About the
OptiMizer InStall

The OptiMizer InStall is like a pasture in a box. It’s a durable slow feeder that can hold up to 25 pounds of hay, keeping horses fed and content all night long.

  • Less than 1% of hay fed in OptiMizers is wasted
  • Hay is kept clean and horses eat in a head-down position
  • It’s quick and easy to fill

Compared to hay nets, the OptiMizer InStall uses 11% less hay.

How Does the OptiMizer InStall Work?

Lift latch

Pull latch out

Swing bar open

Fill and close

It really is that easy.

Features

  • The OptiMizer InStall was designed to be mounted in the corner of a stall, shelter, or fenceline. The mounting height is up to you, based on your horses’ requirements.
  • The feeder can hold up to 25lbs of hay, which is more than enough for a typical 1,000 pound horse in its stall for 16 hours.
  • The feeder is made of the same durable polymer used to make playground equipment (LLDPE). All the corners are rounded or bevelled, making the surfaces smooth for safety.
  • OptiNet slow feed netting has been designed specifically for equine use. It’s knotless, thick, and durable, yet it’s gentle on horses’ mouths and teeth.
  • The netting is held in place over the hay on a stainless steel assembly. It hangs inside the feeder and drapes over the hay from the top to the bottom as the hay is slowly consumed.
  • The horse-proof latch keeps the net locked over the hay, but a person can easily open and close it with just 2 fingers.
  • One hole in the bottom enables drainage for cleaning the OptiMizer.
  • The standard colour is sandstone. Custom colours are available (with 4-6 weeks
    turnaround and a premium dependent on colour choice and quantity ordered in custom
    colour).

Measurements

  • Length, Width, and Height: 29″ X 29″ X 22″
  • Weight: Approximately 33 pounds when empty
  • Net Size:
    • The standard is 1.6″. This works great for the vast majority of horses.
    • The large is 2.5″. Consider it for hard keepers.
    • The small is 1.25″. Consider it for easy keepers.

Benefits

For your horses…

  • Clean hay is always available
  • Eating is slow and relaxed
  • Horses’ heads are down in a natural position
  • Horses take small bites, chew thousands of times a day, and are content
  • The netting provides positive, relaxing oral stimulation and is gentle on lips, gums, and teeth

And for you…

  • Easy and fast to refill
  • Consumption is controlled
  • Hay is not soiled or wasted
  • Stalls are cleaner with little to no wasted hay to clean up
  • It’s easy to install, each OptiMizer InStall being sold fully assembled with mounting fasteners and guidelines for typical installations
  • Horses have something to do, are less anxious, and stop problematic behaviours like chewing on stalls

How much can you save using the OptiMizer InStall?

Optimize Feeding Hay in a Stall

200
A typical 15 hand horse weighs between 900 – 1200 pounds, based on breed
1
1
0.05
As examples, a 2 string bale in Ontario typically costs $8 and on average weighs 40 pounds. That’s 20 cents per pound (8/40=0.2). A 3 string bale in Florida typically costs $25 and on average weighs 80 pounds. That’s 31 cents per pound (25/80=0.31).
This is how much you could save each year by not wasting hay in the stall:
Total

Now, lets look at how much time it takes to care for your horse

1
0
1
2
For example, if you use hay bags, how long does it take to retrieve, fill and rehang the bags? By comparison, the OptiMizer InStall can be filled in under a minute, with enough hay to last the day.
8
Time is valuable. With your current feeding method and the impact on the horses’ stall, this is the cost of labour that could be saved every year with the OptiMizer:
Total

Where We Started

Horses quickly learn how to eat hay from the OptiMizer. It mimics natural grazing. The horses eat slowly. They have their heads down in a natural position. They select, nibble, and chew their hay—just like they would be eating in the pasture. They’re so content when they’re eating together.

Sue Wilson,
Owner & Innovator

FAQs

Does the OptiMizer InStall need to be mounted?

Yes. If the OptiMizer InStall is not mounted, horses will likely pull it around when they are eating hay through the net. This could lead to injury and damage.

Can the OptiMizer InStall be used outdoors?

Absolutely. If it’s exposed to rain, you may need to drill a second drainage hole in the base of the manger to ensure it drains well. We suggest a ¾”- 1” hole drilled where you observe water accumulating after it has been mounted.

How high should I mount the OptiMizer InStall?

OptiMizer InStalls can be mounted from the ground (lip height about 22”) to as high as needed. The mounting height is up to you and the horse you’re using it for. Some considerations are the size of the horse, safety, and forage height preferences. In our experience, most OptiMizer InStalls have been mounted using a bale of hay underneath (a practical way to do it). This results in a lip height of about 34” which works well for many horses. If you choose to mount it lower, we do suggest leaving some space underneath if possible, to be able to drain it when cleaning it with water.

Can I soak hay in the OptiMizer?

The InStall can be used to pre-soak hay prior to feeding. Use a 3/4″ or flat sink plug to plug the drainage hole. Add hay and water. Place a bucket under the InStall to collect the water when you pull the plug.

Will my horse eat too much if there is always hay available?

If your horse is turned out from 8am to 4pm, that means it’s spending 16 hours in its stall and will need ⅔ of its daily forage over this time. The majority of horses will learn to self-regulate their intake when they learn that hay is always available. Horses that are used to being meal-fed their hay may tend to overeat for a few days or weeks because they are accustomed to going a long time with an uncomfortable empty stomach. If the hay is really palatable and digestible, they may overeat because it tastes so good. We have a smaller net (1.25”) which helps to further slow down eating rates in this situation.

How much hay should I feed in warm weather?

Equine nutritionists recommend that horses should consume between 1.5 and 2.5% of their body weight daily in forage. 2% is a good starting point. Estimate your horses’ weight, multiply that by 0.02, and then weigh out that amount of hay. For example, for a 1,000 pound horse, that’s 20 pounds of hay needed every 24 hours.

How much hay should I feed in cold weather?

If your OptiMizer InStall is in a barn, monitor the temperature. If you blanket your horse and the barn temperature doesn’t drop much below freezing, it likely doesn’t need more forage to keep itself warm. Conversely, horses living outside in cold weather need to eat more hay to generate body heat to keep themselves warm. In our experience, our horses have consumed greater than 3% of their body weight in hay in 24 hours of weather in the deep cold (-40
degrees celsius). Please see the article Guide to Forage Intake During the Winter for more detailed information.

Which net size is best?

The standard net measures 1.6” on the square and is working well with over 90% of our feeders. The large net (2.5”) is a good option for larger or older horses and/or horses with mouth or dental issues. The small net (1.25”) is a good option for small horses/ponies or horses, really easy keepers, or if your hay is very palatable or high in digestible energy (DE).

How long does the net last? Are replacements available?

We engineered the OptiNet to be soft and durable in the equine environment. The OptiNet has been used in all of our feeders produced since 2022 and only a few nets have been replaced due to wear and tear. We anticipate these nets will last 3-4 years on average. If the feeder is consistently empty and horses are hungry, they will grind the net into the bottom of the feeder, which can create holes. A horse in its stall has few distractions to keep its mouth and mind busy. We recommend that horses should always have some hay available for their gastric health and for the longevity of the net.

Replacement net kits are available for sale in all 3 sizes (standard, small and large holes).

How do you clean the OptiMizer?

The OptiMizer and net can be periodically washed out with soapy water and rinsed with clear water. There’s a drainage hole in the bottom of the feeder and wash water can be collected in a bucket underneath. We’re in the habit of quickly gathering up yesterday’s hay and putting it on top of today’s hay when we refresh the feeder. This prevents hay from getting old and going off in the corners of the feeder, and overall it keeps it quite clean.

What custom colours have you done?

We can do almost any colour. So far, we have done beige, grey, blue, green, and pink feeders.

What materials are used to build the OptiMizer?

The manger is rotomoulded from linear low density polyethylene (LLDP). This is the same polymer that is commonly used to make playground equipment and is proven to be tough and very durable. The hay net assembly and all the fasteners are stainless steel. Compared to other options like powder coating, galvanizing steel and plating, stainless is extremely durable and will not rust.

Where do you ship from?

Our factory and main warehouse are in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. We have a second warehouse in Tonawanda, New York, US.

If I don't want my OptiMizer shipped to me, can I pick it up?

OptiMizers are available at dozens of dealers across North America, and can be picked up at those locations. In addition, arrangements can be made to pick up OptiMizers at our warehouses in Canada and the US.

What Our Customers Say

So nice, we bought it twice! The Optimizer slow feeder.  With the money that we saved on our first purchase, we purchased a second feeder a year later, we monitored the wasted hay from ground feeding, hay huts and the Optimizer. Hands down the Optimizer saved us money compared to the other two hay feed methods.

If you are looking for a safe and reliable hay feeding solution, that will save you money, the Optimizer is the one for you.

- Tracy G, Serenity Stables

The health of my horse has improved, which has made me so happy laughing!!!

- Kaitlyn M

My horse is a 17 year old, off-the-track thoroughbred who lives outside all year. She's a hard keeper, but by getting her the right amount of hay, whenever she wanted it, it was the first winter she didn't need an extra blanket.

- Laura T

Absolute game changer for my very messy Clydesdale. Zero waste, quick filling, and best of all slow feeding all night long.

- Taylor S

I've always had slow feed bags. I needed five or six a day to feed three horses. Last winter with the OptiMizer I could slow feed two bales in one place. This saved me a ton of time not hvaing to refill bags everday, plus I noticed it was way cleaner in the spring.

- Amanda M