Managing a guest ranch with 50 to 80 horses is no small task. Keeping every horse healthy, minimizing hay waste, and managing costs is a daily balancing act. Rachel was looking for a slow feeder that was easy to use, durable, and could help the ranch save money. Her search led her to a feeder that helped save time, improve herd health, and cut feed costs in a way that made a difference for her daily operations.
Rachel’s Challenge
Feeding 50 to 80 horses every day came with its own set of challenges. “With a herd our size, when we fed on the ground we had a lot of hay waste,” Rachel said. “The wind would blow it away, the horses would nap in it and trample it, and the elements would destroy it if left out.”
Spring thaw was always the hardest time of year. “Loose hay would create a moisture barrier that caused excessive mud during the spring thaw,” she said. “In turn, this caused a lot of hoof damage that we’d struggled to maintain.” Each season, her team spent hours cleaning muddy paddocks and treating hoof problems caused by the buildup.
The feeding routine also created stress within the herd. “When we fed on the ground daily, our horses tended to guard piles of hay from each other, and horses low on the pecking order struggled to get enough calories,” Rachel explained. The constant competition, along with overeating and mud buildup can oftena painful and sometimes life-threatening digestive issue that drove up veterinary costs.
The ongoing cleanup, wasted hay, and medical expenses finally pushed Rachel to start looking for a better solution, one that could handle the demands of her operation without adding more work. “Stuffing hay nets for 80 horses was just not feasible,” she said. “I found Farmco online and immediately liked their model. It seemed easy to use and very durable, unlike the plastic ones we had tried before.”
Searching for a Better Way
Rachel knew that fixing the problem meant finding a feeder built for a larger operation. The constant waste, muddy pastures, and rising vet bills made it clear that the usual solutions were not enough. She had tried plastic feeders before, but they cracked under heavy use and could not handle the size of her herd or the harsh western weather.
Determined to find something better, Rachel began researching large-scale slow feeders online. Most options she found were not designed for the demands of managing 50 to 80 horses or the workload of a guest ranch. “Stuffing hay nets for 80 horses was just not feasible,” she said. When Rachel discovered Farmco’s Slow Graze Feeder, she immediately liked its design. It was built to last, easy to use, and far more durable than the plastic models she had tried before.
Rachel needed more than a quick fix. She wanted a feeder that could save time, reduce waste, and hold up year after year. FarmCo’s Slow Graze Feeder offered exactly what her operation had been missing.eant finding a feeder built for a larger operation.
Getting Started with the Slow Graze Feeder
Once Rachel decided to move forward, things started to get easier. “Ordering the Slow Graze from Farmco was easy. They were very professional and diligent in responding to my inquiries. They answered all my questions in a timely manner and even helped negotiate a lower freight cost to get them delivered.”
The process was straightforward from start to finish. The feeders arrived on schedule, and setup went smoothly. “Assembling them was straightforward and uncomplicated; the feeders are built in a way that just makes sense.”
Loading the feeders was a slight learning curve, but after trying a few techniques, Rachel and her team found a method that was easy for them and took little time. Once that was figured out, feeding became simpler and more efficient, setting up the next phase of improvements for the ranch.
A Simpler and More Efficient Feeding Routine
Before installing the new feeders, Rachel’s team spent hours each day hauling hay from storage to the feeding areas. Once the Slow Graze Feeders were in place, feeding became simpler and far more efficient. The team could load one large bale and let the horses feed naturally throughout the day.
31% Less Hay Used
“The results were immediate. We went from using about 580 tons of hay a year to approximately 400 tons,” Rachel explained. The change meant a 31 percent reduction in hay use and more than $30,000 in annual savings.
Cleaner Pastures, Less Maintenance
Rachel also noticed how the feeders improved pasture conditions. “We spent way less energy on pasture clean-up,” she said. “Typically, the loose hay would create a moisture barrier that caused excessive mud during the spring thaw. Using the feeders immediately eliminated that problem, and our pastures have stayed dry despite the snow melt.” Healthier pastures meant fewer hoof issues and less time spent managing mud each spring.
Calmer Herd Behavior
The new feeding system even affected how the horses behaved. “Another bonus to using them was a noticeable reduction in herd aggression,” Rachel said. With the feeders in place, horses began eating side by side instead of guarding piles of hay. “After a short adjustment period, the horses are fighting way less and even choosing to eat with each other consistently.”
Healthier Horses, Fewer Vet Calls
The improvements carried over into overall health. “We also went from experiencing anywhere from five to ten colics a year to our first year with feeders only having one colic, and it was from a horse not using one of the slow feeders,” Rachel shared. Her veterinarian even remarked on the noticeable difference in the horses’ health and temperament.
What began as a way to save time and reduce waste ended up transforming nearly every aspect of daily life on the ranch. Feeding took less effort, the horses were healthier and calmer, and the pastures stayed cleaner year-round.
Rachel’s Results Show What Smarter Feeding Can Do
Rachel’s story began with the challenges of managing a large herd and the daily strain of wasted hay, muddy pastures, and mounting vet bills. Finding a feeder built for real working conditions changed that. What started as a search for something durable and efficient became a complete transformation in how her ranch operates.
By simplifying feeding, Rachel and her team saved thousands of dollars and saw healthier, calmer horses in return. Her experience shows that small, thoughtful changes in daily routines can make the biggest difference over time.
“Farmco has done an excellent job perfecting the slow feeder, and I’ve recommended them to every horse person I know,” Rachel said. “They’re extremely effective for both saving money on hay and improving the quality of life for your horses.”
Stories like Rachel’s reflect what Farmco aims to do: help working farms and ranches save time, reduce waste, and build healthier herds through practical, lasting solutions.
