Healthy Gradual Weight Loss for Horses vs. Fasting & Forage Restriction
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren Have you tried to help your horse lose weight and, despite your best efforts, succeeded only in frustrating you both? I routinely get calls from equine guardians who, despite implementing a “diet” and slow feeders, report that their horses are bored and miserable, standing around with nothing to eat – or eating dirt, manure, shavings – or even destroying objects. These folks tried to do everything “right,” yet they did not achieve positive results. Why? Because their strategy to achieve weight loss did not take several important factors into account. Read on to learn why yo ..read more
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7 Slow Feed Do’s and Don’ts for Horses
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren Last Updated July 14, 2022. Originally published November 15, 2017. Following are 7 helpful tips and realistic expectations to consider when using any brand of slow feeder or small mesh hay net. This is valuable information whether you currently use slow feeders or are debating to try them! Offer a minimum of one location per individual. Pictured is the Standard Hay Pillow slow feed hay bag. ​1)  Do Consider Ease of Loading Don’t discount slow feeding entirely due to the time required to load your feeders. 10 minutes once or twice a day is a minimal time investment fo ..read more
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Horse Slow Feeder Safety Tips
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren ​ ​Slow feeders and slow feed hay nets offer numerous benefits for our beloved horses, donkeys, mules and their barnyard buddies. As with any device, there are potential risks (including, but not limited to, damage to teeth, gums and lips and entanglement). The vast majority of incidents are preventable. Read on to learn general safety measures to follow when choosing and using your slow feeders.   Photo courtesy of McKinlay & Peters Equine Hospital Slow feeder safety is becoming a hot topic and rightfully so. As a slow feed expert, I have learned that safety ..read more
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May 2022 Hay Pillow Giveaway - Winners Announcement
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
Congratulations Kelly Mitchell, Tina Garrett and Kathleen Ragan. Please email us at info@thehaypillow.com to claim your Hay Pillow!  ​We're Giving Away a Hay Pillow® to 3 Lucky Winners!​ Contest ends May 31, 2022 ​Enter to Win - in 2 Easy Steps: Step 1 Visit our Hay Pillow® Slow Feed Hay Bags category page and decide which Hay Pillow style and mesh size you would like to win (See our tips for Choosing a Mesh Size). Step 2 Leave a Reply in the comments section of this blog post* - noting these three things: The Hay Pillow style  ..read more
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Horse Emergency Identification Tags - ID Your Horse Easily
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren Proper identification during an emergency/evacuation can help reunite you with your equine companion(s) as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we're all being reminded of the power of natural disasters – and how devastating the impacts can be. Post Hurricanes Ida and Sam, and the wildfires in the west, should remind us we never know when the next fire, flood, hurricane, or earthquake can leave us with only moments to act.  If you have been impacted directly – our heart goes out to you and your animals, in hope that you are receiving necessary support.  A searc ..read more
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How to Make Quality Equine Joint Supplements for a Fraction of the Cost
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
by Monique Warren ​ Can you make your own joint supplement for your beloved equine for less than a dollar a day? The answer is yes! ​ Equine joint supplements containing therapeutic doses of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid average $3.00 - $4.00 a day. Read on to learn how to blend your own for 56 cents (maintenance dose) or $1.11 (loading dose) per day and where to buy the ingredients (links provided). ​Effective equine oral joint supplements should contain a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid - and those that do come at a high cost. Howev ..read more
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Study - How Hay Feeder Height Affects Jaw, Neck & Back Posture in Horses
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren ​​Hay nets and slow feed hay bags are invaluable and effective tools used to slow the rate of consumption and increase chew time. However, horses are often forced to engage in unnatural feeding positions depending on the height they are hung. In 2021, Italian researchers conducted a study examining the shape variations of the back, neck, and mandibular (jaw) angle of horses based on specific feeding postures using geometric morphometrics - providing scientific evidence of the adverse physical effects of higher/unnatural eating positions compared to ground level. Read on for ..read more
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Feeding Donkeys Straw and Hay: Q & A with The Donkey Sanctuary
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren ​ ​​Since its foundation in 1969, The Donkey Sanctuary has grown from a charity rescuing UK donkeys from neglect and abuse to an international welfare organisation transforming the lives of millions of donkeys and mules, and the people who depend on them for a living. Read on to get their expert advice on feeding donkeys straw and hay to manage weight and avoid colic. Photo courtesy of The Donkey Sanctuary ​ What is Straw? ​Straw is a by-product of the cereal grain industry. After the grain is removed from cereal crops such as barley, wheat and oats the long stem or stal ..read more
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Why Does My Horse Drink So Much Water?
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren Equines that drink excessive amounts of water have not developed a bad habit. They do so because of a health condition or as a coping mechanism. Horses rarely, if ever, do anything that doesn’t have a purpose. Read on to learn about the possible causes of drinking too much water, associated health risks and  potential solutions. What inspired me to write this article? A conversation with a customer of course! Her beloved miniature horse was on a “diet” with no attributable health conditions. She had been instructed to weigh and feed 1% of his body weight of hay per day ..read more
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Can Horses Eat More Hay Without Weight Gain? The Surprising Factors
Hay Pillow Blog
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1y ago
By Monique Warren​ Over the years I've had the pleasure of speaking to thousands of customers and listening to their concerns about obesity, gastric ulcers, boredom and consumption of manure, dirt and shavings for their meal fed horses (or donkeys, mules and grazing barnyard companions). They really want to feed more hay or transition to free-choice to satiate their herd, but they don't have the confidence to make the switch. Feeding limited amounts of highly palatable/digestible energy hay perpetuates the vicious cycle of much anticipated meals, followed by periods of time without forage. An ..read more
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