We get asked this a lot as we move into the cooler wetter months, “What’s the best way to use hay nets in rainy weather?” There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as it really depends on your setup and how much rain you’re dealing with, but here are a few simple things to keep in mind:

👉 Keep hay off the ground
If you are feeding with a round bale hay net, when possible use pallets, rubber matting, or another raised surface to stop hay sitting in mud or water. Keeping your hay off the ground helps reduce spoilage and keeps your hay cleaner for longer.

👉 Only feed what they’ll eat
If you can try to put out what your horses will get through in a day to avoid soggy, mouldy leftovers. Even in winter, wet hay is something you want to minimise.

👉 Use shelter where you can
Hanging your hay net from a undercover fence, tree or under some kind of cover helps keep it cleaner, reduces waste, and slows intake so they’re not eating it all in one go.

👉 Consider a larger hole size in winter
Moving up to a slightly bigger hole size during the cooler months can help increase forage intake, supporting your horse to stay warm from the inside out. 

Keeping hay elevated and feeding through a slow feed hay net makes a big difference, helping maintain a steady intake while reducing mess and wastage through the colder, wetter months.

Customer Wet Weather Ideas:

Hay Hut / Sheltered Feeding

Although this option may not be suitable for everyone, using a hay hut or dedicated shelter is one of the best ways to protect round bales in wet weather. It keeps rain off from above while still allowing easy access for your horses. When combined with a slow feed hay net, it helps reduce waste and controls intake, especially useful when feeding larger quantities.

Great for round bales
"Love the 3cm round bale nets. They are perfect inside hay shacks and huts to stop wastage and slow consumption"
Anneke.

Life saver!!
"After a bad dose of impaction colic from my horse gorging on a round bale my vet suggested a slow feeder net. I purchased the 3cm knotless slow feeder net. It has slowed them right down. The net is making the bale last much longer and preventing them from gorging themselves. The net was very easy to put on and I am impressed with the quality of the net. I definitely recommend this net and I want another."
Georgia.

Happy Herd
"So easy to put on roll and having 2 old horses the bigger holes guarantee they can get to the hay without problems or stress and the soft knotless material is so nice and gentle on hands and teeth (my hands, their teeth :)"
Anna

Under Cover / General Use

If you’ve got access to any kind of built shelter or barn space, whether it’s a stable or covered yard, it’s worth making use of it. Even partial protection from the rain can help keep hay drier for longer, reducing spoilage and encouraging more consistent intake.

Both our Round Bale hay nets and hanging hay nets work really well in these spaces. You can place a round bale on a pallet under cover to keep it up off the ground while still allowing easy access, or use the drawstring on your hay net to hang it from a rail, post, or beam to keep it secure and off the ground. Small setup changes like this can make a big difference in keeping hay clean and minimising waste.

Slow feeder nets
"This item is fantastic even with young horses that pull and pull at them. Had my slow feeder nets for years and also have 1 for the round roll, perfect fit. I recommend these highly and wouldn’t buy anything else ever."
Melissa.

Round bale net
"Very happy with the net. I was able to put it on by myself pretty easily, it’s kept all the hay contained and unsoiled and my horse has had no difficulty eating from it. :)"
Tiegan

Can’t believe I waited so long!
"These nets have always been on my radar, finally got some! I chose the medium, it easily fits half a bale, probably more! Amazing quality, super happy with these hay nets!"
Melissa

Mary had a little lamb
"I was extremely impressed with the fast delivery of my recent purchase. The sheep have really slowed down and are wasting less hay. The lambs love playing “king of the castle”.
Tracey

Munch better
"Had to get a new hay net because my darling donkey bit holes in the old one. Opted for the deluxe knotless 6cm large hay net and so far she hasn’t caused any damage! I think she appreciates the larger holes and the softer feel of the netting. So far, so good"
Liza

Fantastic Hay Net
"I recently purchased a couple of knotless slow feed hay nets. I got the larger size holes as it was primarily to reduce wastage rather than slow down my horses eating. Very happy with the quality and the prompt service and stoked to not be wasting half my hay!!!"
Graham

Hanging / Tree Setups

Hanging hay nets from a fence, tree, or rail is a simple way to keep hay off the ground in wet conditions. This setup helps reduce contamination from mud, keeps hay cleaner and  slows feeding.

Even something as simple as hanging your net under a tree can make a difference. While it might seem basic, it can help minimise direct rain hitting the net and is an easy option if the weather turns and you need to quickly put feed out for the day. It’s a great setup if you don’t have a dedicated shelter but still want to improve your feeding and reduce waste.

Lifesavers!
"Purchased 12 of these nets (to double net) for my horse recovering from laminitis. Nice wide opening and soft netting make the haynets easy to fill, and nicer for my horse. Have held up brilliantly against my aggressive eater of a mare, slows her right down, and much less wastage of her very special hay. Won't use anything else!"
Sarah

Good for the guts guts.
"The bags are tough as nails, had them for a few months and my mini goats have not destroyed them yet unlike the cheap versions! I fill a whole heap of bags at once, that way when they run out I just swap them over, saves money and time, good for their guts and keeps them occupied."
Romana

Tarp / Ground Protection Setups

If raising a round bale isn’t always possible, using a tarp or ground cover can still make a big difference. It acts as a barrier between the hay and the falling rain, helping to reduce moisture absorption and spoilage. Pairing this with a hay net can further minimise waste and keep feeding areas more manageable.

Deluxe Knotless 6×4 Round Bale Haynet
"Nice & easy to get on the bale as our bales are very generous in size. Softer on muzzle s for the boys. Very happy."
Ann-maree

Thanks to all of our customers who shared their photos, setups, and reviews, we love seeing how you’re using your hay nets in real life.

These are just a few wet weather ideas and things to consider. What works best will always depend on your location, rainfall, temperatures, and overall setup, so it’s about finding what works for you and your horses and livestock.

If you’ve got a wet weather setup or idea that’s been working well, we’d love to see it. Feel free to send through your photos or tips, it’s always helpful to share ideas within the community.