Knotted Hay Net Info & Range

When choosing whether to purchase Knotted or Knotless it really comes down to personal preference.  The knotted we have had for the last 10 years and have served our customers well with many people getting 4 to 6 years from them (repairs needed by then of course).  The knotless, we have only had for the last year (Winter 2020), so we don’t have a longevity estimate for them yet.

They are made of 2 entirely different materials. The knotted is a fishing net material that is great if you are soaking hay or the net will get wet as it doesn’t take on the weight of water. The knotless is a softer material that will take on a little bit of water, therefore weigh more if used to soak with. That being said, we have customers who are using them to soak with without issue.

Knotted Hay Nets

We are now in our 10th year of providing great quality hay nets to our wonderful customers in Australia and New Zealand.  We started selling our first hay nets in 2011.  These nets are tried and tested.  I personally have gotten 4 to 6 years out of these nets so they last well.  Obviously by then they will require some repairs, but this shows their strength and durability.  

There are however some horses that are known to be very hard on things, and if 500kg wants to destroy something, then it will.

What are the Knotted Nets made from?

Our knotted nets are made from tough and durable, UV Stabilized, and heat-treated netting in 60ply polyethylene netting.

This netting will not absorb water, therefore there is no change to the properties or weight of the netting during inclement weather or if used to soak hay as the net itself does not take on the weight of the water. 

What ply are they?

The entire GutzBusta Range of Hay Nets are made from super strong 60ply netting.  This is the strongest ply netting available on the Australian market.  

Please note that you cannot compare the ply of knotless to knotted as they are made from VERY different materials and it is literally like comparing an apple to an orange, they are both fruit, but that's it in similarity.

Advantages:

• Tried and tested as we have been making and selling them for the last 10 years. 
• Strong and Durable.
• Generous sized which means easy to use for the life of the net.  If the hay nets are too hard to fill with small mouths, then human nature, we stop using the nets due to them being difficult to fill.  The only exception here is the extra small hay nets that only hold one biscuit of hay.  Obviously they cannot have a wide mouth since they are only a small hay net.

Disadvantages:

• Slightly harder material (netting), however for anyone who worries about teeth and gums, the honest reality is that we haven't had anyone complain about teeth or gums that has been backed up as being by a Vet or Equine Dentist.  We even have Vets and Equine Dentists as customers.  I recently spoke with someone who works a lot with an equine dentist and she said damage happens to the front incisors (especially in IR Horses and Ponies) from them walking around chewing at the gritty dirt grabbing every last morsel of possible food and that the slow feeders are more likely to have saved the horses teeth, not harm them. This makes sense, otherwise we would be hearing negative stories about this all the time of damage to teeth, which we don't.  Another thing to note too is that Pony teeth have softer teeth than horse teeth. IR horses and ponies are definitely the type of horse that would do this type of grazing of dirt to get every last piece of possible grass at ground level (Having had 3 myself, I personally know this).  So although it is a slightly harder material, there are no problems with this from the horses perspective.  That being said, if you still had concerns, you may decide to go to the knotless range of hay nets.
• Teeth CAN be damaged if people use metal grid/mesh type of hay feeders.
• A very small (<1%) amount of horses learn to grind the knots in their teeth which gives the possibility of making a hole.  For these horses, we suggest the knotless nets.  However if you horse has no problem with the knotted nets and you have used them for years, then there is no need to change to the knotless nets.

Knotted GutzBusta Hay Nets in Action:

 Medium 4cm Knotted GutzBusta Hay Net (above).

 Knotted 6cm GutzBusta Hay Net.