We are pleased to announce that the new and improved SLOW BALE BUDDY has arrived. We have increased the strength of the twine, reinforced all the seams and bindings, preshrunk the netting and increased the bale size that each feeder will hold. We are confident that our slow feeder is now the safest, best quality small mesh hay feeder on the market, and the only one with a one year warranty. 

The Slow Bale Buddy is the perfect solution for feeding horses round and square bales of all sizes. Made of soft, strong knotless nylon netting with 1 1/2 inch openings, and fastened with a special safety fastener, it completely encloses the bale so that the horses must pull the hay through the holes in the netting to eat.  Waste is completely eliminated.  Aggressive and anxious horses are calmed by having to graze and forage for their hay. Overweight horses will walk away from the hay without overeating, helping to normalize weight. Slow feeding benefits most horses and is the most natural way to feed.

While not for use with shod horses unless used in conjunction with another feeder, the Slow Bale Buddy is completely safe for use with all horses, (even minis) as the holes are too small to get caught in. When given a choice between freely fed hay and the Slow Bale Buddy in field tests, most horses preferred to eat from the Slow Feeder.

Like the Big Bale Buddy, this feeder is durable and lightweight and will pay for itself many times over in saved hay.

The Slow Bale Buddy is a Patented Small Mesh Hay Net (SMHN) made of woven knotless nylon netting. Nylon is extremely strong and abrasion resistant and also naturally resistant to UV rays. Because of nylons natural stain resistance, the Slow Bale Buddy will wash up bright and clean at the end of the hay feeding season. Our Slow Feeders are designed to be soft on your animals muzzle while being strong enough to survive constant assault by teeth and hooves. The bottom center and the top opening are marked for visual ease when putting the Slow Bale Buddy on the hay.  The safety fastener, which eliminates the unsafe straps and loops of other designs, has rounded edges and is made from tough HPE plastic that will resist 5000 pounds of pressure.

When using your Slow Bale Buddy for the first time it is a good idea to pull hay through the netting in a few spots around the bale to help your horses get the idea that the hay must be pulled through the net to be eaten. They will learn very fast and will be pros by the time the first bale is gone. The horse owner will be very pleased because all the hay that was purchased or harvested will be consumed, saving money, effort and time. The horses are happy because they have a constant source of hay that they can nibble and graze on in the way that nature intended. Their minds are occupied and their stomachs are soothed by the constant slow supply of food that their digestive system needs to function at optimal levels.

Also of importance when considering the purchase of this product is the fact that during the learning period ( On average it takes about a month for them to learn to not pull on the netting with their teeth) your horse may occasionally make a small hole in the netting. since the holes are easily repaired and do not affect the function of the feeder, this is not a warranty issue. Please be assured however, that if your Slow Bale Buddy suffers any serious damage within the first year of use, we will replace it for you at no charge.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTONS

How do you put the bale in the Slow Bale Buddy?

If you move your round bales by hand, the Slow Bale Buddy is pulled over the bale until it is completely covered. the bale is then rolled over until the sides of the top opening can be pulled together, completely enclosing the hay in the bag. Unscrew one end of the safety fastener and starting at one end of the opening, thread the fastener through both layers of netting passing through every third set of holes until you reach the other end of the opening. Screw the end of the fastener back on and your hay is ready to feed. Please note:There is a green X on the center bottom of the bag. when you put the slow feeder over your bale the top opening will be exactly opposite the green X.   if you are feeding large squares the flakes  can be loaded into the Slow Bale Buddy to the desired fullness, or the net bag can be pulled over the bale while it is raised for transportation.  If feeding small squares or loose hay load the desired amount into the slow feeder and close as above.

Is the Slow Bale Buddy safe?

As with the Big Bale Buddy, great care has been taken to ensure that this product is safe for use with your animals. Because the holes in the netting are small (1 1/2 inches) there is nothing on a natural horse that can go through or get caught in the netting.  The safety fastener is made out of extremely strong HPE plastic with round edges. If using horse equipment with buckles or snaps, care must be taken to ensure that they do not get caught in the netting. This can be prevented by wrapping the buckle and strap in masking tape so that the buckle is completely covered and secured to the strap.

*Please note: This slow feeder is not recommended for use with shod horses unless it is used inside of another feeder as the heel of the horseshoe can get caught in the netting, resulting in a pulled horseshoe or injury to the animal.*

Is there a warranty on the Slow Bale Buddy?

We do not replace Slow Bale Buddy's that occasionally develop a small hole as these are easily repaired and do not affect the functionality of the feeder. However if your Slow Bale Buddy develops a very large hole, or multiple small holes within in the first year, please contact us directly and we will replace it for you.

How Long will the Slow Bale Buddy last?

The Slow Bale Buddy is made of 100% nylon, and is heat shrunk to ensure a tight durable weave. Nylon is naturally rot, stain and UV resistant as well as being incredibly strong. All the seams are double bound and reinforced with nylon binding. The safety fastener is made with tough HPE plastic and can withstand 5000 pounds of pressure.  If small holes are repaired promptly, it should last  at least 3 years with continuous use.

What is the difference in hay savings between the Slow Bale buddy and the Big Bale Buddy?

600lbs Round Bale vs 3 hungry horses.

Bale fed with no netting (in Big Bale Buddy)
1 bale lasted 7 days
86lbs per day
29lbs per horse per day

Bale fed with slow feed netting
1 bale lasted 10 days
60lbs per day
20lbs per horse per day

Our bales come in different sizes, can we use a larger Slow Bale Buddy on a Smaller Bale?

Yes, the weight of the netting will pull the extra down so that it pools around the base of the bale and stays open over the hay. The extra netting can also be taken in a bit by folding the netting under at the top and putting the fastener in lower down on the feeder.