GB2374513A - Feeding horses - Google Patents

Abstract

Means for preparing a horse's food comprising a vessel (10) having a lid (11) which can be opened to enable hay to be placed in and removed from the vessel (10). A steam generator is connected to the vessel so that steam passes into the vessel (10) and hay contained within the vessel (10) on top of a mesh grid (12) is subject to the action of the steam. After the hay has been treated with steam, it is removed from the vessel (10) and given to the horse. After passing through the hay the steam may exit the top of the vessel through a gap between the lid (11) and the sides of the vessel (10) or through one or more vent openings.

Description

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FEEDING HORSES Field of the Invention This invention relates to feeding horses and is concerned with the provision of an improved method of feeding a horse and improved means for preparing a horse's food.

There is an ever-increasing number of horses that are currently fed on soaked hay in order to avoid or reduce the damage caused to the horses by dust, dust mites, fungal spores and bacteria when eating dry hay.

The arduous job of preparing the hay usually entails soaking nets of hay in gallons of unreusable water and then struggling to hang up the nets containing the wet hay. The waste water from hay is now classified by the Water Authorities as an effluent which

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should not be discharged down drains. The water used for soaking thus creates a disposal problem for owners of stables.

In winter, the soaking of the nets of hay is an even less appealing task since those carrying it out end up with cold hands and dripping wet clothing. In addition, there is the possibility that the horses will be exposed to bacteria, fungal spores and dust mites which have not been killed by the soaking process. There is also the additional expense of supplementing the horses'feed with the vital minerals leached out of the hay by the soaking process.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of feeding a horse.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of improved means for preparing a horse's food.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of feeding a horse which comprises placing hay in an enclosure, introducing steam into the vessel so that the hay is subject to the action of the steam, removing the steamed hay from the vessel, and giving the horse the steamed hay.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided means for preparing a horse's food comprising a vessel having a lid which can be opened to enable hay to be placed in and

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removed from the vessel, a steam generator, and means for connecting the steam generator to the vessel so that steam passes into the vessel and hay contained within the vessel is subject to the action of the steam.

The steam is preferably introduced into the vessel adjacent the base thereof and beneath a mesh grid on which the hay is supported. With a typical load of hay, i. e. that contained within a normal hay net, steaming will preferably be carried out for a period of the order of fifteen minutes.

The size of the vessel may be such that it can contain an amount of hay corresponding to that contained by a normal hay net.

However, for use in stables with more than a few horses, the vessel may be of such size that it can contain an amount of hay equivalent to that contained by a plurality of hay nets.

The steam generator may comprise a boiler which is connected by a flexible hose to the vessel and the boiler will typically contain sufficient water for the generation of steam for the treatment of six average nets of hay.

Brief Description of the Drawing The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for use in treating hay with steam.

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Description of the Preferred Embodiment The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a vessel 10 which is of substantially rectangular form in plan view and has an open top which can be closed by a clip-on lid 11. The base of the vessel 10 is flat and a mesh grid 12 is fitted within the vessel 10 so as to be parallel to the base of the vessel 10. The mesh grid 12 divides the interior of the vessel 10 into upper and lower chambers, with the volume of the upper chamber being about four or five times that of the lower chamber. Hay is placed within the upper chamber and steam is introduced into the lower chamber via a flexible hose 13.

Steam is supplied from a boiler or other steam generator (not shown) and the size of the boiler or other steam generator is such that steam can be supplied continuously for a substantial period of time, for example, an hour.

The steam introduced into the vessel rises up through the hay at a temperature of approximately 1000 C. so that, at this temperature, most of the bacteria, fungal spores and dust mites are killed and all potentially airborne particles have been sufficiently dampened that they will have no adverse effect on the horse. After completion of the steaming treatment, during which time the steam rises up through the hay and impregnates to the centre of the hay ensuring even cooking and moistening, the hay is lush and ready for the horse to eat, complete with all its vital minerals. After passing through the hay, the steam exits from the top of the vessel

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10 through the gap between the lid 11 and the sides of the vessel 10, or through one or more vent openings. The vessel 10 is thus not a pressure vessel and the pressure within the vessel 10 is thus substantially atmospheric pressure.

To keep the steamed hay fresh, it may be kept in plastic bags until ready to be fed to a horse.

The time it takes to steam the hay is dependent on :- a) the quantity of hay, b) the compactness of the hay, c) the size of the chamber, and d) the rate at which the steam is supplied.

In any event, the hay is prepared ready for feeding to the horse or horses, either immediately or shortly after treatment.

Claims (6)

Ciaims :-

1. A method of feeding a horse which comprises placing hay in an enclosed vessel, introducing steam into the vessel so that the hay is subject to the action of the steam, removing the steamed hay from the vessel, and giving the horse the steamed hay.

2. Means for preparing a horse's food comprising a vessel having a lid which can be opened to enable hay to be placed in and removed from the vessel, a steam generator, and means for connecting the steam generator to the vessel so that steam passes into the vessel and hay contained within the vessel is subject to the action of the steam.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or preparing means as claimed in Claim 2, in which the steam is introduced into the vessel adjacent the base thereof and beneath a mesh grid on which the hay is supported.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or preparing means as claimed in Claim 2, in which the steam generator comprises a boiler which is connected by a flexible hose to the vessel adjacent the base thereof.

5. A method of feeding a horse substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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6. Means for preparing a horse's food substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing