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horses feeding from a Klene Pipe horse hay feeder

Get the Most Out of Your Large Hay Bales

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Now more than ever with inflation and prices rising it’s important to conserve as much hay as possible. Large hay bales are often a good choice when looking to save on your hay costs if you have the equipment and storage to keep them. When feeding your horses outdoors you will want to make sure to use a hay feeder that will contain your hay as much as possible.

Why Use Large Hay Bales

For bigger farm operations, larger hay bales are often the most economical choice as they feed more at a lower cost. They also have an advantage over smaller because they ferment naturally keeping mold and rot from impacting the hay; therefore, you can keep them for longer. In addition, using a larger hay bale can be used to feed more horses at one time, making them more efficient for feeding.

Round or Square Hay Bales?

There is a difference between large round and square hay bales. Square hay bales tend to have a higher density than round. Square bales are also easier to carry so require less manpower. They also store more effortlessly as they can be stacked without any issues of rolling.

Round hay bales, however, typically tend to be less expensive as they are more highly produced. In addition, because of their size, round hay bales can provide more protection from the elements, helping to keep them fresh for longer. Both round or square large hay bales have the advantage of saving you time and money.

Klene Pipe’s big bale hay feeder, the H-8 Horse Hay Feeder can hold either large square or round hay bales and are designed to help keep your large hay bales in place to avoid loss of hay. Our no-waste hay feeders prevent hay from scattering and blowing, saving you time and money.

horses in the hot sun

6 Ways to Keep Your Horse Cool This Summer

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Those hot summer days are approaching and it’s important you know how to properly care for your horse when temperatures near triple digits. Neglecting to do some of these tips could not only be extremely uncomfortable for your horse but also cause some serious health concerns.

Here are some of the best tips for keeping your horse cool and comfortable during those hot summer months:

1. Quality Horse Shelter Kits

On those brutal summer days, any kind of shade is a relief for your horse. Besides drinking water, shelter is the most important aspect of caring for your horse in the summer. Trees with large foliage can be great for a quick rest but if the heat is too much, quality horse shelter kits are great for keeping horses cool, comfortable, and out of the heat.

Make sure you’re taking the sun’s positioning into account so that your horse can always have protection from the sun. To maximize comfort inside these horse shelter kits, place fans, light sheets, and a cool water source.

2. Never Overdo it in the Heat

According to the University of Guelph, horses can get heat stress 10 times faster than humans during a workout.

If you’re going out riding, especially during the middle of the day, be sure to keep the session short. You should never push your horse beyond his or her fitness level, but it’s imperative to be extra cautious during extremely hot days.

3. Keep Them Hydrated and Well-Fed

It’s crucial your horse remains strong throughout those hot summer days. Keeping your horse hydrated and well-fed will ensure they’re getting enough nutrients and will be able to better manage excessive temperatures.

Provide cool water and make sure your horse is drinking it. If they’re refusing, try placing a block of salt nearby (horses love it) – that should encourage them to rehydrate afterward. Also, make sure you’re using quality square or round bale feeders. Certain horse hay feeders are great for helping your horse eat freely, preventing overeating and other issues.

4. Frequent Baths, Mist, and Fans

Though providing frequent drinking water breaks during the summer is crucial, keeping your horse cool with baths, mist, and fans is just as important. After your (brief) ride, consider spraying your horse with a cool hose to help.

When misting or bathing your horse, it’s recommended to start with the chest and neck areas to cool the veins near the heart, which can help cool off the rest of the body quicker.  

5. Trim Any Excess Hair

Although clipping horses is most common in the winter because of the extra layers of coat, keeping them well-groomed in the summer is a great way to help them stay cool. Removing sections of your horse’s coat can reduce sweating during exercise and keep them comfortable throughout the day. Make sure you’re using quality clippers, too. Use clippers that can remove hair underneath the tact, which prevents irritation and constant rubbing.

6. Pay Attention to Signs of Heatstroke

Overall, make sure you’re paying attention to your horse’s mood, appearance, and movements as much as you can when it’s extremely hot. Give your vet a call right away if you notice any of the following signs of heatstroke:

  • Elevated heart rate
  • Temperatures above 103 degrees
  • Exhaustion or lethargy
  • Excessive sweating
  • Dehydration

Make sure you’re prepared for the heat. Contact us today if you want to find some great horse shelter kits, round bale feeders, and more!

helping a horse eat

Your Horse Won’t Eat? Try These 4 Tips

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You’ve tried everything. You’ve tried adding some molasses for a little flavoring, you got rid of all the moldy hay, and you’ve even pretended to eat the hay right in front of them. But your horse just won’t eat! 

This is a serious issue. Your horse needs to eat and relies on those essential nutrients – protein, vitamins, and minerals – within the forage. Luckily, there are a few things you can do that we’ve had success with in the past. 

Here are some helpful tips to get your horse to feed again: 

First, try to identify why your horse isn’t eating

This could be tricky, but take a step back and really think about what and how you’re feeding your horse. Maybe the hay is stale or too salty, which could cause a horse to stop eating. Or maybe you’ve been putting new medications like Bute into the feed. Your horse might want to avoid eating if that’s the case. 

There are a variety of reasons why your horse won’t eat. But if you can, determining the root cause of the issue, rather than just trying to force them to eat, is a great way to start. 

Utilize quality square or round bale feeders 

If you’re using lesser quality hay feeders, there could be some serious issues that arise. An effective round bale feeder will allow your horse to eat freely, at their own pace. Other hay feeders, however, can lead to overeating, bloating, vomiting, and other problems – all of which could subsequently lead to your horse wanting to avoid eating again. 

Look at your horse’s teeth

Dental issues can affect your horse’s ability to eat. Certain problems could cause hooks, waves, and other malformations that inhibit chewing. Additionally, broken or infected teeth can be so painful, your horse won’t want to chew anything. Warning signs of serious dental issues, in addition to loss of appetite, include aggressive behavior, introverted gaze, and self-mutilation. Keep an eye out for these signs and have a vet take a look at your horse’s teeth if you think that’s the issue. 

Beware of any changes to your horse’s environment 

Your horse might avoid eating if they are stressed, nervous, or anxious. Think about any major changes or circumstances that have happened recently. The loss of a stablemate, major weather changes, or the addition of a new stablemate could all cause some stressful problems and result in a lack of eating. 

You’re doing everything you can to help your horse get back to eating healthy. Sometimes, just slowing down and thinking about the problem can help you find a solution. If you need quality round or square bale feeders, give us a call today! 

horse feeding and avoiding hay waste

Use the Right Horse Hay Feeders to Prevent Hay Waste

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Hay waste might seem like a minor inconvenience. Just a messy area, right?

Wrong.

Hay waste is actually a serious issue and can lead to multiple costly, stressful, and even unhealthy issues for your horses.

If you’re not equipped with quality horse hay feeders, you’re going to end up wasting a significant amount of hay. A little extra hay on the ground during a single feeding period isn’t that big of a deal, sure. But after a few days, weeks, and months – all that extra hay wasted up certainly is a big deal.

Conventional hay feeders or ring bales are not properly equipped to hold hay, leading to the hay being shifted outside the feeder or blown around. With the “Hay Saver” Hay Feeder, the folding grills keep the hay in place to prevent waste.

Hay Waste: The Problems

Wasting money – One of the most cost-efficient things you can do as a horse owner is to utilize quality hay feeders for horses. Keeping more hay confined within a feeder will end up saving you a significant amount of money. Decreasing the amount of wasted hay could more than pay the cost of the hay feeder itself.

Wasting health – If you’re constantly wasting hay, you’re actually running the risk of harming your livestock. With a quality feeder, your horse will be able to eat freely, as opposed to the stresses that come from slow, traditional hay feeders. The stress, however, can cause overeating and subsequent choking, bloating, and vomiting. Also, the “Hay Saver” Hay Feeder’s folding grills also prevent horses from burying their heads into the hay bale, which causes serious breathing problems due to inhaling too much hay dust.

Wasting time – The amount of time and work it takes to haul the hay, stack it, store it, and deliver it to the horses is a lot compared to using a quality round bale feeder. Plus, the cleanup around a feeder with folding grills is much easier. With old, chaotic feeders, you could be out there cleaning up wasted hay for hours.

Using the Hay Saver Hay Feeder is over 93% efficient at containing hay. Put an end to hay waste today! Check out our hay savings comparison chart and give us a call today to learn more about the benefits of our hay feeders for horses!

round bale feeder for horses

Square or Round Bale Feeders? Both are Great Options!

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Hay production has changed a lot over the last few decades, becoming much more nutritious. But the way the hay is psychically baled has changed, as well.

Square bales have always been the popular choice because of their ability to be stacked, transported, and placed into horse hay feeders. Even though these bales aren’t that large, physically baling them, lifting them, and carrying them can be exhausting.

Nowadays, round bales are becoming much more popular. Though square bales were convenient, they could only weigh around 60 pounds. Large round bales, however, thanks to the use of agricultural machinery, can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds.

Round or square – what should you use?

Since the bale’s shape doesn’t affect the hay’s nutrients in any way, both options are great for your horses. With Klene Pipe Structures’ round or square bale feeders, you’ll avoid losing a significant amount of hay and will keep your horses feeding for years!

In fact, both our square bale feeders and round bale feeders are made from high-quality materials and can last upwards of 20 years. And though these products were designed to be hay feeders for horses, they can be used with other livestock including alpacas, llamas, cattle, and more.

It comes down to the number of horses or animals being fed by the hay feeders. Larger round bales are a better option for properties with multiple horses. But square bale feeders will work great for smaller operations.

Whichever horse hay feeders you decide on, round bale feeders or square bale feeders, our Hay Saver feeders are excellent options for any setup. They’ll keep your horses happy, well-fed, and comfortable for years to come.

Give us a call today to learn more about our quality hay feeders for horses!