Optimizing horse feeding grid size: A step-by-step guide
Selecting the right size of grid is essential for your horse to eat without their teeth touching the grid. Unlike grass, hay cannot be cut with their front teeth, instead they use their muzzle and lips. The grid must be adjusted to the width of their muzzle. Follow our simple guide below to determine the size of the optimal grid.
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Step 1: Understand the snout
A horse's snout is the robust and incredibly mobile upper lip. It resembles an elephant's trunk in that it is used for scouting and gathering food. The width of your horse's snout determines the distance between the bars in the grating.
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Step 2: Measure the snout width
For this task, it's helpful to have an extra set of hands. Follow these steps:
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Stand next to your horse as you would when adjusting a halter
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Gently grasp your horse’s head between the nose and eyes with one hand
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Use your other hand to find the thick part of the muzzle, the last part of the upper lip
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Pinch this thick part as flat as possible between your thumb and index finger
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Now it’s time to measure. Use a measuring tape to determine the distance between your thumb and index finger where you pinched the muzzle
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Step 3: Repeated measurements
It can be quite difficult to measure the muzzle width, horses tend to wiggle their muzzle when you squeeze it. It is advisable to measure 2 or 3 times to get a reliable measurement.
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Determining the ideal grid size
In practice, we've observed that snout widths differ across horse breeds:
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Small Breeds (Snout Width < 4 cm): This category includes petite breeds like Shetlanders, Icelanders, and other pony breeds. For these smaller horses, a Small grid is the ideal choice.
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Modern Sport Horses (Snout Width 4 - 5.5 cm): Sport breeds such as KWPN, Holsteiner, and Oldenburger typically fall within this range. To cater to their needs, opt for a Medium grid.
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Working Field Breeds (Snout Width > 5.5 cm): Breeds like Friesian horses and Tinkers, originally bred for fieldwork, often have broader snout widths. For these robust companions, a Large grid is the most suitable option.
Every horse is unique
Although these guidelines are useful, we understand that every horse is unique. If you are unsure which grid is suitable for your horse, please contact us so that we can take a look with you for advice.
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Minimum hoof width
To ensure the safety of your horse, it is important to measure the hoof width:
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Small and Medium Grid: The minimum hoof width must be at least 7 cm
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Large Grid: The minimum hoof width must be at least 10 cm
Measure the width of your horse's hooves at the widest point. Measure this for all four hooves. The narrowest hoof must meet the minimum hoof width.
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Group housing
In scenarios where multiple horses are provided with multiple FeedingMasters that are synchronized with each other, the horse with the widest snout determines the grid size for all FeedingMasters. This ensures that each horse can easily eat from each FeedingMaster. Please note that the minimum hoof width for each horse must match the selected grid.
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If a grid is chosen that is too small, the horse cannot properly grab the hay with its snout. In that case, there is a risk that the horse will touch the grid with its teeth while eating, which must be prevented. Therefore, always determine the grid for the horse with the widest snout. A horse with a narrower snout will not have a problem with a larger grid size. However, in that case the horse can take larger tufts of hay instead of blades of hay, which means his eating temperature is higher than with a smaller grid.
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At Valetudo Horse Products, your horse's well-being is our priority. We are here to provide you with the support and information you need to make the best choices for your beloved equine friends. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or assistance!
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