HayPlay Slow-Feed Bag
- Regular price
-
$ 119.95 USD - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
$ 119.95 USD
Couldn't load pickup availability
Non-toxic, ultra-durable, easy-fill, slow-feed hay bags that can be hung in stalls / trailers, used as a ground-feeding enrichment toy (see: how to tie your bag safely for ground feeding), or as part of a track system. Useful for horses, donkeys, sheep, and goats.
Made of heavy-duty, weatherproof, PVC-coated material, this bag can stand up to the toughest conditions. It will not crack or weaken in extremely cold or hot temperatures. Triple-reinforced, 3-inch holes were specifically designed to slow intake while allowing the horse to eat naturally, reducing neck and back strain caused by pecking at small-hole nets.
These slow-feed hay bags keep hay entirely contained and clean, resulting in virtually NO hay loss. Haynets on average result in 10-15% of hay being lost because it ends up in the bedding or dirt. Because these bags are solid, very little hay falls out when the horse is eating. They also greatly reduce dust and allergies that cause respiratory and breathing issues.
Sizes:
- Half dimensions: 37 inches (95cm) tall x 19.5 inches (50cm) diameter ~ half bale
- Snack dimensions: 30 inches (75cm) tall x 15 inches (40cm) diameter ~ 3 flakes
SHIPPING: FREE standard shipping on all US orders. For shipping costs and details, see our shipping page.
Video
FAQs
How to use
Hanging it up: Use rope to cinch the bag closed and tie to hang. For safety, we recommend using baling twine at the point of attachment so it will breakaway in case of emergency.
Ground feeding: You can place the HayPlay Bags on the ground so your horse can roll and toss them as an enrichment and slow-feeding activity. Make sure to tie the bag so that there are no loose parts of rope for the horse to get tangled in. Instead of the rope, you can also use baling twine to tie the bag and then trim the ends off so it would also break away in case of emergency.
For more information see our video on how to tie your bag safely
How Much Hay is in a Bale?
Where the half-bale size HayPlay Bag is concerned, you might wonder what manner of bale we mean!
For our purposes, we are talking about the East coast / 2-string bale of hay, around 50lbs. So our "half-bale" can hold around 25-30 pounds of hay and the snack size holds around 15-20 lbs.
Our bags vs hay nets
Slow-feed hay nets can cause a lot of neck and back strain because the horse has to peck at the hay and typically ends up pulling the whole weight of the net with each bite. Our bags offer larger holes, which reduce strain and tension as they are only pulling on the hay they get in their mouth with each bite.
In fact, the hole size in our bags was rigorously tested and designed specifically to be large enough to allow stress-free eating but small enough to slow them down.
What is the bag made of? Is it durable?
The HayPlay Bag is constructed from a food-grade, non-toxic, heavy-duty, marine-grade, PVC material that remains flexible in extreme conditions. The material does not hold moisture so it will not freeze, crack, or become rigid. Temperature range: -22F to +158F (-30C to +70C)
It is very tough and durable. Here's a video about the materials and construction of the HayPlay Bags!
We offer a 1-year, one-time replacement warranty that covers the following: all hardware parts, the stitching around the holes, and tears in the material larger than 1 inch. Normal wear and tear on the bags, like the outer coating wearing down and minor cracking, is not covered.
We are confident that the bags will maintain their usability for a long time, so please reach out if any minor damage becomes a larger issue that qualifies for a replacement.
Can a 3" hole really slow intake?
There is a big difference in how horses eat from a hay net vs these bags. Even the smallest 1" slow-feed hay nets have more open surface area than our bags. So even though the HayPlay bags have larger openings, there are fewer of them and hay is less exposed because it is enclosed.
Our experience is that the "snack-size" bag will last a typical horse about 4 hours, the half-bale size about a day or night, and the bale size about 20 hours.
Is it safe for horses with shoes?
According to the manufacturer, HayPlay Bags are designed to be safe for horses with shoes. The 3-inch hole size makes it challenging for a horse to fit an entire foot into the hole. Animals with smaller feet tend to fit in and out easily.
Shod horses that paw at the bag on the ground do run the risk of catching part of the opening between the heel of their shoe and hoof. Should this happen, the HayPlay Bag is designed to tear. This safety feature means your horse is unlikely to get caught or tangled in the same way they might in a traditional hay net.
We do recommend using baling twine (made from fiber, not plastic) when hanging the bags. If a horse were to get caught somehow (they are horses, after all, meaning anything is possible), the twine would break rather than the bag.
For the drawstring bags, we recommend hanging them high enough that the horse is unable to get a hoof near the drawstring opening, any loops of string, or any of the feeding holes. If ground feeding, secure the HayPlay Bag opening with bailing twine, trim the ends off, being careful to leave no loops or openings.
Watch our tutorial video on how to tie your bag safely
Can I use it for my mini?
Yes, they are safe for miniature horses and donkeys of all sizes! Even if a mini happens to put a hoof in one of the holes, they will usually just pull their hoof out with ease.
There is nothing for them to get tangled in like with hay nets. Click here for footage of minis interacting with the HayPlay Bag XL.
Care Instructions
Rinse with water or wash with a mild soap. Avoid using abrasive cleaners as this can damage the outer coating.
If you hang the HayPlay Bag in a stall, occasionally rotate the direction the bag is hung so that your horse's favorite hole locations are not overused.
Keeping bags relatively full can help decrease stress on the bag from pawing, biting, etc., especially if they are ground fed.
Replaced my hanging nets with the GG Equine, 1/2 bag. Fill from the hay loft, using the original square frame, works great. Had to cut out the bottom 5 holes to max opening....slow feed, hardly any waste. Happy with the product, bought 6 total.
Sharon, thank you so much for your review! We're glad the HayPlay Bags are filling a need for you and your herd. Your use and adaptation of them is innovative thinking! We've never seen them deployed in that particular manner. Let us know how they hold up for you over time!
This Slow-Feed Bag is the best thing for pasture safety. It combines forage requirements with a pasture toy and eliminates hay waste. The design really works. Thank you so much, April, for supporting our raffle raising funds for a youth endurance program. Endurance horses live outside most or all of the time. The Hay Play Slow-Feed Bag is perfect for horses in this environment.
This a very well construction hay bag. I have several slow feeders for my guy. This is a great bag to add to my collection. I feel the holes could be a littler smaller, but I will still use it. Thanks, GG, for making a quality hay bag.
PJ, we appreciate your business. We've loved hearing how folks are using the HayPlay Bags as part of a larger hay / slow-feeding system. A variety of methods seems to really keep horses not only fed, but also engaged and entertained. And thanks for your input on the hole size; we are in close communication with the manufacturer and pass all feedback on to them for future product design modifications.
I own three of these bags since Sept of 2023. They have worked well for my horses at home and shows. My mare is very hard on hay nets and did manage to rip one apart the other day. It took her 6 months to do it though which may be a record for her. I contacted the company about the warranty and they promptly sent me a new bag. Amazing customer service. I definitely recommend theses bags and GG Equine.
DG, thank you so much for your thoughtful review. We're so glad that the HayPlay Bags and our customer support have met your expectations!
I love the bags, and so do my horses. I have two of the XL bags and two of the larger round bags.
What they love: they can get decent size mouthfuls without having to deal with nets. They enjoy pawing them, particularly the round bag (large size). They also can paw at the XL bags without turning them over.
What I love: The bags can be out in the rain with no problem. The hay stays dry and the bags can just be refilled. They hold A LOT of hay and there is no waste.
Now…both my XL bags had the zipper tab come off, and have had several of the ring reinforcements come off. Customer service has been very responsive to these issues and so far I am very happy with the resolutions. Just fyi, they are working to fix both these problems.
Claire, thank you so much for taking the time to go into such detail about your experiences with the HayPlay Bags and our customer support staff. This is the kind of review that really lets other horse owners make up their minds about buying from a woman-owned small business like ours. We're so appreciative! We're working closely with the HayPlay Bag manufacturer to improve the performance and durability of the next generation of XL bags, and all of the customer feedback has been a crucial part of that!