn't a significant difference between knotted and knotless nets. Both types have proven to be tough, durable, and long-lasting. While some horses may prefer one material over the other, there is no way to predict which will suit an individual horse better without trying them. Ultimately, the lifespan of the nets depends on the individual horse and usage. Knotted nets have been used for 2 to 6 years without needing repairs, while the lifespan of knotless nets is still unknown after 3 years of use.
