Having seen Haygain products being used by some of the world’s top equestrians, I was keen to learn more, and was delighted when the lovely people at Haygain agreed to be interviewed and share the story behind the company and it’s products. Read on to discover more about Haygain and why it’s products are proving to be so popular with equestrians everywhere.
Tell us about Haygain
High Temperature Hay Steamers use patented spike manifolds to deliver steam evenly throughout hay in a thermally-sealed chest.
The idea for Haygain High Temperature Hay Steaming came from a third-generation horseman, (the late Brian Fillery), who owned field hunters and racehorses with occasional coughs and poor performance that indicated respiratory issues. He also owned Propress, the manufacturer of steam generators for commercial appliances. He believed that his horses’ issues were caused by dust in hay, and that steaming the hay at high temperatures could get rid of it.
Thus began the evolution of hay steaming first prototyped in the mid-1990s. Extensive research under Professor Meriel Moore-Coyle’s supervision at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester refined the process. The Haygain process repeatedly proved its ability to reduce up to 99% of the dust, mould, fungi, bacteria, and other allergens found in hay.
The commercially available manifestation of Fillery’s idea became a reality in 2009 and the equipment is now a foundation of modern horse management. Headquartered in the U.K., Haygain is now a global company with offices in North America and worldwide distribution.
What products do you offer?
Haygain offers three core products that comprise The Haygain Way.
High Temperature Hay Steamers use patented spike manifolds to deliver steam evenly throughout hay in a thermally-sealed chest. The steam reaches the temperatures, 100°C, required to kill mould, bacteria and de-nature various allergens. These are all major causes of respiratory conditions in horses.
Haygain Steamed Hay has up to three times the water content of dry hay, making it helpful for hydration and digestion. Horses love the taste: people love the scent!
The Forager Slow Feeder by Haygain enables the horse to eat like a horse: in slow small bites over a long period of time, and with its head in a natural, lowered eating position– as Mother Nature intended.
Haygain’s ComfortStall Sealed Orthopaedic Flooring provides built-in cushion and comfort.
Its one-piece durable rubber top cover seals to the stable wall to create an impermeable surface. Only enough bedding to absorb urine is needed, improving barn air quality by reducing the quantity of bedding-borne dust. The surface has slight give to promote blood flow, joint health, deep rest and easy ups and downs.
ComfortStall Sealed Orthopaedic Flooring provides built-in cushion and comfort. Its one-piece durable rubber top cover seals to the stable wall to create an impermeable surface
Tell us more about the Haygain steamer
High Temperature Hay Steaming is the only scientifically proven way to significantly reduce the inhalable particles in hay. Soaking hay is another method of reducing dust in hay. Soaking does dampen down dust, but the process can also promote growth of mould and bacteria. Plus, many horses don’t like the taste and texture of soaked hay. It’s a mess to do and the effluent from the water-wasting process of hay soaking can be more polluting than raw sewage.
Tell us more about the Haygain forager
The Forager is a perfect complement to Haygain Steamed Hay because the cylindric container retains the forage’s post-steam hygienic quality and prevents the hay from being wasted into bedding and manure.
The Forager’s regulator grid encourages eating small bites slowly and over several hours. The horse’s digestive system was designed to process food at that pace. Also mimicking Mother Nature, the Forager facilitates a lowered-head eating position. This allows natural drainage of particles from the respiratory tract and natural alignment of the horse’s neck and back.
The Forager Slow Feeder by Haygain enables the horse to eat like a horse: in slow small bites over a long period of time, and with its head in a natural, lowered eating position as Mother Nature intended
Who are your products suitable for?
All horses. From Olympic athletes to happy hackers. Eight out of the top ten finishing Olympic show jumping teams in Tokyo had an assist from Haygain Steamed Hay, for example. Miniature Horses, ponies and rescues are helped by steamed hay, and perfectly healthy horses are helped to stay that way with Haygain.
What sets Haygain apart?
Science and Research. Haygain recently assembled research on the benefits of its Hay Steaming and it required twenty-two pages just to briefly summarize the results of numerous studies. Haygain’s robust research and development team works closely with equine veterinarians, nutritionists, and researchers to develop and extensively test its products. Haygain also works with award winning product design firm, SCOPE, to ensure functionality in real world horse keeping settings, product longevity and ease of use for the horse owner and managers of yards big and small.
Where can we buy your products?
https://haygain.co.uk/
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