Eco Net
January 16, 2015
A few days ago I bought an Eco Net at The Pooch and Pony in Stony Plain. The Eco Net is a hay net that is made in Millet, Alberta. It covers a large round bale and slows down the horses that are feeding. Instead of taking a big bite of hay, the horses have to nibble which increases the chewing motion, slows down intake and eases digestive stresses.
Last night, my son and I set out to the pasture with large round bale loaded on the skid steer and the Eco Net still in the plastic package. The sun had already set so we used the lights on the skid steer to illuminate the procedure. Since I’d never even opened it nor used it, this was a new process for me. I unpacked the net and found it to be compacted together. After I stretched it out, I put the net over the top of the bale, and stretched it down the sides of the bale. It was like trying to put on a pair of panty hose that are too small! The net was packed tightly and took a bit of effort for me to stretch it out and over the bale. I loaded the bale back on the skid steer’s palette forks and then flipped the bale over so the bottom of the bale became the top. After this, I pulled net up to the top, and leaped (not really) up to the top of the bale so I could pull the drawstring tight and closed on the top of the bale and tie it shut. Finally, the Eco Net enclosed the entire bale. The horses stood close by watching yet out of the way. They were curious and just watched. It’s funny because of all the times I’ve put a round bale in, the horses were never around. Last night they just knew that something was up.
I was sure that Hobo who we call Mr. Nibbles because he loves to nibble us with his over active expressive muzzle would enjoy the challenge of eating hay through the Eco Net. I found out today that I was wrong. Both he and Flicka, our mare, were not too impressed with the challenge. It is a good thing that there was still hay on the ground from the last bale I fed. Summer, the lady from the Pooch and Pony in Stony Plain, AB, said it was a good idea to have some loose hay on the ground for the horses to eat while they figure the hay net out.
I chose to use a hay net this winter because Flicka is older. She’s probably 22 years old this year and is not very active especially during the winter. She is a little too heavy. With the challenge of eating hay through the net she should slim down and even feel better. I can tell by watching her that she is not too happy with the extra weight she’s put on this winter. It does help though, I told her, to get off of the hay and go for a walk. A few weeks ago I gave her a Reiki session to help her feel better. It worked. She walked off of the hay and has changed her attitude. Horses are very open to moving resistance and stagnant energy. Usually right after a Reiki treatment you can see change immediately. It’s that easy.
During the day today both Flicka and Hobo wandered around, not to interested in feeding from the bale inside the Eco Net. I will wait and see when they get it. Like anything new, it will take some time.
A few days ago I bought an Eco Net at The Pooch and Pony in Stony Plain. The Eco Net is a hay net that is made in Millet, Alberta. It covers a large round bale and slows down the horses that are feeding. Instead of taking a big bite of hay, the horses have to nibble which increases the chewing motion, slows down intake and eases digestive stresses.
Last night, my son and I set out to the pasture with large round bale loaded on the skid steer and the Eco Net still in the plastic package. The sun had already set so we used the lights on the skid steer to illuminate the procedure. Since I’d never even opened it nor used it, this was a new process for me. I unpacked the net and found it to be compacted together. After I stretched it out, I put the net over the top of the bale, and stretched it down the sides of the bale. It was like trying to put on a pair of panty hose that are too small! The net was packed tightly and took a bit of effort for me to stretch it out and over the bale. I loaded the bale back on the skid steer’s palette forks and then flipped the bale over so the bottom of the bale became the top. After this, I pulled net up to the top, and leaped (not really) up to the top of the bale so I could pull the drawstring tight and closed on the top of the bale and tie it shut. Finally, the Eco Net enclosed the entire bale. The horses stood close by watching yet out of the way. They were curious and just watched. It’s funny because of all the times I’ve put a round bale in, the horses were never around. Last night they just knew that something was up.
I was sure that Hobo who we call Mr. Nibbles because he loves to nibble us with his over active expressive muzzle would enjoy the challenge of eating hay through the Eco Net. I found out today that I was wrong. Both he and Flicka, our mare, were not too impressed with the challenge. It is a good thing that there was still hay on the ground from the last bale I fed. Summer, the lady from the Pooch and Pony in Stony Plain, AB, said it was a good idea to have some loose hay on the ground for the horses to eat while they figure the hay net out.
I chose to use a hay net this winter because Flicka is older. She’s probably 22 years old this year and is not very active especially during the winter. She is a little too heavy. With the challenge of eating hay through the net she should slim down and even feel better. I can tell by watching her that she is not too happy with the extra weight she’s put on this winter. It does help though, I told her, to get off of the hay and go for a walk. A few weeks ago I gave her a Reiki session to help her feel better. It worked. She walked off of the hay and has changed her attitude. Horses are very open to moving resistance and stagnant energy. Usually right after a Reiki treatment you can see change immediately. It’s that easy.
During the day today both Flicka and Hobo wandered around, not to interested in feeding from the bale inside the Eco Net. I will wait and see when they get it. Like anything new, it will take some time.