Ground Feeding vs a Corner Feeder
Feeding height matters for drainage, dust and choke. Which arrangement suits an old horse with poor teeth or a history of choking.
The short version
Feed at or near ground level as the default. A horse eating with its head down clears dust and debris from the airway naturally, which matters a great deal for an older horse with any respiratory history, and the natural posture suits chewing and swallowing. A corner feeder is tidier, keeps feed off a dirty or sandy floor and stops a tub being tipped, which are genuine benefits. The important thing for a senior horse is not the height but the speed and the texture: choke is a real risk in horses with worn teeth, and wet, slow, small meals reduce it.
At a glance
| Little Giant Rubber Feed Pans | Derby Originals Corner Hay and Grain Feeder | |
|---|---|---|
| Head down posture | Yes | Partly |
| Airway clearance while eating | Better | Less |
| Keeps feed off sand and bedding | Only with a mat | Yes |
| Can be tipped or moved | Yes | No |
| Suits a horse with neck arthritis | Depends on the horse | Sometimes easier |
| Cleaning | Lift and rinse | Awkward in place |
Choose the Little Giant Rubber Feed Pans if…
Feed from a ground level tub for most horses, on a mat or a clean surface if the footing is sandy. It is the posture the horse is built for and it drains the airway while eating. Use a wide shallow tub rather than a deep bucket so a horse with poor teeth is not scooping from the bottom, and split the ration into more, smaller meals. If your horse has neck or forelimb arthritis that makes reaching down uncomfortable, raise it slightly rather than to chest height.
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Choose the Derby Originals Corner Hay and Grain Feeder if…
Use a corner feeder where feed on the floor gets wasted, soiled or eaten with sand, or where a horse tips every tub it is given. Fix it at a sensible height rather than as high as it will go, and clean it properly, because old feed dries into corners and sours. For a horse being fed a soaked mash, check the drainage, since a feeder that holds water grows a smell that will put a fussy old horse off its dinner.
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Related
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of choke in a horse?
Coughing, retching, stretching the neck out, distress, saliva and feed material coming down the nostrils, and repeated attempts to swallow. It is a veterinary emergency. Take all feed and water away, keep the horse calm, and phone your vet. Choke is more common in older horses because worn or missing molars mean feed is swallowed in coarser pieces, and it can lead to aspiration pneumonia if it is not resolved.
How can I reduce choke risk in an old horse?
Have the teeth examined at least annually, more often if there is known disease. Soak feeds thoroughly, feed small meals rather than one large one, slow greedy eaters with a large smooth stone in the tub or a purpose made slow feeder, and avoid dry pelleted feeds for a horse who bolts food. If your horse can no longer chew hay, ask your vet or a nutritionist about a properly formulated soaked hay replacer.
Should hay be fed on the ground or in a net?
Both have a case. On the ground gives the best posture and airway drainage, but wastes more and picks up sand on bare ground. Nets reduce waste and slow intake but hold the head higher and can be harder for a horse with dental disease. On sandy ground, put a mat or a large tub underneath whichever you choose, so the last mouthfuls are not scraped off the dirt.
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