How to make a Hedgerow Haynet

Many horses enjoy nibbling on the hedgerow that surrounds their paddock, and when out for a more leisurely hack, they may try to sneakily grab some cow parsley from the verge. Hedgerow haynets, which combine or supplement the standard forage feed with hedgerow plants for horses, are a common trend in which this diversity is replicated for the stabled horse. The benefits of bringing the outdoors inside include promoting foraging behaviour, environmental enrichment, and dietary variety.

Read which toxic plants to avoid here.

Do not assume that hedgerow forage has less sugar than grass or hay, you must also consider that they have a higher calorie count so therefore are best as a treat now and then.

1. Be absolutely sure you have picked things from the range of hedgerow herbs and plants for horses that are suitable for them to eat. If in doubt leave it out!
2. Get inventive – place the hedgerow items around the paddock if your horse doesn’t have a hedge to help themselves to, or in the stable either mix through the usual forage ration or leave in separate nets or buckets to encourage foraging behaviour
3. Use in moderation – feed a little, not a lot and always make gradual diet changes
4. Don’t assume that hedgerow items are low in sugar, they may not be. Use as a treat only or not at all if you are concerned about laminitis
5. Being novel, it may take a while for your horse to be interested in extra items in the haynet. Don’t worry if they take to sorting out and rejecting items you have picked and mixed in – this will still have kept them occupied and slowed the rate of consumption of the rest of their forage ration
6. If you are competing under rules picking weeds and herbs could increase the risk of NOPS contamination and is best avoided. Click here for further information about prohibited substances.