Three Reasons to Choose HayBox

Better feeding. More time. Less money wasted.

HayBox gives you more control over your feeding routine, more freedom in your day, and more value from the hay you buy.

1. Horse Health

How You Feed Matters as Much as What You Feed.

Meal feeding with long gaps without forage can increase ulcer and colic risk and create digestive stress. Unmanaged access to calorie-rich hay can make weight control difficult for easy keepers. Waste, actual intake, and metabolic health all need individual attention.

HayBox automatic feeders provide controlled, timed access to hay throughout the day and night. Choose feeding periods that support adequate forage intake and avoid prolonged fasting, while monitoring consumption and body condition.

Stomach Ulcers, Obesity, and Colic: How Feeding Can Make a Difference

Three major health concerns for horse owners are stomach ulcers, obesity, and colic. Each can have several causes, but how you feed is one factor you can manage.

Stomach Ulcers: Discomfort You May Not Always See.

A horse’s stomach produces acid continuously. Long gaps without forage reduce the chewing and saliva production that help buffer that acid. During exercise, acidic stomach contents can also splash onto the sensitive upper lining, contributing to ulcers.

Stomach ulcers can affect more than digestion. Signs may include:

  • Pain and discomfort, sometimes appearing as recurring mild colic.
  • Poor appetite, including eating less or leaving meals unfinished.
  • Weight loss or difficulty maintaining condition.
  • Changes in attitude, such as irritability or reluctance to work.
  • Reduced performance, keeping your horse from feeling and performing its best.

Some horses have ulcers with few outward signs. These symptoms can also have other causes, so suspected ulcers need veterinary evaluation.

How HayBox can help:

Provide controlled, timed access to hay throughout the day and night to reduce long gaps without forage and encourage the chewing and saliva production that help buffer stomach acid. You can also schedule hay access before your usual riding time, giving your horse an opportunity to eat forage that helps reduce acid splash during exercise.

More consistent forage opportunities. Better support for stomach health.

Obesity: Extra Weight Can Lead to Bigger Problems.

Horses gain excess weight when they consistently consume more calories than they use. Unlimited access to calorie-rich hay can make weight management difficult, especially for easy keepers.

The effects can go beyond appearance. Excess weight can contribute to:

  • Insulin problems and metabolic disease, increasing the need for careful dietary management.
  • Greater laminitis risk, a painful hoof condition that can cause lasting damage and lameness.
  • Joint and muscle strain, making movement and exercise more demanding.
  • Additional stress on the feet, affecting hoof health and comfort.
  • Overheating, because excess body fat makes it harder to release heat.
  • Reduced stamina and performance, affecting your horse’s willingness and ability to work.

How HayBox can help:

Adjust when and how long your horses have access to hay as part of a weight-management plan. Controlled, timed access throughout the day and night gives you more control over feeding while spreading forage opportunities more evenly.

Horses with insulin problems or a history of laminitis should be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the right feeding plan, including whether tested hay is needed.

More control over feeding. Better support for a healthy weight.

Colic: A Consistent Feeding Routine Matters.

Your horse’s digestive system is built to process forage regularly throughout the day. But work, weather, and changing plans can make it difficult to keep feeding times consistent.

Colic means abdominal pain and can range from mild discomfort to a life-threatening emergency. While it has many causes, feeding management is one factor you can help control.

How HayBox can help:

  • Keep hay access on schedule: Work, weather, and changing plans don’t have to delay every feeding.
  • Reduce long gaps without forage: Provide controlled, timed access to hay throughout the day and night.
  • Support a consistent, forage-first routine: Provide dependable hay access, even when you’re away or your schedule changes.

Pair that routine with fresh water, appropriate hay, regular dental care, and gradual dietary changes.

HayBox is a feeding management tool, not a medical treatment. It does not guarantee the prevention of ulcers, obesity, colic, or other health conditions and is not a substitute for veterinary advice or care. Consult your veterinarian about your horse’s individual health and feeding needs.Your plans may change. Your horses’ feeding schedule doesn’t have to.

Better Feeding Management Supports Better Horse Health.

HayBox gives you a practical way to manage feeding frequency and access through controlled, timed access throughout the day and night, helping you support a healthy, consistent feeding routine.

Horses with existing health concerns need a feeding plan developed with their veterinarian or equine nutritionist.

A feeding schedule built around your horses and your life.