February 2006

Timed Feedings

Automated feeders have their place, but be sure you need one for the right reasons.

The iFEED mounts outside the stall.

If your “need” for an automatic feeder is grounded in a desire not to have to tend to your horse every day, please reconsider. Your horse should be checked at least once a day to make sure he’s normal—attitude, eating, manure and no signs of wounds, lameness or illness. If he’s an “only horse,” or stabled without direct contact with other horses, your social interaction with him is also an extremely important part of his day. He needs you.

If that’s not enough, remember that feeders aren’t foolproof. Equipment malfunction or power failures can result in your horse not being fed. Feeders potentially can become stuck in the open position—a disaster…