Feed Tubs

Feed tubs—the containers where you serve grain to your horse—are one of the most underappreciated feeding tools. They seem simple. You put grain in a bucket or pan, the horse eats it, you clean it out and repeat. However, the tub choice affects how much feed your horse wastes, how clean it stays, whether your horse breathes dust while eating, how easy it is to measure feed accurately, and even your horse's behavior while eating. Some tub setups are dramatically better than others. Understanding the options helps you choose a setup that works for your horse and your situation.

Feed tubs come in many configurations. There are rubber feed pans that sit on the ground. Rubber or plastic buckets that you hang or sit. Heavy plastic or rubber containers designed specifically for grain. Slow feeders that limit how quickly your horse eats. Automatic feeders that portion feed. Each type has tradeoffs between cost, durability, cleaning ease, waste reduction, and appropriateness for different horses. There's no single perfect feed tub that's right for every situation. Understanding the options helps you choose.

Feed tubs affect horse behavior around feeding time. A horse that eats too fast might benefit from a slow feeder that makes eating take longer. A nervous horse that gets stressed at feeding time might benefit from an elevated feeder that feels safer. A horse that wastes feed might benefit from a tub design that minimizes spillage. A group of horses sharing a feeding space benefit from multiple tubs so no horse is competing for food. These behavioral considerations often matter more than the tub type itself.

Many horse owners use whatever came with the property or the cheapest option available without considering alternatives. A rubber feed pan from a feed store costs five to ten dollars. A specialized slow feeder costs forty to eighty dollars. The slow feeder costs more but might save money through reduced waste and feeding less grain to achieve the same result. A hanging bucket that's hard to clean becomes a haven for mold and bacteria. An elevated feeder that makes eating more natural for your horse's posture prevents neck and back problems from years of eating off the ground.

This article walks through the types of feed tubs available, the pros and cons of each, helps you match tub types to different horses, and addresses common feeding setup problems and solutions. Good feed tub selection isn't glamorous, but it affects your horse's health, your feeding efficiency, and your daily management.

Feed delivered in a tub is more convenient for measuring than grazing or loose feeding, which is why tubs are standard for grain feeding. You know exactly how much your horse is eating because you measure the grain before putting it in the tub. Loose grain on the ground allows waste and makes measuring difficult. Grain in a tub allows you to confirm daily amounts consistently. However, the tub itself doesn't affect the nutritional value of the feed. A bucket of grain has the same nutritional content whether it's in a rubber pan, plastic bucket, or specialized slow feeder.

What the tub does affect is how efficiently your horse consumes the feed and how dust exposure happens during eating. A deep bucket or specialized feeder keeps grain contained, so less is knocked out and wasted. Grain that's wasted in the dirt around the tub is essentially money and nutrition thrown away. Reducing waste through better tub design means your horse is actually consuming more of the grain you're feeding, so you get better nutritional value from the same amount of grain.

Dust inhalation during feeding affects respiratory health, particularly in horses sensitive to respiratory issues. A tub with grain at the horse's nose level produces dust as the horse's breath disturbs the grain. A tub with grain at or below the horse's chest height produces somewhat less dust. A tub where grain is wetted or where dust has been minimized through the design reduces respiratory stress. Over time, minimizing dust exposure prevents respiratory problems that would otherwise develop in dust-sensitive horses.

Tub materials affect how clean the equipment stays and how well it resists bacterial growth. Rubber and plastic are easy to clean. Metal can rust if not maintained. Rough surfaces harbor bacteria and dust more than smooth surfaces. A tub that's properly cleaned daily is sanitary regardless of material. A tub that's hard to clean or doesn't dry well becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. The material matters less than the actual cleanliness and whether the tub dries well.

Elevated feeders place grain at a more natural height for horses to eat, which reduces strain on the neck and back. Horses naturally eat hay from ground level, so they tolerate ground-level grain feeding. However, an elevated feeder at shoulder height or slightly below puts the horse's head in a more natural posture for grain eating. Over years, repeated lower head positioning from eating off the ground can contribute to neck and back problems. Elevated feeding might prevent these problems from developing.

Rubber feed pans are the most common tub option. They're inexpensive, durable, and relatively easy to clean. A good rubber pan sits flat, doesn't tip easily, and cleans up quickly after feeding. Quality rubber pans last for years. The downside is that they sit on the ground and can get kicked around or contaminated by dirt. Rubber pans work fine in stalls where they can be placed out of the way and left until feeding time. They're less ideal in paddocks or areas where they get kicked and dirtied. For stalled horses, a rubber pan is probably sufficient.

Plastic or rubber buckets that you hang from the stall wall or post are convenient because they get the grain off the ground and are easy to hang and remove. They're simple to clean by rinsing with water. The challenge is that horses sometimes kick them or play with them, and they need to be hung securely so they can't hurt the horse if they fall. A hanging bucket needs regular inspection to ensure it's hung securely. Buckets work well for individual horses in stalls and are portable if you need to move them.

Slow feeders or pace feeders are designed to limit how quickly a horse eats. They usually have a flat bottom with a grid or labyrinth pattern that the horse has to work through to get grain. This makes eating take longer and reduces the speed at which the horse consumes feed. Horses that eat too fast benefit significantly from slow feeders because they eat less total grain while feeling satisfied longer, reducing digestive upset from rapid eating. Slow feeders cost more than basic pans but pay for themselves through reduced waste and reduced grain quantities needed. They're particularly valuable for horses prone to colic or founders from rapid grain eating.

Elevated feeders or hay nets hold grain at chest or shoulder height, making them more natural for eating. Some horses prefer elevated feeders. The primary advantage is the more natural head and neck position. Disadvantages include higher cost and the fact that not all horses prefer them. Some horses won't eat from elevated feeders and insist on ground-level feeding. Try an elevated feeder if you're concerned about posture, but don't assume all horses prefer them.

Automatic feeders portion out grain at timed intervals, useful if you're away during feeding time or if you have horses that need multiple smaller meals throughout the day. Some are as simple as a timer that opens a gate revealing a pre-filled portion. Others are computer-controlled with cameras and weight sensors. Automatic feeders solve the problem of horses waiting long periods between feedings, which can cause gastric ulcers and behavioral problems. They're expensive but valuable for specific situations like teaching a horse to eat multiple small meals instead of one large meal.

Matching tub type to your situation involves considering your horse's eating behavior and health, your feeding setup, and your management style. A stalled horse eating once daily from a pan on the ground is fine. A horse that eats too fast benefits from a slow feeder. A horse with respiratory sensitivity benefits from dust reduction in the tub choice. A horse that gets bored waiting for feeding benefits from an automatic feeder dividing grain throughout the day. Multiple horses in a paddock benefit from multiple tubs so they're not competing.

Clean your tub daily. Dump out any leftover grain, rinse the tub with water, and allow it to dry before the next feeding. Grain that sits in the tub gets damp, grows bacteria, and becomes less palatable. Clean tubs prevent these problems. For hanging buckets, clean more frequently because they can hide dirt. For ground-level pans, sweeping around them and moving them occasionally prevents dirt accumulation.

Horses that eat too quickly benefit significantly from slow feeders. These horses might bolt grain, inhale it rapidly, then still seem hungry. A slow feeder makes eating take longer and prevents the rapid consumption that can cause colic. If your horse has a history of colic related to fast eating, invest in a slow feeder. The cost is worth the prevention.

Senior horses might benefit from slightly elevated feeders to avoid excessive stretching and lowering of the neck to eat from the ground. An older horse with arthritis or other joint issues benefits from a feeder height that minimizes contortion. Additionally, senior horses often eat more slowly, so they don't need slow feeders. A simple elevated pan works well for most seniors.

Horses with respiratory sensitivity benefit from dust reduction in feed tub design. Feeding slightly dampened grain or choosing tubs designed to minimize dust exposure helps horses with heaves or other respiratory conditions. The tub choice can actually affect respiratory health in sensitive horses.

Performance horses sometimes benefit from multiple smaller feeds throughout the day rather than one or two large grain meals. Automatic feeders or hand-feeding multiple smaller portions helps horses maintain energy throughout training and competition days. Some performance horses benefit from a tub setup that allows eating while doing other things rather than leaving them standing at a feeder.

Breeding mares might benefit from automatic feeders or multiple daily feedings to provide consistent nutrition through pregnancy and lactation. Rather than concentrating grain into one or two feedings, spreading it throughout the day keeps nutrition steady. Multiple smaller meals are less likely to cause digestive upset than one large meal. A tub setup supporting multiple daily feedings helps pregnant and lactating mares maintain proper nutrition.

Easy keepers that are prone to weight gain might benefit from slow feeders that limit rapid consumption and waste, or from being fed multiple times throughout the day in smaller portions that reduce feed consumed at each meal. The tub choice affects how much an easy keeper eats and how quickly they consume it.

One issue is using contaminated or dirty tubs. A tub that hasn't been properly cleaned harbors bacteria and mold that make feed unpalatable and unhealthy. A horse refusing to eat from a dirty tub isn't being difficult—the tub is actually disgusting and unsafe. Clean tubs matter more than tub type. A dirty slow feeder is worse than a clean rubber pan.

Another problem is hanging buckets insecurely. A bucket that comes loose and hits a horse can cause injury. Check hanging buckets before each feeding to ensure they're secure. If a horse is known to kick buckets or play with them, secure them extra well or choose ground-level feeders instead.

Using the wrong tub type for your horse is another issue. A horse that needs a slow feeder being fed from a regular pan wastes grain and eats too fast, causing digestive upset. A horse that refuses elevated feeders being forced to use them creates feeding battles. Matching tub type to your specific horse matters.

Neglecting to remove uneaten grain allows it to sit, get wet, grow bacteria, and become foul. Remove any grain remaining after a few hours. Don't let grain accumulate in a tub across multiple feedings.

Using the same tub for multiple horses without washing between creates disease transmission risk. If multiple horses share tubs, wash thoroughly between horses. Better yet, have separate tubs for each horse to avoid sharing potential bacteria or infections.

Start with basic rubber feed pans and upgrade to specialty tubs if your horse needs something specific. You don't need to spend a lot on feed tubs unless your horse has particular needs. Rubber pans cost five to ten dollars and serve most horses fine.

If you choose a slow feeder, ensure your horse actually uses it properly. Some horses refuse them or figure out ways to flip them over and waste grain anyway. Watch your horse for a few feedings to confirm the slow feeder is working as intended. If your horse is still getting grain out too quickly, the slow feeder isn't helping and the cost wasn't justified.

Have at least two tubs so one can be washed while the other is in use. This prevents you from skipping tub washing because you need the tub immediately. Having multiple tubs allows consistent cleaning.

If you feed in pasture, use tubs that are heavy or have a wide base so they don't tip easily. Lightweight tubs that tip easily get kicked around and become contaminated. Weight matters for ground-level feeding in open areas.

Label your tubs if you have multiple horses to prevent mixing and potential disease transmission. A simple marker pen marking each horse's tub prevents accidental sharing. If you rotate horses through stalls or spaces, clean tubs thoroughly before changing horses.