Heica hayfeeders

Home
Heica hayfeeders

Heica hayfeeders for enriching horses lives every day

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.

---

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?

12/08/2024

We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how (or even if) we should write about the Olympics.

The Olympics stir up a lot of conflicting emotions in us. We follow the discussions and competitions from both a personal perspective and as entrepreneurs.

It’s been important to consider our stance on these issues and how they align with our values as a company and Heica's mission.

👉 Heica's mission is to support the well-being of horses around the world, and we are excited that our hay pillows are heading to Paris with to support
Laxton for U's well-being!

We aim to make a difference in the equestrian world, whether it's in the lives of beloved horses in small stables or those competing at the highest levels. For the horse, the benefits of our hay pillows are the same.

11/08/2024

With these words .be contacted us after testing our Fluffy Feeder and we are proud to have Fluffy Feeders in their collection.

Feel free to contact .be or us and let's discuss more about enrichment and hay feeding.

🐴

Address

Telephone

+358503247667

Website

http://www.en.heicahorse.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Heica hayfeeders posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Heica hayfeeders:

Videos

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

In addition, it will support your horse's digestion and stomach by shortening the time between meals. Furthermore, as Fluffy Feeder acts as enrichment for most horses, it can help your horse recover from stress. #heica #fluffyfeeder #hayfeeder #haypillow #heukissen #hökudden #hooikussen #enrichmentforhorses #slowfeeder #horsewelfare #horsestables

The story behind Fluffy Feeders is quite typical. It all got started from our own need to enrich days of our horses. And it turned out to be a product horses do enjoy playing with. 🙏💗 Disclaimer: The available colours are limited since we are using Rescue textiles®. Go and check out the colours available, link in bio! #heica #fluffyfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #haypillow #slowfeeding #hökudden #heukissen #hooikussen #horsewellbeing #boredhorse #hayfeeder #finnhorse #winterhorse

While # 6cm might sound large mesh size for Fluffy Feeder compared to typical hay nets, we've found that our # 4cm mesh can sometimes be too tricky, depending on your horse's individual characteristics and the hay's texture. For smaller ponies, the Mini Fluffy with a # 4cm mesh size is often a great fit—but again, hay texture matters! Our feeders are designed to be easy and enjoyable for your horse to use, so no frustration—just enrichment. If you're not sure which mesh size would be best in your case, DM us. We are happy to help. 😊 #heica #fluffyfeeder #haynet #haypillow #hökudden #heukissen #hayfeeder #hooikussen #horsewellbeing #enrichmentforhorses #paddockparadisehorse #slowfeeding

We saw the Heica feeders first time in horse fair and they seemed to be really interesting. We decided to try them for the whole stable (horses and ponies). #heica #haypillow #heukissen #hökudden #hooikussen #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #fluffyfeeder #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing #hästvälfärd #pferdegesundheit #paardenwelzijn

It's easy to fill Fluffy Feeder. Just open the buttons and hay in and close the buttons. It takes 2 minutes to fill it and your horse can enjoy it for 2 hours. 🥰 #heica #fluffyfeeder #haypillow #hayfeeder #heukissen #hökudden #hooikussen #slowfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #horsewellbeing #hästvälfärd #pferdegesundheit #paardwelzijn

Our latest insight has been realizing how profoundly our haypillows change a horse's eating behavior throughout the entire day—not just during the time it spends eating from the Fluffy Feeder. A horse’s daily rhythm and temperament can reshape when the haypillow is used regularly. Of course, the effects are always individual, and I believe we’re only beginning to understand the full extent of the well-being benefits of our feeders. #heica #fluffyfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #haypillow #hooikussen #hökudden #heukissen #slowfeeder #horsewellbeing #hayfeeder

Spreading hay around the paddock or using Fluffy Feeder? We recommend both! 😍 #heica #haypillow #hökudden #hooikussen #heukissen #slowfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #horsewelfare #hästvälfärd #pferdegesundheit #paardenwelzijn

A horse isn't always hungry - sometimes it just needs to chew or keep its muzzle busy. When a horse doesn’t have enough opportunities to use its mouth, it may start showing behaviors that seem like hunger but are actually a result of frustration or an unmet need for chewing. This can also lead to stereotypical behaviors like cribbing or wind-sucking, which are signs of stress in horses. Fluffy Feeder is a great enrichment for an active horse. The haypillow isn't designed to be tied down, allowing the horse to move around with the feeder. #heica #haypillow #heukissen #hayfeeder #enrichmentforhorses #hökudden #slowfeeder #hooikussen #shettie #islandichorse #islandpferde #islandhäst #shetlandponny #finnishwarmblood #finnhäst #coldbloodhorse #poniesponiesponies

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Alerts
Contact The Business
Videos
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Country:

City: