Interactive Hay Balls Transform Equine Feeding: Combining Enrichment and Digestion for Stabled Horses

For horse owners grappling with stable boredom and unhealthy eating habits, a colorful new tool is making waves: the interactive hay feeder ball—a durable, hole-pocked toy that turns mealtime into mental and physical enrichment.

Designed for horses, ponies, goats, and other livestock, these vibrant (often blue or green) balls are stuffed with hay, carrots, or apple chunks, then hung or placed in stalls. As animals nudge, roll, or mouth the ball to extract food, they engage their natural foraging instincts—mimicking the 16–18 hours of daily grazing they’d do in pastures, according to equine wellness experts at Farmstand App.

“The hay ball isn’t just a toy—it’s a solution to two big issues: boredom and rushed eating,” says Sarah Mendez, a equine behavior specialist. Stabled horses often develop destructive habits like cribbing or weaving due to inactivity; the ball’s interactive design keeps them mentally stimulated for hours. Its small, strategically placed holes also slow consumption, reducing the risk of colic or digestive strain by preventing horses from swallowing large hay mouthfuls or air.

Veterinarians note the long-term benefits: “Slow feeding and mental engagement don’t just prevent stress—they improve overall equine well-being,” says Dr. Lisa Torres, a large-animal vet. “We’re seeing fewer cases of behavioral issues and digestive problems in barns that use these tools.”

Available online and at equine supply stores, hay feeder balls are quickly becoming a staple in modern stable care—proving that a simple, colorful toy can redefine how horses eat, play, and thrive.