Although soaking hay is nothing new for many equine professionals and enthusiasts, doing so effortlessly just might be. “The Soaker,” which was created by equestrian, owner, and enthusiast, Jennifer Azevedo, is a system that does away with the messy, time-consuming job of soaking hay by automatically readying up to six flakes of hay for feeding at one time.
Better hay nutrition for equines
The Soaker ensures that horses get the specific health benefits, from additional hydration to reduction of sugars and starches for insulin-resistant horses.
“While you are enjoying your morning coffee or getting the kids ready for school, your horse’s hay is soaking,” said Azevedo. “It’s easy, clean, and reliable.”
According to Azevedo, she first learned about the benefits of soaking hay when she rescued Max, a thoroughbred race horse who was malnourished, losing his hair, and foundering in all four feet. Recognizing that the condition of Max’s feet could be fatal, Azevedo enlisted the help of Farrier and Ophthalmologist, Jennifer Rizzo, who suggested Max would benefit from pre-soaking his hay.
“He was really sick and we were very worried about him,” Rizzo said. “It was clear that if his feet didn’t turn a corner it could have been catastrophic.”
After several weeks of soaking Max’s hay, Azevedo said she began to notice huge improvements in his coat, his feet, and his overall health.
“It was such a dramatic change from such a simple thing,” Azevedo said. “It saved his life.”
Although impressed with the obvious health benefits of soaking hay, Azevedo said she was less than impressed with daily process of soaking the hay in a bucket. Determined to create a more reliable system that would ensure Max would have the high quality feed he needed at every feeding time, Azevedo went to work on developing The Soaker.
After more than a year in development, Azevedo created a system comprised of a large soaking bin, simple plumbing components, hoses, and automated timers.
According to Volker Brommann, a Dressage Trainer at McCourtney Road Equestrian Center in Lincoln, California, The Soaker plays a key role in ensuring horses get the specific health benefits they need, from additional hydration to reduction of sugars and starches for insulin-resistant horses.
“The Soaker saves us a lot of time and it does a much better job than we did by putting hay in a net in a bucket of water and pulling it out,” Brommann said.