Alternatives to haynets and hay issues

[Breehinny]

My gelding seems to be going through a phase of not wanting to eat out of his haynet, however he will eat from a bucket or off the floor. I need to use something to prevent his hay mixing with his bed but also won’t break the bank. I’m reluctant to get a large tubtrug as I just know he will tip it over, so ideally I need to use a heavyish tub that is safe to use and he can’t tip over or get his legs in, does anyone have any ideas?

Also, how does soaking work if the hay is not in the nets? Should I fill nets to soak and then empty them into the bin/tub?

If he’s reluctant to eat from his hay net have you checked his teeth and/or his neck? On the rare occasions that ours are stabled I put the hay on the floor as it’s a much more natural eating position - I’m not that bothered about a bit getting mixed up into beds (they’re generally too greedy to waste too much 😉) . When our asthmatic one was regularly stabled we just used to soak the hay and put it on the floor wet.

Muzznet (on facebook) hay pillows are excellent.

That being said I would just leave it loose in several piles in the stable

sounds like back or tooth pain.

Nibbleze floor nets (hay pillows). Nibbleze are the softest hay nets I've ever used, and they have no knots, so much kinder to lips and teeth.

It's physically better for horses to eat from the floor.

He’s recently had his back checked and worked on, and he had his teeth done a few months ago but if it continues I will book the dentist to check again just in case. The only change is that I bought new nets, potentially the holes are too small on them? Though he was emptying them at one point and all of a sudden decided not to anymore. I’ve been out to buy a heavy duty tub today and see how he gets on with that. He’s on straw so I don’t really want him eating the hay/straw mixture haha!

Feeding off the floor is much better for them in any case and I just accept that a small amount will get mixed up in the bed but in all honestly it isn't that much anyway.

I've used haybars for years. Use nets to weigh and soak them empty into the haybar. I've recently seen nosebagz which are like a haybar with none of the drawbacks. Still need to net to weigh and soak though.