Frequently Asked Questions:

If your horse has been diagnosed by a veterinarian with any of the following health conditions, they may benefit from soaked hay:

• Laminitis or founder
• Equine Metabolic Syndrome, insulin resistance, or hyperinsulinemia
• PSSM (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy) or MFM (Myofibrillar Myopathy)
• Obesity/being overweight
• Chronic breathing issues (including “heaves,” COPD, Recurrent Airway Obstruction, Inflammatory Airway Disease, or Equine Asthma Syndrome)
• HYPP

In addition, many owners have shared that they soak hay to get more water into their horse or to make chewing easier for their senior horse.

“Laminitis” comes from the words “lamina” and “itis” which together mean inflammation of the lamina. The lamina are tiny Velcro-like tissue in horse hooves that attach the inner coffin bone to the outer hoof wall.

However, veterinarians and scientists now estimate that 90% of laminitis is not caused by inflammation but by high levels of insulin in the blood (HI or Hyperinsulinemia). HI results from the combination of a 1) high sugar/starch diet plus 2) metabolic issues in the horse that interfere with how insulin controls blood sugar.

The HAY SOAKER is 30 inches wide by 24 inches deep by 32 inches tall. Note that it’s 35 inches tall in the back because of the handle.

No, the HAY SOAKER is run by water pressure from your barn hydrant. The timer for the HAY SOAKER is powered by four AA batteries, which will need to be replaced over time. The app shows you how much battery power remains so it’s easy to check. If you’re using the Cold-Weather Kit, you’ll need an electrical outlet to power the heat tape.

Click here to watch a short video that completely explains how to set up and use the timer with your HAY SOAKER.

Yes, it’s perfectly fine to manually operate The HAY SOAKER if that’s what you prefer! Just place your hay in the basket provided and place the basket into the tub. Put the hold-down tray on top to keep the hay fully submerged then close the lid. Fill the tub with water and note the time. Drain the tub when the hay has soaked long enough for your horse’s needs. Remove the basket or net and offer the soaked hay to your horse!

The fill and drain cycles are determined by your water hydrant pressure. Typically, it takes three minutes to fill and three minutes to drain. The timer can only work on whole minutes. Should you need a bit more time you can manually hit the fill button on the timer and, once the desired water level is achieved, hit the button again to stop filling. The same goes for the drain cycle.

The timer is programed for a set drain time. If you need it to drain a bit more, simply hit the drain button on the timer. You will hear a gurgling sound when the HAY SOAKER is completely empty at which point hit the drain button again to stop. HINT: If your soaked hay has been in the tub for several minutes past the drain time you may want to hit the button to drain any excess water that has dripped out of the basket.

The drain horse extends 21 feet. You can cut the hose to shorten it if desired.

The HAY SOAKER comes with a removable basket and a hold-down plate. If you prefer to use hay nets, they can be filled and placed in the soaker with or without the basket. You still need to use the hold-down plate to keep the hay fully submerged when the HAY SOAKER is filled.

Although the HAY SOAKER was originally designed to soak hay, other similar feed products -- such as hay cubes, hay stretcher, chopped hay, beet pulp -- may also be soaked. Just put them in a mesh bag or other appropriate netting before placing them in the soaker basket to contain the feed and not clog the drain line. We do not recommend soaking any kind of grain in the unit. Using The HAY SOAKER in any other manner is the responsibility of the owner and will void the warranty.

The HAY SOAKER should not be moved around unless it is completely empty. We recommend lifting the hay basket out of The HAY SOAKER after soaking and placing in a wheel barrow or other cart to take to stalls and paddocks for feeding.

Absolutely! The HAY SOAKER is perfect to take to horse shows, clinics, or other events and facilities. It’s light weight and portability allow you to put it in a car, truck, trailer, or mini-van. It even fits in a Prius!

Simply remove hay caught by the tub drain, then rinse the unit out with a hose. If you like, you can also wipe it down with a sponge. Push the drain button on the timer to empty the rinse water. Light scouring products like Soft-Scrub or Bon-Ami can be used for stubborn dirt and grime. We don’t recommend using harsh cleaning chemicals in your HAY SOAKER.

It’s not a bad idea to remove hay caught by the tub drain and rinse the unit out with a hose after each use, especially during warmer months. Some people leave the lid off the tub so it can dry between soakings. Keeping your unit clean and dry – and making sure the drain isn’t clogged – may help prevent issues later. Customers say they love the fact that The HAY SOAKER is so easy to clean!

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for warranty issues and parts replacements.

Set the Melnor BT timer for one minute less than you are currently filling. The timer only works in whole increments of one minute. Use the fill button manually to top up the tub by hitting the yellow button for Zone 1 (left side of the timer). Be sure to hit it again to stop the fill cycle otherwise it will continue for the amount of time programmed into the timer.

The Melnor BT timer only works in increments of one minute. If the tub is not fully drained use the manual button on the timer to finish draining the tub. Simply hit the button for Zone 2 (right side when facing the timer). When the tub is fully drained it will make a gurgling sound. Hit the button for Valve Two again to stop the timer otherwise it will attempt to continue to drain for the amount of time programmed into the timer.

Be sure you have an internet connection when attempting to download the app. You do not need to be near the timer to download the app. However, once you have downloaded the app be sure your phone is near the timer to connect via Bluetooth®. You can always run the timer on manual until you can get the app downloaded. We also recommend contacting the app store provider for help if you can’t download the app when you are on an internet connection.

Check that the timer has good batteries that are properly installed. If the app still won’t connect to the timer, check that Bluetooth® on your smartphone is turned on.

The Melnor timer connects to the Melnor app in your smartphone via Bluetooth®. A spinning disk in the app indicates that the app cannot locate the timer. Check the following:

• The batteries are properly installed in the Melnor BT Timer
• The battery chamber is fully closed and the yellow latch has secured it to the timer
• On your phone, Bluetooth is turned on
• You have the minimum requirements on your smartphone: iOS 9 or Android 7.0, Bluetooth 4.0

To determine if your smartphone sees the timer look at the list of Bluetooth devices while you are physically near the timer. The Melnor BT timer should be on the list.

There may be several reasons:

• Check to make sure that your water supply is turned on
• Check that your timer has good batteries and is turned on
• Use your smartphone and app to verify and check that Zone 1 is turned on

There may be several reasons:

• Check to see that your water supply is turned on
• Check that Zone 2 on the timer is turned on
• Check to see that the drain in the bottom of the HAY SOAKER is not blocked by hay or other debris