The best decision I’ve made as a horse owner
Kati Susi, who runs the Koivurinne Icelandic Horse Farm, purchased the first Heinätin devices for her six Icelandic horses back in 2016. Icelandic horses are extremely efficient at utilizing feed, and their waistlines tend to expand quickly if they are given too much hay.
“Previously, arranging frequent and restricted feeding was challenging because my horses live a few kilometers away from my own yard,” Kati explains.
Since acquiring the Heinätin devices, managing the daily barn routine has become easier and Kati’s free time has increased. What has brought Kati the most joy, however, is that her horses’ internal clocks are now tuned to regular hay munching, preventing the burning hunger that used to negatively impact their health and quality of life.
“Heinätin devices have been the best decision I’ve made as a horse owner,” says Kati. “The horses are happy and healthy—and even slimmer, thanks to the small and regular portions of hay,” she adds.
Kati also calculated that the Heinätin investment paid for itself in just 16 months solely through reduced travel costs—not to mention the time saved.
“Heinätin devices distribute hay in the evening, overnight, and early in the morning, so now we can start the morning barn chores by 9:30 and leave the barn much earlier in the evening, well before the evening news. It makes everyday life so much easier,” says Kati.
Heinätin helps to dispense hay more individually
The Heinätin hay dispensers eliminated the concern of excessively long overnight feeding intervals at the Kpedu Kaustinen equestrian facility.
At the Kpedu Kaustinen, formerly known as the Kaustinen Harness Racing Institute, evening barn chores are completed by 6 p.m., and the lights are not turned on again until 6 a.m. The twelve-hour break is a long time for horses to be without forage, significantly increasing the risk of developing ulcers due to an empty stomach.
“Before acquiring the Heinätin devices, we had to dispense a relatively large amount of evening hay at once, as we were worried about the long feeding interval and wanted to ensure there was enough to last through the night,” explains barn manager Kati Siila.
For horses with lighter use, large single servings caused weight management issues. More selective horses would often trample and mess up excess hay in their stalls, which increased hay waste.
“The long overnight break has been particularly problematic for competitive horses in training, who may already be poor eaters. The Heinätin devices have definitely improved these horses’ hay intake and, as a result, enhanced their well-being by providing a regular supply of hay throughout the night.”
The positive effects of the Heinätin devices became evident quickly in the horses’ behavior and condition.
“When we first loaded the dispensers, the hay portions seemed small. However, the total amount of hay was the same as before; it was just distributed over more feeding sessions. The picky horses no longer scatter hay around their stalls but instead wait contentedly for the next portion. The thin horses have maintained their weight well, and the heavier ones have slimmed down,” Siila summarizes.
The Heinätin® product family offers feeding solutions to meet the needs of all barns and paddocks.