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Heica hayfeeders for enriching horses lives every day

24/01/2025

We wanted to highlight a few things to consider when choosing an enrichment for your horse.

The key point keeping in mind is that it should be used regularly and actively. Using it only twice a year won’t deliver the results you’re looking for.

If preparing the enrichment takes too much time, it’s more likely to sit forgotten on a shelf than be used consistently. Choose something that is easy to use and maintain.

Also, consider the time your horse spends interacting with it — 3 minutes vs. 3 hours can make a big difference.

Read more on our blog, link in bio.

With enrichment, we can enhance the QUALITY of life for horses.

29/12/2024

Another year has been wrapped up. Our expectations for the year were partly higher than the reality, but at the same time, we did achieve far more than we could have even hoped for. We are more than ready to embrace 2025, as we are full of enthusiasm and motivation!

Here’s a quick recap of 2024 Expectations vs. Reality:

EXPECTATION:

🔸Expanding into Europe (several different countries)

🔸Growing turnover by 80k€

🔸Increasing brand awareness

🔸Enhancing our understanding of foreign equestrian cultures

REALITY:

🔸Expanded into Europe, although through different countries than originally planned

🔸Grew our turnover, though not as significantly as hoped

🔸Our product gained recognition thanks to a growing network

🔸Learned new things about equestrian cultures in other countries

🔸Gained new insights into entrepreneurship and scaling a business

🔸Found more amazing people to surround ourselves with 💕

While turnover fell short of the 80k€ target, it seems that we still achieved our highest turnover ever. Sales in Finland dropped significantly this year, but we managed to compensate with sales in Europe. Thankfully!

We’ll keep growing as part-time entrepreneurs in 2025, ready to go full-time when the moment is right! 🔥

As I mentioned, we are filled with enthusiasm and motivation. ✨

22/12/2024

It’s a wonderful feeling to realize how much your thinking has evolved.

When we started our journey as Heica entrepreneurs, our focus was largely on horse welfare from a physical health perspective—especially the stomach and gut. Of course, enrichment was part of the conversation, but its role was quite small.

Today, we believe mental well-being deserves much more attention, and raising awareness among equestrians is key.

It’s not enough for a veterinarian to declare a horse ”healthy”. We as owners should be asking:
🔸How does my horse experience its life?
🔸How does it feel about the way we interact with it?

This definitely isn’t an easy task, but it’s one we can start small with and continuously grow in. And, undoubtedly, this is one of those topics where the more you learn, the better you understand just how little you actually know.

I’m inspired by how much more information is now available—and so accessible!
Next on my reading list are Rachaël Draaisma’s works.

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When I attended the in Flyinge this summer, one topic resonated with me more than others: the horse’s relationship with its owner/handler. I’ve been reflecting on its importance and how it ties into the bigger picture.

If you’ve got any article or book recommendations on this, let us know!

07/12/2024

Sometimes we hear about people looking for hay nets with the smallest possible mesh size. Some even layer multiple nets on top of each other to slow down feeding as much as possible.

This makes us wonder—is this ideal? Is it beneficial for a horse to receive only one strand of hay at a time? Or could it lead to the hay net breaking quickly, leaving the horse with a large hole to eat through?

We often consider whether the hole in the net appeared because the horse had to use its teeth excessively to get the hay, or because the feeding process was too difficult, leading to frustration and the horse applying too much force to the net.

Customer Experience:
One of our customers purchased a Fluffy Feeder with a smaller ( #4 cm) mesh size. Their horse had previously experienced laminitis and was prone to gaining extra weight. The customer had tried all kinds of hay nets that had broken quickly and wanted to give our Fluffies a try. They ordered the Fluffy Feeder with the smaller mesh size.

Shortly after, we received feedback that the pillow had broken during use.

Our first thought was that the small mesh size had been too challenging for the horse, causing frustration due to slow hay intake, leading the horse to use excessive force on the hay pillow.

We suggested trying the standard ( #6 cm) mesh size instead—and guess what? It worked perfectly and has lasted really well for them!

Choosing the right mesh size depends on many factors, and it's hard to determine the best fit without trying it out. If you're new to our feeders, we recommend starting with a standard ( # 6cm) mesh size to avoid frustration and ensure a positive experience for your horse.

When the mesh size is well-suited to the horse, the hay pillow or net is likely to last longer in use.

Happy horse = happy feeder!

Swipe to see how different mesh sizes works for "Kerttu" (Sonjas horse). You can see clearly that smaller mesh size is too difficult for her and also that the std # 6cm works well.

04/12/2024

Everyone's focus is on Christmas right now, but let's talk about what comes next—New Year's Eve!

For pet owners, it can be a stressful time, and for horse owners, it’s even more challenging.

As a reminder or tip, I'd like to highlight the calming and engaging effects of a Fluffy Feeder.

Fluffy Feeder (or Mini Fluffy) promotes a calm state of mind and helps alleviate stress. Combined with free hay, it’s the best combo for facing the flashes and bangs of New Year's Eve.

Prepare early and avoid last-minute stress! Shop now in our online store or visit our trusted retailers.

And remember, Fluffy Feeder will come in handy long after the fireworks are over! 😉

🐴

30/10/2024

The goal of using slow feeders is to make hay last longer and keep feeding intervals healthy.

When choosing slow feeders (or haypillows), pick a mesh size that keeps eating ENJOYABLE and not too challenging. Make eating a positive experience and avoid sizes that make eating too difficult!

Observe your horse’s mood during meals—try offering some hay freely alongside the slow feeder to see their preference.

Experiment with various types of slow feeders and options simultaneously, and observe which one the horse prefers. This way, you can better understand what option the horse finds most enjoyable.

Remember, your horse might have a different opinion than you’d expect!

18/10/2024

✨ Feedback from a customer ✨

We take great pride in helping you with your decisions when it comes to improving your horse's welfare!

Helping you and your horses is our passion – together, we can make a difference! ☺️

12/10/2024

We are sad to read these conclusions and firmly believe that there is significant potential for improvement in the equine industry regarding environmental sustainability.

Companies should take responsibility and make choices that prioritize the environment over purely maximizing profits.

At Heica, we have used around 4,000 kilometers of seat belts in our products, all collected from cars destined for disposal. This is equivalent to 10% of the Earth's diameter.

When we started our business, we could have taken the easier route by using new raw materials. This would have saved us considerable effort in finding partners among car dismantlers willing to collect the seat belts for us. It would have saved a lot of energy required to prepare the used seat belts.

BUT we couldn't take the easy way out. We simply couldn't.

09/10/2024

To keep horses happy and engaged, they need activity they can control themselves.

One simple way to do this is by offering hay in different ways—loose hay, a haynet, and a haypillow, all at the same time!

By giving them options, they can switch up how they eat and keep moving, which is so important for their mental well-being.

05/10/2024

When we designed the Fluffy Feeder haypillow, we didn’t realize how significantly it would impact the mental well-being of horses.

Based on the feedback we’ve received from our customers, three out of four horses prefer the haypillow over loose hay!

Horses are clearly telling us they need more stimulation in their daily routine.

With the Fluffy Feeder, you can easily improve your horse’s daily routine. By adding enrichment to their day, you're helping them experience joy and cope better with stress.

29/09/2024

We often get asked how much a haypillow slows down eating or whether it would be helpful for someone’s horse.

Well, we like to think of haypillows as just one tool in your toolbox for better well-being. Since every horse is unique and has its own character, and every stable environment and routine is different, the effects of a haypillow can vary.

So, the way a haypillow is used at one stable and how a particular horse experiences it can be completely different at another stable.

For example, while your friend might feel that the haypillow works more for supporting their horse’s stomach and gut health, another friend might find it more beneficial for mental well-being and helping to support the horse’s emotional state. Or it could be a combination of both.

21/09/2024

Do you agree?

19/09/2024

What has brought your horse JOY today?

Did you know that we can offer our horses experiences of joy, not just care for their physical needs?

Horses' daily routines can easily become dull. We’ve been conditioned to think that water, hay, and a bit of exercise are enough—but it's time to shift our mindset.

We should start thinking about how they experience the full 24 hours we provide for them.

Yes, it’s another thing to consider, but it’s our responsibility.

When we choose to care for an animal, its mental well-being is just as important as its physical health.

17/09/2024

We'd like to welcome our newest retailer from the Netherlands, .

They are specialists in the field of slowfeeders and we are honoured to have Heica feeders into their selection.

Thank you Karlijn and Rick. We are certain that together we are able to serve the customers the best possible way. 💕

10/09/2024

Enrichments are widely known to improve the well-being of horses in general, but they also have a positive impact on hospitalized horses.

When a horse needs to be in stall rest for extended periods, frustration can arise from the inability to move freely in the field or interact with other horses. Introducing enrichments can help alleviate this frustration, promoting faster recovery.

The Fluffy Feeder is one such enrichment. Most horses enjoy using the Fluffy Feeder, often preferring it even when loose hay is available.

04/09/2024

What drives Heica? What is the core focus of our business?

The well-being of horses.

That's why we're heading to Sweden to listen to professionals and meet new people at Northern Europe's largest event focusing on horse welfare, the Horse Welfare Summit.

We're looking forward to this event, which we haven't attended before. We believe it will provide us with new knowledge and inspiration for the darkening evenings so that we can serve you and your horses even better.

Let us know if you'll be there and let's get together!

31/08/2024

Think of it as something extra to cheer up an ordinary day.

The Fluffy Feeder is designed to be just one part of your horse's daily feeding routine, not the sole source of hay.

By offering hay in various ways, you can help prevent monotonous movement and muscle tension, while also providing mental stimulation.

20/08/2024

Heica feeders are NOT made by children.

This has been a priority for us from the start, and it will remain so in the future.

Our feeders are manufactured in Finland 🇫🇮 and we know exactly who makes them. We've met the workers personally, and we are confident that the working conditions are excellent.

For our customers, this means top-quality products. The quality we receive is consistently 100%.

We don't need to send products back for modifications, which saves time and energy 👉 something that's also good for the environment.

Do you wish to know where products are made when you make a purchase?

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Again we'd like to raise horse's perspective in the head light. #enrichmentforhorses #islandhäst #islandpferde #hooikussen #islandichorse

When I was a first-time horse owner, enrichment wasn’t even a topic of discussion. At first, I learned the importance of shorter feeding intervals. Over time, I started to understand how much enrichment matters. When a horse’s daily life becomes more enjoyable, their attitude toward working with you often changes too. They become more cooperative and confident. #fluffyfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #horsewellbeing #hayfeeder

It’s not always easy to break away from routines or the mindset of “this is how it’s always been done.” Especially if change isn’t something you’re actively seeking. The role of a trailblazer can sometimes feel heavy and lonely. But what an important role it is for taking steps toward a better future — even from the perspective of horses. Enrichment has become increasingly common in the dog world over the past few years, but progress in the horse world has been slower. There’s some progress in certain niches, but it’s not widespread yet. The more we share and talk about enrichment — how we use it with our horses and the positive impacts it has — the more approachable and normal the idea becomes. Share your positive experiences with enrichment and let us know how it has impacted your horses. Let’s create new practices together in support of horse well-being. ❤️ #heica #haypillow #heukissen #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #hökudden #fluffyfeeder #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing #dressageriders #equinewelfare #equineenrichment #horsestables #paddockparadisehorse

Hay - hay - heicafeeders! Scandinavian design - simple and functional #heica #fluffyfeeder #haypillow #heukissen #hayfeeder #hooikussen #hökudden #enrichmentforhorses #slowfeeder #horsewelfare #paddockparadisehorse #equinehealthcare #equinesport

Enrichment is not meant to frustrate but to evoke positive emotions. Therefore, it is important that the mesh size of the hay net is not too small for the horse. To ensure smooth eating, the hay's texture must be optimal in relation to the mesh size. Very thick straws in hay are not suitable for the smallest mesh sizes, even for horses who are very good with hay nets. A larger mesh size will also slow down eating, so if you are unsure which size to choose, start with a larger one. If the mesh size is too small, the horse may not experience of feeling full, which brings its own challenges. Therefore, monitor your horse’s eating habits when using different slow feeders. #heica #haypillow #haynet #heukissen #hooikussen #hökudden #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #horseenrichment #slowfeeder #fluffyfeeder #minifluffy #islandhäst #islandpferde #islandichorse

Would you like your horse being more active in the field? Or how about in the box, do you ever feel she/he is bored? Slow feeding and enrichment in the same package. It's called Fluffy Feeder. Manufactured sustainably in Europe using top quality materials. Simple and easy to use. 👌 #heica #haypillow #heukissen #hökudden #hayfeeder #hooikussen #enrichmentforhorses #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing

Perhaps the most ethically manufactured horse feeders in the world. #heica #haypillow #saggyfeeders #heukissen #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #hökudden #hooikussen #fluffyfeeder #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing

It's about your horse. It's about communication and the bond you share. It's about seeing the world from horse's perspective. ❤️ Thanks to the team in the video: @noorasteamdivine #heica #haypillow #fluffyfeeder #heukissen #hayfeeder #hökudden #hooikussen #enrichmentforhorses #finnishwarmblood #horsewellbeing #dressageriders #slowfeeding #horsefriend #horsefriendship

Limoncello has been using Fluffy Feeders for two years now and she just loves them. Fluffy Feeder is quiet in use when using in the box and is easy to pack along for a trip. Heica feeders are an eco friendly choise. ♻️ Check our retailers from our webshop, link in bio. We deliver products world wide. #heica #fluffyfeeder #hayfeeder #haypillow #heukissen #hökudden #hooikussen #enrichmentforhorses #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing #showjumpingrider #showjumps

Give your horse the chance to experience joy and moments of success without human guidance. #heica #fluffyfeeder #minifluffy #haypillow #heukissen #hooikussen #hökudden #hayfeeder #slowfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #horseenrichment #horsebehaviour #paddockparadisehorse #horsewellbeing #equinewelfare

On New Year's Eve, when the world is full of flashes and explosions, a horse's experience is likely unpleasant but something it simply has to endure. However, we can influence how the horse experiences it. By taking various measures to calm the environment and emphasize routines, we can help ease the horse’s anxiety. While I don’t believe we can completely eliminate the horse’s tension, even a small amount of relief is better than none. Chewing hay is a calming and stress-relieving activity for horses. It’s a good idea to ensure hay is available late into the night. On New Year’s Eve, many people likely check on the horses late in the evening or at night and perhaps offer extra hay. Fluffy Feeder's enrichment value helps calm the horse and aids in recovering from stress. You can use the feeder during the evening to create a calming atmosphere and the next day to help the horse recover from the previous night’s excitement. After New Year’s, it can be used regularly as part of everyday life, depending on the situation. The Fluffy Feeder isn’t a one-time item—it provides long-term benefits. Oh, how I wish there were fewer fireworks and more starry skies this year. #heica #haypillow #heukissen #hökudden #hooikussen #slowfeeder #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #equineenrichment #horsewellbeing #calmhorse #equinewelfare #horsementalhealth #horsebehaviour #paddockparadisehorse

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