Indoor Horse Feeders for Stalls, Cribbers and Minis
Stall corners call for the Little Giant Heavy Duty Plastic Corner Feeder, which resists chewing and tipping. Heavy grain rations suit the Fortex Fortiflex Complete Feeder’s extra depth. Chronic hay wasters do best switched onto the Manna Pro Slow Feed Hay Bag.
Scattered grain in stall bedding wastes feed and draws pests within days. The Little Giant Heavy Duty Plastic Corner Feeder mounts into a corner and shrugs off chewing better than most tubs. Heavy grain rations favor the Fortex Fortiflex Complete Feeder for its extra depth, while chronic hay wasters do better with the Manna Pro Slow Feed Hay Bag.
Stall feeders look simple until a cribber destroys one in a week or a horse tips a full tub into the shavings. We compared listed capacities, mounting hardware, material toughness and owner reports on chewing damage, spillage and cleaning across seven feeders built for stalls and small paddocks.
What we recommend
Little Giant Heavy Duty Plastic Corner Feeder
This poly feeder wedges into a stall corner, so a horse cannot flip it over easily. Rounded edges and thick walls resist cribbing better than a thin bucket. Two mounting holes take screws or S hooks, depending on the wall.
Pros
- Corner shape resists tipping and flipping
- Thick walls stand up to chewing
- Mounts with screws or S hooks
Cons
- No lid to keep out dust or rain
- Smaller horses may need it mounted lower
Fortex Fortiflex Complete Feeder 40 Quart
Forty quarts of depth suit a horse on a full grain ration or two horses sharing one feeder. A flexible rubber blend resists cracking in a cold barn better than rigid plastic. A flat back panel sits flush against a wall or fence rail.
Pros
- Deep enough for a full grain ration
- Flexes instead of cracking in cold barns
- Flat back sits tight against a wall
Cons
- Bulkier than a corner style feeder
- Full tub is heavy to lift off the wall
Behlen Country Galvanized Corner Feeder
A confirmed cribber can chew through plastic in a single season, so galvanized steel gives that horse nothing to gnaw on. Smooth rolled edges keep the rim from scraping a nose during feeding. Steel construction also holds up through freeze-thaw cycles better than most poly tubs.
Pros
- Steel construction stops chewing damage
- Rolled rim protects the muzzle
- Holds up outdoors as well as indoors
Cons
- Heavier than plastic to install
- Can dent if a horse strikes it hard
Manna Pro Slow Feed Hay Bag
Small mesh openings force a horse to pull hay out in small bites instead of yanking a full mouthful. Intake slows down, stretching one flake across more hours. Nylon webbing hangs from a stall tie ring or wall hook.
Pros
- Small mesh cuts hay waste noticeably
- Stretches feeding time across the day
- Hangs easily from existing stall hardware
Cons
- Refilling small mesh takes more time
- Not sized for a full flake dumped in at once
Derby Originals Premium Slow Feed Hay Bag Large
A horse stalled overnight needs enough hay to last until morning, and this bag holds close to a full flake. One fill covers the night without a midnight refill. Double stitched seams take the pulling that comes with hours of steady use.
Pros
- Large capacity covers overnight feeding
- Double stitching survives nightly pulling
- Drawstring closes tight against spillage
Cons
- Bulkier bag needs a sturdy hook
- Larger mesh wastes more than a small mesh design
Cashel Slow Feed Hay Bag Small
A mini or pony that overeats hay gains weight fast, and this smaller bag limits how much sits in front of them at once. Tight knotted mesh matches the slower bite size of a small breed. Compact dimensions fit a mini’s own stall without crowding a shared aisle.
Pros
- Portion size suits minis and ponies
- Tight mesh slows down a fast eater
- Compact size fits smaller stalls
Cons
- Too small for a full size horse
- Needs frequent refilling with multiple animals
Tough-1 Econo Hay Bag
This bag skips small mesh engineering and just holds hay off the floor. Buying several outfits a whole barn without spending much per stall. Owners often use it as a stopgap while shopping for a dedicated slow feeder.
Pros
- Priced to outfit multiple stalls at once
- Keeps hay off dirty bedding
- Grommets hang from common stall hardware
Cons
- Standard openings do little to slow eating
- Less durable than a reinforced slow feed bag
What to look for
What should you look for in a stall feeder? Material, mounting and capacity decide most stall feeder purchases. Material determines whether a cribber or wood chewer destroys the feeder within weeks. Whether it survives a horse leaning or pawing depends on the mounting. An undersized tub means constant refilling, so capacity should match the ration. Cleaning and cost follow easily once those three are right.
Grain feeders versus hay feeders for stalls Grain feeders are shallow, rigid tubs meant for a measured ration eaten in minutes. Hay feeders hold more volume and survive hours of pulling and tugging. Many barns run both in the same stall: a corner tub for grain, a hung bag for hay. Feeding hay from a grain tub usually ends with hay on the floor and a feeder knocked loose.
How do slow feed hay bags cut waste? Small mesh openings force a horse to pull a few strands at a time instead of a full mouthful. A flake that once lasted twenty minutes can stretch into two or three hours with that single change. Fewer empty stretches between meals can also ease cribbing and stall boredom. Mesh size matters more here than overall bag size.
Feeders for cribbers, minis and other special cases Plastic rarely survives a season of grabbing and pulling, so a confirmed cribber needs steel or thick rubber. Minis and ponies need reduced portions and a smaller bag, or they tend to overeat and gain weight. Horses in adjoining stalls do better with feeders mounted low enough that no one has to reach through bars. Matching the feeder to the individual horse beats buying one style for the whole barn.
How they stack up
| # | Model | Capacity | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Giant Heavy Duty Plastic Corner Feeder | 16 quarts | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Fortex Fortiflex Complete Feeder 40 Quart | 40 quarts | Best for heavy grain rations | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Behlen Country Galvanized Corner Feeder | Approximately 12 quarts | Best for cribbers and chewers | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Manna Pro Slow Feed Hay Bag | Holds one to two flakes | Best for hay waste control | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Derby Originals Premium Slow Feed Hay Bag Large | Holds up to a full flake | Best for overnight stall use | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Cashel Slow Feed Hay Bag Small | Reduced for mini and pony portions | Best for minis and ponies | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Tough-1 Econo Hay Bag | Holds about one flake | Best budget | 8.0 | Check price |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best feeder for a horse stall?
It depends on what you are feeding. A corner mounted tub like the Little Giant suits a measured grain ration, while a slow feed hay bag like the Manna Pro suits loose hay. Most stalls end up with one of each.
How do you stop a horse from wasting hay in a stall?
Switch from tossing hay on the ground to a slow feed bag or net with small mesh openings. Less hay gets pulled out per bite as the opening shrinks, so less ends up trampled into bedding.
Are slow feed hay nets safe for horses?
They are safe when mounted at the right height and checked for wear. Hang them high enough that a foot cannot catch inside if the bag empties and sags. Replace any bag with frayed mesh or a broken drawstring.
Can you feed grain and hay from the same feeder?
It is not recommended. Grain tubs are shallow and meant for a quick measured ration, while hay needs volume and airflow. Separate feeders also keep a horse from bolting grain mixed in with hay.
What size hay bag do I need for one horse overnight?
Look for a bag rated to hold a full flake, roughly what the Derby Originals Premium Slow Feed Hay Bag Large carries. That amount typically covers a stalled horse from evening feeding through morning turnout.
How high should a stall feeder be mounted?
Chest height on the horse using it works for most grain tubs and hay bags. Bedding and manure contamination become likely if mounted too low. Too high strains the neck and can pull hay into the eyes.
Do plastic feeders hold up against cribbers?
Generally not for long. A determined cribber can crack or chew through plastic within a season. Galvanized steel options, such as the Behlen Country Galvanized Corner Feeder, hold up far better against that kind of damage.
Is a hay bag or a hay net better for a stall?
Bags tend to hold their shape and hang flatter against a wall, while nets flex more and can sag once partly empty. Either works for slow feeding as long as the mesh size is small enough to actually slow eating.
The verdict
Spilled grain in a corner stall gets solved by the Little Giant Heavy Duty Plastic Corner Feeder, shaped specifically to resist tipping. Heavier feeding programs are better served by the extra depth of the Fortex Fortiflex Complete Feeder. Horses that bolt their hay do best switched onto the Manna Pro Slow Feed Hay Bag.
