Balotade® Stable and Travel Hay Net 70 × 80 cm

Hay net for stable and trailer — 70 × 80 cm, 45 mm mesh

A versatile Balotade® hay net in the format that works wherever the horse is standing: in the stable, in the trailer, beside the horsebox and out in the paddock. It is a hay bag measuring 70 × 80 cm, drawn closed at the top with a cord and hung by its loop. It holds one feed for an average horse, and with a 45 mm mesh the horse eats smoothly, without frustration — the net slows it down without blocking it.

Why slower hay intake is better for your horse

A horse at grass spends most of the day eating — the figure usually quoted is 14 to 18 hours. Its digestive system is built for exactly that: gastric acid is secreted continuously, whether or not there is anything in the stomach. The natural buffer is saliva, and in horses saliva is produced mainly by chewing. A haynet’s worth of hay thrown loose on the stable floor disappears in 40 to 60 minutes, after which the horse stands for hours with nothing to eat.

A net reverses that ratio. The horse pulls out a few stalks at a time, chews for longer and produces more saliva. The same weight of hay lasts two to three times longer, and the gaps between meals stop being long windows without forage.

• Less boredom — weaving, crib-biting and wood-chewing usually come from boredom and long breaks between feeds. A horse that is busy eating looks for less to do.
• Prolonged access to forage — instead of swinging between a large ration and hours with nothing.
• Easier weight management — good doers, ponies and horses prone to putting on weight get the same forage ration spread across the whole day, without cutting it drastically.
• Less waste — hay does not end up under hooves, mixed into bedding or trodden in. At current hay prices a net pays for itself quickly.

45 mm mesh — the sensible compromise

This is the most versatile mesh size. Tight enough to genuinely extend eating time, open enough for a horse that has never eaten from a net to cope with it. It works well with meadow hay with longer, coarser stalks, which in tighter nets tends to fold over in the openings.

For travelling and for every day

In transport, hay in a net does two things at once: it occupies the horse for the journey and keeps its head in a natural, lowered position. That helps maintain appetite at competitions, where horses often go off their feed.

The net is light and, once empty, rolls up to the size of a fist — it fits in any tack box, trunk or car boot. Taking a spare costs you nothing.

Why Balotade®

Balotade® nets are made from braided cord, not thin string. The braid is thick and smooth, with no sharp edges that could chafe lips and gums. The top edge of the bag is folded over and threaded with the drawcord, which both closes the net and serves to hang it — that is the hardest-working point, which is why it is reinforced.

The weave is knotless — the cords interlace at each opening instead of being tied. That has two practical consequences: there are no hard lumps for the horse to rub its lips against with every mouthful, and there is no single knot for the mesh to start unravelling from once it gives. The cord is also UV-stabilised, so it does not lose strength after a season in the sun.

Colour is not only about looks. In a yard with several horses it lets you assign a net to a particular stable straight away and avoid mixing up rations when horses are on different diets.

Specification

Use and care

• Hang it at wither height or lower — the horse should eat with its head down, in a position close to grazing. This helps the airways clear naturally.
• Do not hang it too low with shod horses — an empty net hanging loose is the one real risk of a shoe catching. Set the height so that once emptied the bottom edge does not drop below roughly 60 cm above the ground.
• Supervise the first few days — some horses need a moment to work out how it functions. It is worth offering a small amount of loose hay alongside at the start.
• Cleaning — shake out the remains, rinse with lukewarm water if needed and let it dry. The material does not absorb water, so it dries quickly.

Frequently asked questions

How much hay does this net hold?

With standard meadow hay, around 4–6 kg — one feed for an average horse. The bag is flexible and can be packed, so the real capacity also depends on how tightly the hay is baled.

Is the net suitable for haylage?

Yes. The material does not absorb moisture, so after using it with wet forage you simply rinse the net and let it dry — otherwise the residue will start to ferment in the mesh.