Description
WHY CHOOSE A HARMONY HAY FEEDER?
Ulcer Management – effectively manages ulcers by trickle feeding all night long
Natural Grazing – allows the horse to eat in the natural grazing position
Behavioural Problems – reduces behavioural problems including box walking.
HOW ARE ULCERS CAUSED?
• Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a leading causes of poor health and performance in the horse.
• Horses graze for at least 18 hours a day at grass – buffering stomach acid naturally
• Eating forage produces saliva which buffers acids produced in the stomach.
• Even when there is no forage present in the stomach, these acids are still produced.
• Horses fed hay only 3-4 times a day do not have the same capacity to buffer these acids.
• Acids cause damage to the stomach lining leading to ulcers.
• “93% of horses in training suffer from gastric ulcers”……Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FS, Gross SJ: Factors associated with gastric lesions in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 1996, 28:368–374.
CONVENTIONAL FEEDING METHODS?
• Current methods of feeding hay are wasteful & dangerous e.g. haynets, mangers, or the stable floor.
• Dust from mangers placed at a height can enter the nostrils/lungs.
• Eating at a height places strain on musculoskeletal structures.
• Feeding hay is labour intensive and prone to significant wastage
• Eating at a height prevents correct chewing patterns as teeth are not correctly aligned.
• Difficult cleaning of Mangers as they cannot be removed.
THE SOLUTION – HARMONY TRICKLE FEEDER
• The most natural feeding solution to gastric ulcers
• Constant Supply of Hay – Little and often
• Holds enough hay for more than a day.
• Controls how much hay the horse can access via a soft rubber finger mesh.
• Allows the horse to eat in a natural grazing position at ground level.
The Harmony Trickle Feeder™ was designed and patented by Dr. Michelle O’Connor, a leading Veterinary Physiotherapist in Ireland
Michelle is deeply involved in the equine industry for many years from breeding to performance, having competed in the disciplines of showjumping and showing for many years, and currently breeds and produces thoroughbreds.
Michelle is also a practising Veterinary Physiotherapist treating horses in all disciplines including racing, showjumping, eventing and dressage.
Years of treating and working with horses, combined with an in depth knowledge of equine anatomy, nutrition and performance, and observation of the many problems encountered by trainers, owners and riders when feeding hay to horses, led to the development of the Harmony Trickle Feeder™.
TESTIMONIALS
MICHAEL O’TOOLE – VETERINARY SURGEON AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER, IRELAND
I started using Harmony Trickle Feeders a couple of years ago, having been kindly sponsored by the company. I very quickly noticed the benefits of the trickle feeder system, and it wasn’t long before the whole yard was converted! As a veterinary surgeon & international event rider I felt uniquely placed to assess the merits of the product from two different but equally important view points. I am convinced that the majority of health & behavioural issues that arise in our equine athletes can be directly attributed to how far we have “removed” them from their natural state of being/habitat. Realistically speaking of course these athlete’s environments have to be altered to cope with the demands of their sport & other management practicalities. However, if we can allow them to pursue one of their most basic natural activities, i.e. grazing/eating, as if doing so in the field, then something profoundly beneficial has been achieved both mentally & physically in my opinion.
I read a very interesting paper recently which very much confirmed my concerns with regards feeding horses hay/haylage at an unnatural level, i.e. Hay nets/racks from the wall. This study found that there was considerably less muscle tension in the top line of horses that ate from ground level than those eating from racks/nets. In addition, cervical spinal alignment was shown to be adversely affected by abnormal feeding positions. Practically speaking, this has been proven in my yard by the positive feedback from our Physio since the introduction of the feeders, as well as a noticeable improvement in the horses suppleness both on the flat & over fences. The two main problems with just throwing hay on the stable floor are (a) waste & (b) dramatically reduced fibre chewing time (which has been proven to be one of the main causes of gastric ulcers in competition horses, and an often over looked cause of poor performance).
Before introducing the harmony feeders, I had two horses in the yard on long term anti-ulcer treatment, which was both costly & frustrating. Within 6-8 weeks of being fed with the feeders, gastric scopes of both horses showed no evidence of ulceration & I was able to discontinue treatment!…. RESULT! The harmony feeders had paid for themselves in my yard in less than a year, both in terms of waste reduction & medical expenses. Maintaining a healthy respiratory system & managing the yard to achieve this is probably one of my main priorities. The respiratory damage caused by something as basic as a horses feeding position can be very underestimated. Competing at the highest level, or indeed any level comfortably & efficiently is next to impossible if our horses wind is not optimal. Mucocilliary clearance of fungal spores, dust, harmful microbes etc. is directly affected by feeding position & is fundamental to our horses respiratory health. Conditions such as C.O.P.D., guttural pouch mycosis, persistent lung infections, respiratory bleeding etc. are very much reduced by feeding position & pattern in my opinion.
Another welcomed benefit to the harmony feeding system in my yard was with a particular mare I had in work who had a serious penchant for wind sucking! This particular vice can damage/wear down incisor teeth & occasionally lead to colic if excessive amounts of air are taken into the digestive tract. Apart from the physical reasons, I dislike seeing horses in the yard do such things as it is invariably a physiological response to a perceived “stress”, such as boredom, excessive time spent in the stable etc. Interestingly, horses with gastric ulcers can engage in this habit also. In my mare’s case, the wind sucking didn’t stop completely upon the introduction of the feeders, but the frequency of the behaviour reduced dramatically to the extent that I would rarely catch her doing it anymore!..
Again, the harmony feeing system providing me with practical evidence of its benefits. I would say that one of the most important, cost effective & beneficial decisions I have made in the running of my event yard was the introduction of the Harmony trickle feeding system. Healthier, happier horses grazing as nature intended. THANK YOU Harmony!!
SANDRA HUGHES, TRAINER, CURRAGH, KILDARE
We are using the Harmony Equine Hay Feeder in our yard and find it particularly beneficial for horses who have a tendancy to box-walk. In fact, we have seen horses stop box-walking when using Harmony because they have haylage constantly available to them throughout day and night. Also important to us is the fact that the horses are now feeding at ground level which has always been our preferred way of feeding haylage to our horses, but now we can do it in such a way that allows the horses to trickle feed rather than having them pull the haylage around the stable which in turn means that we are also noticing a reduction in the amount of haylage wasted. Overall, we are very satisfied with our purchases and are seeing real benefits from using the product!
LOUISE HARWOOD, INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER, UK
I have found the feeder to be really useful this winter with one of the horses on box rest. It controlled the speed at which he was consuming his haylage and I felt it was better for maintaining his top line by mimicking the normal grazing position.
DONAL O’BEIRNE – WICKLOW
Gorsehill Meastro is not your normal 17.2 horse and loves his devilment. He spent all his days trying to get the feeders hat off and legs off. But despite his persistent efforts the team at Harmony had a custom solution. He loves his new Toy soldier. ” Hats off to all.
TOM CLEARY
We find the feeder very easy to manage and clean, it’s easy to hose down and horses are feeding very well from the units. We have also found the feeder to be very effective in managing a horse with a sinus problem because he is now eating constantly at ground level. Since we started using the feeder, he has not had any issue with sinuses.
SAM WATSON – EVENTING, CARLOW
The Harmony Equine Hay Feeder addresses a number of problems associated with feeding forage. I”m a big believer in horses eating off the ground, as they would when grazing naturally. I often hear physiotherapists advising the same as it is generally very beneficial to horses who suffer from stiffness in their back. The Harmony feeder also prevents the horses gorging on their hay and eating too quickly, and it also stops the hay getting mixed into the bedding, making it very efficient.
SARAH – GALWAY
Jenny is 24 now and slow feeder haynets aren’t suitable really as I would have to hang them high- which I can’t do due to the sinus issues we have been having and also her teeth wouldn’t be as good as they used to be so using a haynet with small holes would be challenging for her. She has Cushings disease so managing her diet is critical! She is on a specific forage based mineral balanced diet…..as such her hay is the key to her diet and the Harmony Hayfeeder from Equiniche Sciences Ltd is a dream product that has come to reality for her – Thank you so so so much!!!!
CHRISTA – KILBEGGAN
So a quick update on the Harmony Hay feeder-WE LOVE IT!! We have had a good look at it and it’s so clear that incredibly careful thought and design has gone into the feeder. Every function from feeding to filling is totally brilliant, particularly the rubber bars which are flexible enough to allow the horse to ”graze” without letting him gorge himself. The horse using the feeder seems more mentally satisfied but better again, he is actually finishing all of his hay every time-something he never normally does. I will never use anything else ever again, it’s that good!!!
DR. MARIANN KLAY – SWORDLESTOWN LITTLE, CO. KILDARE
We highly recommend the use of the Harmony Hayfeeder in all-weather paddocks. It keeps the hay dry, reduces wastage and, most importantly, allows the horses access to roughage throughout their turnout time. It is safe, easy to clean and refill and ultimately saves us a lot of time.
LOYCE – UK
I am so pleased with the Harmony hay feeder and the brilliant help and support I received when and after I bought it. It is very well designed and built and will, I am sure, provide many years of service. My young horse has had no issues adapting to it and is now much more relaxed when eating. It is easy to clean, the adjustable bars work very well and no hay is wasted. The perfect solution to all the problems associated with hay nets.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
* These are included with all Harmony products when they are shipped, but we feel it is helpful to be able to see these prior to ordering too.
It is important that you use your Harmony™ Trickle Feeder correctly, so PLEASE take the time to read through these instructions before using it. You will save considerable time and effort by reading these instructions first.
Harmony™ is designed to make life easier for both you and your horse, and healthier for your horse. We would like to highlight a few important points when using Harmony™ to ensure it performs to it’s best, is kept in the best condition for use and, has a long lifetime.
Filling the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder with Hay or Haylage
Harmony™ has the capacity to hold sufficient hay to feed your horse for one day depending on your horse’s diet, however it may hold more and is designed to hold slices of hay without the need to shake out the hay before filling the feeder. To fill the feeder:
• Remove the lid by releasing and lifting the handle at rear of the unit.
• Ensure that the feeder is clean inside before filling.
• Ensure that all the rubbers are in their correct locked positions.
For Slices of Hay (small square bales)
• Cut open the small bale of hay, take the first slice (not shaken) and place it flat at the bottom of the feeder towards the rubbers.
• Take another slice (not shaken) and place it upright against the back wall of the feeder.
• Then place further slices (not shaken) on top of the first slice in a stacked manner and fill the feeder to the top with the slices of hay.
• When the feeder is full, replace the lid by firstly locking the lid into the notches at the front of the feeder and then lowering the lid at the back of the feeder.
• Ensure that the handle is pressed downwards until it locks into position.
• Strap the feeder securely with web strapping to stop the feeder from moving about.
• Pull some of the hay forward through the rubbers to encourage the horse to eat.
For Loose Hay (round bales)
• Take sections from the bale enough to fill the feeder.
• Use a fork to shake out hay loosely on the ground before putting into the feeder.
• Fill the feeder with the hay pushing the hay towards the bottom of the feeder.
• Make sure the hay being inserted is not bigger than the width of the feeder to ease flow.
• Pull some of the hay forward through the rubbers in the eating area.
Copyright © 2018 Equiniche Sciences Ltd,
Harmony Trickle Feeder™ – Instructions for Use – Version dated January 2018
To Dampen Hay
• To remove any dust from the hay or if your horse prefers hay slightly damp, once the feeder is full, spray the hay lightly with water.
Cleaning the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder
NOTE : The inside if the feeder is designed with a smooth finish to ensure smooth flow of hay and prevent accumulation of dirt/dust in the walls of the feeder. Do not use abrasive materials to clean the inside of the feeder as this may damage this smooth finish.
• It is recommended that the feeder is cleaned at least twice weekly.
• Remove the lid and unlock all of the rubbers in the eating area.
• Wash the inside of the feeder with water only and if required, a soft brush.
• Turn the feeder upside down and allow to dry before use.
Using the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder to Soak Hay
• Fill the feeder and place Harmony™ close to a wall or stationary object .
• Tip feeder back on the wheels to a 45 degree angle so that the eating area is raised off the ground.
• Fill feeder with water. Allow the hay to soak. Move the hay in the feeder to ensure all hay is soaked.
• The minimum recommended time for hay soakage is in the region of 20 minutes.
• After soaking, return feeder to normal position and tip forward to remove the water.
Removing Rubbers from the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder
Harmony™ is supplied with rubber bars in the eating area to control access to hay/haylage for the horse. It may take a few days for your horse to get used to using the feeder and for you to figure out what number of rubber bars suits your horse best. Should your horse find it too easy or too difficult to eat through the bars or you want to make access to the hay/haylage more restricted, bars can be removed or added by using the following procedure with the 13mm wrenches supplied with your feeder:
• On each side of the feeder at the top of the rubber bars are two bolts.
• Secure one bolt with a wrench while you unscrew the bolt on the other side.
• Push the bar though so that the rubber/s can be removed/added onto the bar.
• Return the bar to the normal position and replace the bolt.
• Space the rubbers bars apart evenly and lock into position at the detachable end.
Removing the Metal Bar through the Rubbers from the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder
Harmony™ can be supplied with a metal bar that runs through rubber bars at the bottom of the rubbers in the eating area. This is to prevent some horses who are more aggressive from biting the rubbers and displacing them from their locked position. The metal bar can be removed using the 13mm wrenches supplied with your feeder:
• On each side of the feeder at the bottom of the rubber bars are two bolts.
• Secure one bolt with a wrench while you unscrew the bolt on the other side.
• Push the bar though the rubber/s to remove.
• Return the rubbers to the normal position.
Securing the Harmony™ Trickle Feeder
If necessary, Harmony™ can be secured in the stable or during outdoor use using the web strap supplied:
• place the web strap just above the ledge over the rubber bars
• secure the web strap to a wall or fence using the metal clips
When securing in a field, we recommend that you secure the feeder to two posts or at two points on the feeder to prevent the feeder from swivelling around a single post.
Conditions of Use
Harmony™ should only be used as intended. Using Harmony™ outside the conditions of use for which Harmony™ was designed will affect your warranty.
