un-Cribbable, un-Tossable Feeder for Grain ---> a Mesh Feeder?

Question

My young OTTB mare is very naughty about being fed, specifically about her grain.

First of all, she picks up and throws any feed pan on the ground. And if she can't pick it up, she nudges it around with her nose until it gets shavings in it or flips over on a poo-pile, or she paws in it, scattering the feed or knocking the pan over.
I /don't/ want her picking her grain out of the shavings or grass.
I even tried this pan, the heavy, plastic, square pan with slippery wide edges. It worked for a few weeks, but now it's got teeth marks all over, and I've witnessed her throwing it around.
https://www.backyardstyle.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-21407

But, if I use a plastic/metal feeder mounted to a wall or in a corner, she is going to crib the heck out of it, and I doubt it would last a week.

About her cribbing, she used to crib a lot when I bought her, and I discovered that toys really don't help with it. But I really don't want to use a cribbing collar on her at all.
I'm moving to a new barn, and am working on making the surfaces in her new stall un-cribbable.

She's outside a lot and never cribs outside, and when she's inside, she ONLY cribs while eating her grain---therefore, the problem of a plastic feed pan being mounted on a wall.

The only solution I've been able to think of, is some sort of mesh feeder, like this:
http://www.horse.com/Pro-Craft-Corner-Feeder-BRS25.html
that I could put in the stall on the wall, but that she couldn't crib on. Because if she'll try and crib, it'll just bend away.
She's also a complete mess in her hay, but I don't want her reaching up high to get it.
http://www.horse.com/Pro-Craft-Hay-and-Grain-Feeder-BRA32.html
Does anyone think this mesh feeder is a good idea?
Does anyone have any other ideas?
Or have any experiences feeding a horse like mine, or with mesh feeders like these?

Answer 1

The mesh feeder looks like it would work nicely for her. If I were you I'd take it out of the stall when she was done eating, so she doesn't try to destroy it!



We have quite a lot of messy eaters where I board. Usually the solution is a little rubber feed bucket, set on the ground and tied to a fence post with bailing twine. They can't drag it anywhere and it's hard for them to flip.



Another solution might be a feed bag that attaches to the halter- something like this.

http://www.feedritebag.com/

It would need to be removed immediately after she ate though.



Just curious, why won't you put a cribbing collar on your mare? You are aware that the damage done by cribbing is far more than just property damage. They swallow gas and can colic from excessive cribbing, plus it does damage to the teeth.

Answer 2

I've never tried one myself, but I've seen people use a feed tub that fits right into the center of a tire for a ground feeder (usually outdoors). It would be much harder for your horse to flip it over, although she could probably scoot it around a bit.



The mesh feeder might be worth a try, but I would think she'd destroy it fairly quickly.

Answer 3

A mounted and permanent stall feed dish is defiantly a good try. She won't be able to accomplish much if it's nailed to the stall wall.

As for the cribbing I would recommend some McNasty for her habits. There is this horse at my barn who would always chew on his fan, after we put some McNasty on it he would not touch the thing..thank god for that!



Link to McNasty: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-22052&ids=999885405

Answer 4

I think the grain thing is a great idea, but the hay one might not be. I would get this one instead for hay:

http://www.horse.com/Pro-Craft-Lined-Hay-Bag-BSW88.html



your one for hay also has a grain feeder, but i have a feeling she would dump it out some how. so get a ha net or the bag I posted a link to.