We spend a lot of time worrying about what to feed our horse, but we also need to give some thought to how we will feed our horse. The major component of your horse’s feeding regime will be pasture grass or hay. Few of us have enough grass to support our horses, so a lot of horses will get at least a portion of their nutrition from hay. Many horses may eat hay exclusively, if there is no grass to be had.

So, it’s important to choose the right hay, and equally important to feed it so you are safe, the horse is safe and you are minimizing wastage.

In a stall, most people feed their horses from the floor or from a manger. Some people feed from hay racks mounted on the wall. And, others use nets. There are pros and cons to all of these methods. Feeding on the floor creates a lot of waste as the horse walks through and soils the hay. It’s the most natural head position, but it also puts your horse’s nose close to ammonia fumes from urine and any dust that is in the bedding. Old hay needs to be cleaned up frequently. In terms of physical safety, there’s little worry for either horse or owner, as it’s easy to drop hay over the side of a stall or slip it through a door. If you pick up hay with a fork, be careful you don’t stab your horse.

Likewise, feeding from a manger is safe for the owner, but there is a risk of a horse putting a leg into a manger and getting caught up. This will depend on how the manger is built.

Mangers need to be cleaned out occasionally, because dirt and chaff fall to the bottom where they can mould. Again, from a manger, the horse eats from a head down position, which is best for its health.

Hay racks are less than ideal, because they make a horse eat in a head up position. There is a slight risk to the horse because there is a possibility of becoming tangled in one. They must be mounted high enough that the horse can’t reach it with a foot. They also usually require the owner to go into the stall with the horse. Your horse needs to learn to keep its distance until you are done. It’s safer to fill a rack when the horse isn’t in the stall. That way a greedy horse can’t pester you while you’re working.

Hay nets present a tangling hazard, and make a horse eat in a head up position. Hay nets should not be used in stalls.

Feeding concentrates is most convenient when the grain can be put in a bucket, feeder or bin that can be reached from the outside of the stall. That way, you don't have to enter the horse’s stall with its meal. A hungry horse, greedy for its feed can forget its manners and be a hazard. Having the feeder attached to a wall prevents the horse from knocking it over, and scattering its food. Bins, tubs or buckets need to be cleaned out occasionally. If your horse is very greedy, and bolts its food, the feeder can be modified to slow its eating.

Horses need small, frequent meals, so plan on feeding hay several times a day. Divide concentrates into small meals too. And with hay and grain, your horse needs fresh water. So, plan on changing and refilling buckets frequently. Chewed hay and grain that horses sometimes drop when they drink can foul water. And occasionally, your horse might accidently drop manure in the bucket too.