Colic in Horses: How Smarter Hay Feeding Helps Reduce the Risk
How Smarter Hay Feeding Supports Digestive Health and Reduces Colic Risk
Updated September 2025
A practical guide for Australian horse owners on how smarter hay feeding can help prevent colic - covering slow feeding, hydration, storage, and safe feeding practices to support digestive health year-round.
Colic is one of the biggest health concerns for horse owners in Australia. It’s a broad term for abdominal pain that can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening emergencies. While there are many causes, feeding management is one of the most important factors in prevention. The way hay is offered, stored, and consumed directly impacts gut health, hydration, and overall wellbeing.
At Delzani, we know that smarter feeding solutions make a real difference. Using the right hay nets, hay bags, and hay bale storage systems supports natural grazing behaviour, reduces waste, and minimises colic risks. Here’s how feeding with slow feeder hay nets and bags can help protect your horse.
Why Hay Matters in Colic Prevention
Horses are natural trickle feeders, grazing for 18–20 hours a day. Their stomach empties every 25–30 minutes, which means long gaps without forage increase the risk of ulcers, gas build-up, and impaction colic. In Australian conditions where pasture is limited, hay becomes the main source of fibre. But it’s not just what you feed, it’s how you feed it.
1. Slow Feeding Supports Gut Health
Feeding large, unrestricted piles encourages gorging and leaves horses with long gaps between meals, a major colic risk. A slow feeder hay net regulates intake by releasing hay gradually, mimicking natural grazing. This steady chewing keeps the digestive system active, stimulates saliva production, and reduces impaction risk.
Delzani pick: Slow Feeder Horse Hay Net Bag, heavy-duty polyester, marine-grade rope, and steel bottom ring, designed for paddocks, floats, or stables.
2. Keeping Hay Clean Reduces Sand Colic
Feeding hay directly on sandy ground leads to ingestion of dirt and sand, a common cause of painful sand colic in Australian coastal regions. Hanging slow-feeder hay bags or tying nets to tyres keeps hay off the ground, reducing sand intake and waste while keeping feed cleaner and safer.
Delzani pick: Deluxe Slow Feeder Horse Feed Bag, 600D Oxford fabric, reinforced seams, and a webbed slow-feed panel for durability in Australian paddocks.
3. Hydration and Fibre Go Hand-in-Hand
Fibre requires water to move through the gut. Impaction colic often occurs when horses eat dry hay but don’t drink enough. Always ensure free access to clean water, especially in hot Australian summers, and add electrolytes during heavy sweating. Feeding with a canvas hay feed bag in floats or stables keeps hay tidy and helps you monitor water intake more closely.
4. Portion Control Prevents Overload
Overeating can shock the digestive system. Instead of feeding by “biscuits,” horses should receive 1.5–2.5% of their body weight in forage daily. Slow-feeder hay nets and bags make portioning simple, stretching hay across the day and preventing gorging.
Delzani pick: Deluxe Slow Feeder Hay Bag, holds 2+ biscuits, releasing hay gradually instead of all at once.
5. Transport and Storage Protect Freshness
Mouldy or dusty hay is a serious colic risk. A proper hay bale bag keeps bales clean and fresher during transport and storage. Built from 1600D fabric with a moisture-proof lining, these hay storage bags prevent contamination and reduce mess.
6. Movement and Feeding Placement
Horses are designed to move while grazing. Offering hay in a single pile limits activity and gut motility. Smarter feeding means placing multiple nets or bags around the paddock or stable to encourage movement, reduce stress, and mimic grazing behaviour.
7. Safety Tips for Hay Nets and Bags
Colic prevention works best when feeding is safe. Always hang hay nets and hay bags at chest height for shod horses, check gear daily for wear, and use quick-release ties. Match mesh size to your horse: smaller holes for greedy eaters, moderate holes for nervous horses, to balance pacing with access.
Smarter Hay Feeding, Healthier Horses
Colic can never be eliminated, but smarter feeding dramatically reduces risk. With hay nets, hay bags, slow feeder systems, and hay bale storage bags, you can protect digestive health, reduce waste, and stretch every bale further. Trusted by Australian riders, Delzani feeders are built tough for our climate, making hay feeding cleaner, safer, and horse-friendly.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your vet for tailored guidance on feeding, colic prevention, and horse health.
Explore our full range of Delzani horse hay nets and feed bags designed for Australian horses, trusted to keep feeding safe, clean, and efficient.
Written by Jane Griffiths - An experienced Australian horse owner and product developer with over three decades immersed in equestrian life. Jane has spent years refining horse rugs, tack, and riding apparel to better suit Australian climates. She has enjoyed countless weekends at gymkhanas, show jumping events, and pony club competitions with her daughter, and still loves hitting the trails with friends whenever she can. Her lifelong passion for horses and hands-on understanding of equine comfort continue to shape her practical, rider-first approach to horse care and product design.
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