Easy to use. Easy to fill. Easy to feed.
The OptiMizer combines the convenience of a multi-bale feeder with the control of built-in slow-feed netting
Available at System Equine
What Is the OptiMizer?
The OptiMizer is a slow hay feeder designed to make feeding better for humans and horses alike. It’s big enough to hold two small square bales of hay and can be filled in under a minute. The manger and slow-feed netting help hay stay off the ground—regulating consumption, making paddocks cleaner, and keeping your wallet fuller.
It’s SIMPLE
The OptiMizer is delivered fully assembled. Hand holds on the front and back make it easy to move around the paddock by hand.
Smooth, one handed operation of the slide arm quickly opens and closes the feeder.
It’s SAFE
All corners are rounded with 1″ diameters, making a smooth and safe surface if rubbed against.
Slow feed netting hangs inside the feeder and conforms over the hay from the top to the bottom of the feeder.
It’s EFFECTIVE
The tiniest bits are the tastiest. With an OptiMizer, these delicate leaves aren’t lost to the ground but remain within the manger.
Ensure drainage on any terrain with 13 holes distributed around the base of the OptiMizer.
So pleased with the hay optimizer that after buying our first one, we decided to buy two more. I love the fact that the horses are so content. They no longer pace the fence waiting for their hay. I feel calmer too as I don’t have to race home from work to get their evening hay out. I also love the convenience of being able to put two bales of hay in at a time. The horses slowly eat their hay through the soft netting and there is no waste! Thank you for designing such a great product.
How Does It Work?
Using the OptiMizer is as simple as 1, 2, 3.
Unlock the arm and slide it back
Load fresh hay
Slide the arm and lock it into place
So nice, we bought it twice! 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
For your horses, it’s about:
- Encouraging slow, relaxed eating—curbing overeating for easy keepers while making sure hard keepers have consistent access to hay.
- Mimicking natural grazing by letting them select, nibble, and chew their hay as if they were eating grass in their pasture.
- Creating a safe herd environment with 2-4 horses eating together around a single OptiMizer.
And for you, it’s about:
- Saving time by feeding more than one bale at a time and filling your feeder in under a minute.
- Reducing waste so you spend less money on unneeded excess and less time cleaning up uneaten, soiled hay.
- Optimizing feeding with durable slow-feed netting to help control consumption.
Thank you so much for this wonderful product. It saves us so much time and frustration from not having to deal with filling and refilling hay bags! What a mess that was. There is no waste even down to the little tasty bits they love so much. I can fit an OptiMizer easily in the back of my UTV or drag it across a short distance to where I want. 4 horses easily ate from it but it is also great for my individual paddocks. It is durable enough to deal with endlessly hungry drafts. It was extremely useful in the winter and even more so in the wet season.
Anne
What are the measurements?
- Length and Width: 4′ by 4′
- Height: 34″ (the legs are easily removed so the height can adjusted as low as 22″ or as high as 37″ with a lift kit)
- Weight: Approximately 100 pounds when empty
- Net Size: Large enough to drape into the manger as all the hay is consumed. Net openings are 1.6″ as measured on the square. Replacement netting is available in both 2.5″ and 1.25″.
Is the OptiMizer available in any other colours?
The OptiMizer can be made available in a range of custom colours! Please contact us to review options (note that additional charges and delivery time may apply).
How many horses can eat from one OptiMizer?
This depends on the dynamics of your herd and some of your management practices. At any time, 4 horses that get along can eat together at the OptiMizer. For more companionable eating with typical herd dynamics, 2 or 3 horses will be at the OptiMizer at the same time. As the temperature gets colder, horses need to eat more hay and they will spend a lot of time at the OptiMizer, especially if it is their only source of hay over a 24 hour period.
For example, our herd of 8 horses live outside all the time (with access to shelter in a cozy bank barn). Last winter, we had 3 OptiMizers, which were refilled once a day with up to 6 bales of hay. On especially cold days, we also put some flakes of loose hay in the corners of their barn, so they could choose to eat indoors if they wanted.
Do you wait for the OptiMizer to be empty before you refill it?
Again, this depends on your management practices and set up. We only feed hay once a day—more specifically every 24-36 hours—and we like to ensure that the horses will always have hay available. We check every OptiMizer every day and will often top up hay if there is still some available. We tend to push the old hay into a bundle on one side so we can put the fresh on the other. That way, we can keep track of the hay they are eating.
