Round Bale Feeders - what would you do?

[TravelingGirl]

Love the barn Trav is at. HATE the fact that they use cattle round bale feeders instead of horse feeders.

Traveler is rubbing his mane something terrible on the cattle feeders to the point he has a 6 inch span that's broken, sticking out, filthy from the oxidizing steel and either very thin or completely gone.

I'm upset. I'm upset because I pointed out to the BO that it was happening and why and she did nothing. I'm upset because it'll take over a year to grow back once the rubbing is addressed somehow (his mane is shoulder length). I'm just upset.

Yet at the same time, the barn is nice, clean, Trav is well fed, has a nice small herd that he's turned out with, I have an indoor, outdoor, trails, trailer parking, etc.

So what would you do?

[Blistering Winds]

hmmm....

Request he doesn't get turned out there?

The barn can choose what they feed the animals out of, as long as it isn't harming them. It is up to you to determine if the barn meets your needs and is suitable for your horse and his needs and requirements.


Honestly, unless you shell out the money to replace it, there isnt' much for you to do.

[mustang_dodger]

i agree with blister. i dealt with something like this with my ex-husband until a ripped him a new one about dodger having no mane. with you i don't think there is anything you can do unless some other people are feeling the same way.

[Jess!]

Besides going out and buying new ones - there is nothing you can do. And the BO might not even LET you buy new ones, because she might be afraid you'll come back eventually and say,'Oh, well, I didn't give them to you, I want to be paid for them!"

[BestofPrincess]

Princess had the same problem, and some of the fields had horse ones and others had cow. Her's had to be switched to the horse one, and not because of her mane being gone, but because it was physicaly hurting her. Her neck was swelling, hot, and very irritated by the cow feeder. Besides the fact that I stoped caring about the mane.

[Circle C]

I refuse to use ANY kind of a bale feeder. We've had to put foals down b/c they got caught up in out Priefert HORSE feeder. I HATE them all and I'll NEVER have one on my property again! Our round bales get set on the ground. When they're flat, I go out with a rake and wheelboro and rake up all the left over, yucky hay. I'd rather make the effort to clean it up than pay for vet bills or lose another horse.

[JBandRio]

The problem with horses and cattle feeders is that horses are much much more likely to get startled, fling a head up, realize they are "stuck" and struggle, breaking a neck. Tell the BO that.

Is there another field your horse can to into without a feeder?

[TravelingGirl]

The problem with horses and cattle feeders is that horses are much much more likely to get startled, fling a head up, realize they are "stuck" and struggle, breaking a neck. Tell the BO that.

Is there another field your horse can to into without a feeder?

I've heard about this happening, and unfortunately, ALL the pastures have the same style feeders in them...probably because they're $60 or so cheaper than the horse feeders.

I keep hoping the BO's big $$ QH starts rubbing his mane off. I bet the feeders would be replaced with horse feeders if that happened, but alas, right now it's just my boy who is rubbing.

[Blistering Winds]

That one is the one I got. Cost me almost $200, but it is awesome. Blister has been found ONCE over the top, that was after a rain and the feeder set down into the ground and he couldn't get to the middle. Most of the time, he can push it over enough for him to reach the middle stuff. I go out and move the feeder and let him clean up as I order or set the new one.

[Arabians4ME]

We use cow feeders too. Horse ones are really available around here and if they are they disappear quick and cost a fortune! We flipped ours upside down so they have to eat over top. It worked really well. However none of ours wear shoes so we didn't have to worry about a hoof getting hung. Our plan is to weld ours to where it's solid. hard to explain but it would look like the one BW posted sorta...