Perhaps you've seen this item on our website: the Original Hay Play. A fun and innovative way to feed hay or roughage to your equine friend. However, the Hay Play is so much more than just a fun feeding ball. Did you know it prevents boredom and has a positive influence on the digestive system? We'll explain the advantages of a Hay Play in this blog.
The Hay Play is a polyhedron ball made from thick, strong polyester. The hay Play can be used in the paddock or in the pasture and has a diameter of 43 cm. It can be filled with about 3 kilograms of hay or roughage via the screw cap.
The Hay Play stimulates the natural grazing position of the horse, which is very important. The chances of constipation in the esophagus are reduced and the risk of choking is diminished as well. The esophagus of a horse is designed to transport feed upwards. When a horse is fed by means of a hanging trough or hay net the feed is transported in the opposite direction. Normally, the dust particles that can be found in roughage leave the horse's system via the nose, however, when a horse is grazing in an unnatural position these particles end up in the respiratory tract, because the equine respiratory system uses gravity. As such it is important to stimulate the natural grazing position and allow a horse to eat from the ground.
Another benefit of the natural grazing position is the fact that the lower jaw of a horse is quite heavy. When a horse assumes the natural grazing position the lower jaw drops a little, due to its weights. This allows the molars to line up more, and thus reduces the risk of unneccessary wear of the molars.
The large openings in the bal (7cm) allow the horse to get to the feed without too much of an effort. The Hay Play has the same result as a slow feeder; the horse will need more time reaching the food as such it slows down the amount the horse eats in a given time. This has a positive effect on the digestive system of the horse and allows for a better digestion of the roughage.
A final note regarding the natural grazing position: it is the only position in which a horse is fully relaxed, which is of course what we like best.
Apart from these advantages the Hay Play can be a fun challenge for your horse. Its polyhedron shape results in unpredictable movement on the ground, however it won't roll away as fast as a regular feeding ball. It'll keep your equine friend busy and prevent boredom. The Hay Play is not just suitable for horses; donkeys and goats can also benefit from it.
The Hay Play is available in six colours: pick your favourite!