HEURAUFE 10 pieces

Description

Hay rack - Enables the horse to have constant access to hay A hay rack is an indispensable element of species-appropriate horse husbandry, both in the stable and on the pasture. It provides constant access to hay and ensures a balanced diet. This special hay rack is designed to be mounted on the wall. It is solid, durable and resistant to pressure and bending.

Main features

• Constant hay supplyEnables the horse to take up hay at any time.
• Wall mountingSpecially designed for wall mounting, which saves space.
• Solid construction: Durable and resistant to pressure and bending.
• Species-appropriate nutritionSupports a balanced and species-appropriate diet.

Advantages of a hay rack

• Reduces food wastePrevents the hay from lying on the floor and becoming soiled, resulting in less wasted feed.
• Prevents overeatingDepending on the version, the feeding behaviour is slowed down.
• Space-savingIdeal for use in stables as it is mounted on the wall.

Types of hay racks

There is a large selection of hay racks for horses, which vary in size, material and design. Here are some common types:

• Wall eavesMounted directly on the wall of the horse box and available in various sizes. There are also corner rails that are particularly space-saving.
• Small bale eavesSuitable for smaller herds of horses in the pasture. With integrated roof to protect against rain and bars to prevent overeating.
• Round hoofIdeal for larger herds in the pasture. Provides feeding places for up to 12 horses.
• Square eavesSimilar to the round eaves, but square and often with a roof.
• Automatic hay rackTime-controlled, with automatic roller shutters or flaps that promote a balanced feeding routine.

Technical details

Material properties

• WoodNatural, but can be gnawed by horses.
• PlasticEasy to clean, but not so stable.
• MetalDurable and resistant, but risk of injury if the distance between the bars is too large (max. 5 cm).

A hay rack for horses is suitable for both stables and pastures. We sell a wall-mounted hay rack for horses that encourages the animal to eat in a natural posture and protects the hay from dirt. Hay racks for horses are primarily designed for feeding hay, straw, grass or haylage.

A hay rack is a frame designed to provide horses with roughage in a safe and tidy manner. A hay rack with a raised feeding area is useful as it prevents horses from trampling on the hay and minimises wastage. In addition to wall-mounted racks, there are also round racks, square racks and small-bale racks, amongst others. Our hay rack is very sturdy and is suitable for installation in a horse box.

What are the advantages of a hay rack?

The main advantages of a hay rack are that it is sturdy, poses no risk of injury and minimises wastage of roughage. A hay rack provides every horse with a quiet feeding area, improved hygiene and a sheltered feeding environment. Hay racks are easy to fill.

All the benefits of a hay rack are set out in detail in the list below.

• Sturdy stand: Hay racks are sturdy as they are made from robust materials and therefore do not tip over easily. Hay racks for horses are heavy, are usually made from hot-dip galvanised steel and are therefore durable.
• No risk of injury: A hay rack designed for hay feeding poses no risk of injury during feeding, as it has rounded edges and specially designed feeding bars. Hay racks offer greater safety, as they provide enough space for all horses and reduce the risk of them getting caught.
• Minimal loss of roughage: Hay racks minimise wastage of roughage, as hay is often trampled or soiled when left without a rack. In a hay rack, the hay remains bundled and clean, which not only reduces wastage but also cuts feed costs.
• A quiet feeding area: A hay rack provides a quiet feeding area for every horse, as a fixed feeding spot brings structure to the herd. With pasture racks, every horse, regardless of rank, has its own feeding area, resulting in less stress, greater comfort whilst eating and no competition for food.
• Improved hygiene: Using a hay rack improves hygiene, as the hay is not left on the floor where it could come into contact with damp, dirt, droppings or urine. Hay racks minimise the risk of mould and bacteria in the feed.
• Sheltered feeding: A hay rack provides a sheltered feeding area for horses, as many pasture racks have a built-in roof. A roof on the hay rack is particularly important in the paddock, so that the roughage stays dry even in the rain. Hay stays fresh and nutritious for longer when it is protected from the weather.
• Easy to fill: Hay racks can be easily filled from above or from the side. The ease of filling hay racks saves time and effort in day-to-day barn work. Large round or square hay racks are loaded using a tractor, whilst small wall-mounted hay racks can simply be filled by hand.
• Slow feed intake: A small feeding rack ensures that the horse eats slowly, which aids digestion and prevents boredom. The feeding rack reduces the horse’s eating speed to prevent overeating.

What types of hay racks are there?

There are hay racks for wall mounting or free-standing use, square racks, round racks, round bale racks and small bale racks. There are feed racks for horse stalls, pastures or paddocks. You can choose from pasture racks for hay with a roof, with a feed-saving net or with a timer.

We set out the five different types of hay racks in detail in the list below.

• Wall-mounted hay rack: Examples of wall-mounted hay racks include corner racks, wall-mounted racks and large-capacity racks. Wall-mounted feed racks are space-saving, easy to install and well-suited to controlled feeding of individual horses. A wall-mounted rack is hung in individual stalls.
• Square hayrack: Rectangular hay racks include, for example, large-bale or square-bale racks, and are often fitted with a roof. Rectangular hay racks are suitable for several animals and large quantities of hay. In most cases, a rectangular hay rack is set up in the pasture or in an open barn.
• Round rake: A round hay rack is a feeding rack without feeding bars or slats. Round hay racks provide all-round access for horses, resulting in less jostling than with square hay racks. A round hay rack can be set up in an open stable, a free-range stable or in a paddock.
• Round bale rack: A round bale rack is ideal for providing large bales of hay, such as round bales. Round bale racks hold large quantities of roughage, making them ideal for continuous feeding of large herds of horses.
• Small bale rack: A small-bale rack is suitable for feeding 2–3 horses and is therefore ideal for smaller stables. Small-bale racks require frequent refilling with hay, which increases the amount of work involved. Small-bale racks are usually placed in the paddock.

How do you choose the right size of hay rack?

The correct size of hay rack should be chosen based on the number and size of the horses, as well as the location where it will be used. Foals, ponies and single horses require a smaller hay rack than fully grown horses or a herd. The size of the hay rack must be adapted to the horses’ requirements and needs.

The height of the roof and the height of the railing must be tailored to the size of the horse. The roof of the feed rack must be at least 1½ times as high as the horse’s withers to prevent the horse from bumping its head. The height of the hay rack’s railing must be high enough to prevent the animal from climbing into the rack.

The spacing between the feeding bars must be adapted to the type of rack in question. For racks intended for large horses, the gap between the vertical safety bars must not exceed 5 cm in order to minimise the risk of injury. The spacing between the palisade feeding bars on feed racks should not exceed 30 cm for large horses, so that the horses can put their heads in but are held back at the shoulder.

What should you bear in mind when choosing a hay rack?

When choosing a hay rack, safety, stability and hygiene must be taken into account. The hay rack should be suitable for horses, have rounded edges, be seamlessly welded and be specifically designed for horses. The hay rack should be made of a robust material and should be regularly cleared of hay and thoroughly cleaned.

Hay racks should not be mounted too high, to ensure natural feeding behaviour and prevent uneven tooth wear in horses. Ensure that the roof is mounted high enough above the hay rack. The hay rack should stand on a firm, preferably dry surface to prevent mud from forming and the associated health risks.

How do you look after a hay rack?

You maintain a hay rack by emptying it regularly and cleaning it with a broom. It is important to clean the hay rack regularly to remove old hay and dirt. Faeces, urine and damp hay should also be removed from the rack. Change the hay several times a week to prevent mould.

The hay rack should be thoroughly rinsed with water once a week to remove stubborn dirt and prevent bacteria from breeding. Allow the hay rack to dry completely after rinsing before refilling it with hay. Check the hay rack regularly for damage, rust, loose parts and sharp edges. Repair any damage to the hay rack immediately to prevent injury to the horses.

Hay rack from Alfako

Alfako’s sturdy hay rack is mounted on any wall in the horse box and is extremely durable and robust thanks to its galvanised steel construction. Our hay rack ensures ideal feed hygiene in the stable, as the hay does not have to lie on the floor. We sell our hay racks in packs of 10.

Our high-quality hay rack measures 80 cm in width, 50 cm in height and 50 cm in depth. The Alfako hay rack weighs 10 kg. If you have any questions about the hay rack or other products in our online shop, simply contact us via the contact form on our website. Alternatively, you can email us at info@alfako.de or call us on 01522 287 33 46.