New Year's Eve - Anxious Horses?

When the world lights up with flashes and explosions, it can be overwhelming for our equine friends.

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 slow feeder during the evening to create a calming atmosphere. It’s easy to toss the feeder into the stall from the doorway since the hay is neatly packed in the compact pillow. There’s no need for extra cleanup from scattered hay or dealing with wheelbarrows.

And the next day the hay feeder is perfect 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. Heica feeder isn’t a one-time item—it provides long-term benefits.

With the Fluffy Feeder, the horse regulates its eating, often alternating between free hay and the pillow, taking breaks from eating in between. Every horse has its own rhythm, and by observing their eating habits, you can discover what works best for your horse.

To enhance the effect of the Fluffy Feeder, introduce it well in advance, in peaceful moments, to help your horse associate it with calmness. By doing this, the hay pillow becomes a comforting reminder of serenity during restless times—like fireworks or other holiday chaos.

Oh, how I wish there were fewer fireworks and more starry skies this year.