Slow Feed Hay Net Review

Last time I looked out the window it was still winter. *sigh*

And I've been dealing with some vertigo. *double sigh* So maybe it's a good thing that riding is off the table right now.

This post has been juggling a bit around in my head for a while and now seems like a good time to write it.

Haynets- the struggle is real folks.

When Carmen first arrived she was a bit thin and a bit fussy in her eating.

Hindsight being 20/20 I realize she probably had ulcers but I'm not beating myself up about it now.  Then she began to *ahem* thrive and it became clear that I needed to control her intake. Add in that Carmen was a fast eater I realized a slow feed hay net had to be the way to go.

definitely not underweight

Since that time I have been through a few and I spent some time to find the magical net that would meet my needs and not be destroyed.  Here are the ones I have tried and how I found them to hold up:

1. Tough 1 Hay Hoop & Net.
Cost: $75

I love the hoop- it's easy to load and locks nicely on the wall. It's much easier then trying to stuff a haynet.

The net though didn't last more than 2 months. Pro-tip: I bought a crochet hook and it works well to remove the old net.

Recommended: hay hoop yes (5/5 stars) . Hay net no (1/5 stars).

2. Generic Slow Feed net: sold by your local tack store.
Cost: $15-20

They have knotted holes. I find that they last about 4-6 months with daily use. Replacing them in the hay hoop is a pain the butt but they work well if you are travelling. I use these for shows and clinics and they have held up well.  Stuffing them is a pain (like most hay nets).  Most of these are 2" which is not great for a horse like Carmen. She needs 1.5" or 1". 

Recommended: 3/5 stars. If you have a gentle horse they probably will work well for you. If you have a shredder like Carmen you will get frustrated with how often you have to replace it. Like I said for short term events like shows/clinics they are great to have in your trailer.

3. Handy Hay Nets: 
Cost: $35-75 depending on size. $35 for my hay hoop.

These are made without knots which is easier on the horse's muzzle. For Carmen in the hay hoop it was about 6 months before the first hole appeared. After that she began to put holes in them more frequently. I have gotten good repairing them with baling twine. The website is full of great information and they are made in Canada.

Recommended: 4/5 stars. I would give 5 if it was more durable.

4. Derby Web Nets
Cost: $75

With Carmen being so hard on nets I decided to try a web net. I bought a small (generic) one to try and I liked it.

 I figured out a way to hang it on my hoop. For the summer it was great. I loved it so much that I bought the larger one to go outside for both horses and I love it. It's easy to fill and holds 3/4 of a bale. I take the remainder of the bale and put it outside for them to walk to get the food.

I bought purple because it was cheaper. :) 

Recommended: 4.5/5 stars. If it came with smaller hole version I would give it 5/5. It is durable and easy to fill/handle.

However, this winter the holes (2") for the one in Carmen's stall were too easy for her to empty fast. I looked around and decided to try another version of a hay net.

5. Nag Bags: 
Cost: $35-65 depending on size (fyi shipping is costly)

These are advertised as 'the safest, most durable on the market'. I have friends who have good luck for them.  Shipping seemed expensive so I dithered. After Christmas there was a sale 3 trailer bags for $115 so I decided to pull the trigger and bought 1.5" size holes. With delivery and taxes I paid $150 for three nets. They arrived early January and I installed one early January.

I was really annoyed when I went out last Friday to see that there was a hole chewed in it:

So the most expensive net I bought didn't even last a month. I posted this photo on Instagram with a disgruntled comment. Someone from Nag Bags reached out to me and said that this was unusual and that they should last 2-3 years. I was advised to fill out a damage form. Which I did. A couple questions came to me via email to show where I had it hung and what was the distance of the hole from the bottom. All of which I responded to.

I then got an email saying that this hole was where she was feeding from (no kidding). And that I should add an extra net and/or put hay on the floor. Sure. Carmen would love that. And she would be fat and be at risk of founder. So no to an extra net. I do put a little on the floor at night but not much more than half a flake. The final comment was to see how the net held up over the next few days.

Sure. It's been 5 days and as of this morning there were no holes. Now that it's been hung for 3 weeks. Clearly it must be fine.

That is all sarcasm as you can tell. Anyone, I have these nets and will keep them for shows. I will keep this net on the hanger until it's too annoying to repair anymore and will put the Derby back up.

Recommendation: 0/5 stars. No. Not worth it. Even my cheapest net lasted 3 months.


This is my experiences with various hay nets. Clearly yours may vary. I will also add that I am not receiving any compensation for these reviews. But if there are any hay net manufacturers who want to challenge Carmen to try their nets let me know.

Flexible Fit Bridle Review

I've been looking at new bridles for a little bit. As much as I like Carmen's bridle it's not the best fit for her Andalusian head. It's a lovely bridle but it was on the top holes for everything and the nose band always seemed to be a bit loose. It also looked a bit tight behind her ears and with the brow band.

I don't know if you can tell but the throat latch is loose
but the bridle is tight behind the ears. 

can you see the gab in the nose band? 

Let me be clear- the bridle is not a terrible fit. It just didn't feel perfect. The issue is that the andalusian head is not the same as thoroughbred or even a warmblood.  This made me hesitate about buying another 'off the rack' bridle. I did think of buying one a size down and cobble it together but that wouldn't fix the brow band and crown piece. 

But the internet is a great resource and after searching around I stumbled upon Flexible Fit Equestrian. They have a variety of bridles and you can custom order your bridle to fit your horse. They even have a form you can fill in if you are not sure of what size to get. That is the option I did and after a bit of back and forth they recommended the various components. 

With that settled I needed to decide if I wanted to order a bridle from Australia. Returning it would not be easy (or with it). I read reviews, did price comparisons and decided that it would likely work out. While I was contemplating I had signed up on their email list. I quickly realized that there were often sales. 

So I waited, keeping a close eye on my inbox. 

After a couple weeks I got a notice for a 20% discount and I pulled the trigger. I ordered on October 29 and it arrived on November 8th. Not bad for coming from another continent! I opened it up with a mix of excitement and 'what have I done?' 

However, I was blown away by the quality of the leather and workmanship. I ordered the gel padded crown piece and it was so very soft. I ordered the regular nose band (not crank) with the detachable flash. I love how it can be removed and there will no little tab hanging down (which I hate). It was nice to have to buy either a 'dressage' or 'event/hunter' bridle but be able to mix and match the pieces. 

You can customize the brow band and when I saw this one I thought it would be perfect on Carmen. I showed it to Julia and she said it looks like a viking head band! 

 I did a quick fit on Carmen and it seemed to fit well. I took it apart and conditioned it. I've ridden in it twice now and it's has softened to her head really well. 

the first day I put it on. I do love a flat nose band. 

from today (Carmen thinks that it even makes her orange fly bonnet look good)

It fits really well behind her ears and on her forehead. 

I am definitely pleased with this bridle. Of course it's always possible that it will not last but I honestly doubt it. And for something that cost less than $200 all in (taxes, delivery, currency conversion) it was a great deal.

Breeches Review

So I may be developing a breeches problem to go with my saddle pad issues. Since January I have bought three new breeches that I want to review. Finding breeches that fit me is difficult- I am long waisted and there is a difference between my hips and waist.

1. Equetech Denim F/S Breeches

I fell in love with these from the photo. It's always a crap shoot to buy online but I ordered them anyway. I ordered size 32 but they run big and were way too large for me. I exchanged them for a size 30 which fits well.

Pros:

• made of durable denim so are perfect for riding and barn chores. You don't have to worry about picks or holes (unless you get really carried away with a pitchfork). 
• High waist to hold 'things' in. 
• comfortable to ride in

Cons:

• the denim has no 'give' so can feel a bit confining in the waist. It helps to give support when riding but not so comfortable for sitting on the couch. 
• The hips fit well and are even generous. The waist is a bit tight but it's not terrible. 

If you like jeans you will like these. I quite like them and wear them often. 

2. Horze Kiana Women's Full Seat Breeches

Another impulse buy (honestly, I can't be trusted in the winter when I cannot ride).  I ordered 32 and they fit perfectly. 

Pros: 

• the silicone gives a great grip without being over the top
• I love how they look
• sightly wind/rain resistant (which is key when you ride on a breezy hill). 
• They give a bit of slimming effect with the lines. 

Cons:

• This is picky but I wish the waist was a bit higher but it isn't that bad. 
• I wish Horze made a matching shirt. I bought one thinking it would match but it's a different shade of blue. I think if a company is going to make colourful breeches they should have tops that go with it. 

I would definitely recommend these breeches (perhaps in more traditional colour) and will probably buy more. 

3. Fits Flex Full Seat Zip Front

When I was at the show I visited Bits N Bridles in the morning to check out the sales. These were marked down significantly and there was no tax. I tried them on (large) and was surprised at how well they fit. I had some concerns about the seat as it felt quite slick. 

Pros: 

• feel like yoga pants. 
• despite that they don't show all the bumps and bulges. 
• The waist is perfect- it hits just at the sweet spot of the belly button. 
• despite my worries the seat is not slippery at all. I would rate it as more grip then suede and less than silicone. Even when Carmen is bouncing around I don't feel that I'm going to slip out of the saddle. 
• I rode in them in heat and in cold weather and felt comfortable both times. 

Cons: 

• not really a con- I'm not sure how well the fabric will hold up- we shall see. 

So there you have it. Three reviews of three different styles. 

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Customer Service

As you know I tend to not buy a lot of things for my horses.

(FYI saddle pads don't count - they are totally required. )

I do my very best to buy local as much as possible. I like to support the local economy and I really enjoy the relationship that grows by returning to the same place. But sometimes I simply cannot get what I'm looking for locally- either because it can't be ordered in or because the price is prohibitive.

Prices in the U.S. are usually much better. Much much better. So when Ed was visiting his brother who has a house in Arizona I ordered some things from Riding Warehouse.

One of those things was the Freedom Feeder slow feed hay net. I was very disappointed in it- within a few weeks it had some holes in it. I wouldn't describe my horses are hard on things and I also happen to think that if you make something for horses to eat from you should assume that it needs to be tough.  So I went on the website and left a negative review. After that I shrugged and looked into other options for a hay net.

Two days later I received an email from Riding Warehouse. They had read my review and wanted to make sure that I knew about their return policy. They accept returns for up to one year after purchase. I hadn't really thought about it- I accept that if I order from the U.S. returns are not worth it.

But I spent a lot on the haynes so I spoke to Ed and we figured it would be worth it to mail it back and then apply the credit to something to go to his brother's (who will be coming to visit in the spring).

So I emailed back and said I would return it. Immediately I received another email asking if I needed a return label.

Oh, really? I can have one? Yay.

So I emailed back and said sure. Also, I was in Canada. Was that a problem.

Turns out that it was- they do don't do labels for Canada.

But let me quote the rest of the email:
"Due to the custom fees that are associated with getting an international return back into the states, returning the net will not be necessary! 

You can expect for an email containing an electronic copy of the store credit issued for the hay net to be emailed to you in the next 1-2 business days. Please note, this credit does not expire and is eligible to be applied to any future orders that you may place with us.

Let us know if you have any further questions or concerns and we will be happy to accommodate your requests. 

Our team hopes that you have a wonderful week~

Maddie :)"

So, to recap: I wrote and review and received a store credit with no need to return my net. 

And the next day I received my credit voucher. Maddie is my new best friend. 

The older I get the more I value and appreciate good customer service. While I will still continue to buy local as much as possible. 

I am so very impressed with the level of service from this company. 

You're planning to shop more aren't you? 

Product Review: Dublin Performance Tights

Back in October my husband went to Arizona with his brother for a vacation. Ed's brother has a house just south of Phoenix and the two of them love to golf.  Ed is not one to spend time shopping when he's travelling and I took full advantage of this by ordering some things from tack shops in the U.S. Often finding things I want is difficult here (even trying to get it special ordered) and shipping from the U.S. to Canada is expensive.

I placed an order from Riding Warehouse and saw these breeches for a great price:

Dublin Performance Warm-it Silicone Full Seat Tights

I have winter breeches but they are too warm unless it's really really cold. I thought that I could try these and if I hated them then sell them to someone else.

(I should say at this point that I paid for these and am receiving nothing for this review)

They are now my new favourite breeches. I love them. They are the most comfortable breeches I have ever worn. They feel like yoga pants. The cut is high enough to *ahem* hold things in but not so high that you feel like they could be worn as a bra.  I have a 10 inch difference between my hips and waist and my thighs are NOT skinny. These fit like a glove- nothing bagged anywhere. The fabric is soft, with a nice weight. The fleece lining is not heavy.

But Teresa, I hear you say, how are they for riding?

wearing them at the J. Brooks clinic

I wasn't sure what I would think of the silicone- I have heard mixed reviews of people in terms of the silicone seat. However, I found it to be perfect. My seat felt still when I needed it to be and able to move when I needed to move. They are also warm.  I have ridden in them frequently since the Jacquie Brooks clinic. I love how I can stay secure in the saddle no matter what Carmen was doing underneath.  There was no bagging, no pulling, no riding up in the, well, you-know-what. 

I am planning to buy more of these breeches to see if I love the other styles. I have looked and there are no retailers of Dublin in my area. I shall have to see if I can get a tack shop to look at their products. Otherwise it will be on-line.