PORTA-GRAZER™ by Grazing Feeders, Inc.

PORTA-GRAZER™ Approved by Equine Veterinarians and Dentists! Provides - when pasture is not an option!

Need a head-down grazing feeder for horses who don't have pasture access?

Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com · Updated April 2026

PORTA-GRAZER XL two-piece slow hay feeder barrel and perforated pan

PORTA-GRAZER™ by Grazing Feeders, Inc.
PORTA-GRAZER™ Approved by Equine Veterinarians and Dentists! Provides head down grazing- when pasture is not an option!

2nd Only to Grazing!
See for yourself why PORTA-GRAZER™is used all over the world by well-known clinicians, trainers, veterinarians, and everyday horse people.PORTA-GRAZER™provides grazing when pasture is not an option! It is a system that simulates natural grazing by allowing your horse to eat hay or pellets at a naturally slower pace. It replaces the usual feast and famine system of being fed twice a day and eating too quickly. This durable feeder aids your horse’s digestion by allowing your horse to eat the way nature intended, slowly throughout the day. Celebrating over 14 years of business-- World Wide!

Is It True That Disney World and Disney Land Use Porta-Grazer™ For Their Horses?

Yes! The Happiest Place on Earth- Disney World and Disneyland use Porta-Grazers™ for their horses. In addition, many mounted police departments use Porta-Grazers for their police horses. Clinicians, trainers, race tracks, and every day horse people have found that Porta-Grazer is an asset to their horses lives as well as convenient and a money saver.
Portable and easy to take with you so your horse stays on the same feed routine no matter where they are.

How Does The PORTA-GRAZER Work?

Hay is placed in the feeder. Then the feed pan is placed on top of the hay. This pan has a special arrangement of holes sized according to the horse’s size and type of feed to be consumed. The feed is pulled through the holes and torn off as it is being consumed, simulating natural grazing. As the feed is being pulled through the holes, sand and dirt are removed collecting out of reach in the bottom of the feeder to be discarded later. Each bite is eaten as it is pulled through the holes not allowing the feed to be picked through or dropped to the floor where parasites and sand may be ingested.

The patented rotating pan lifts and holds the bits of hay up to the horse. So, they can size and tear their bite same as if in pasture. The horse is not forced to eat down thru little holes. The pan rests on top of the hay and goes down as the hay is consumed. The tab locking system keeps the hay in the feeder even when rolled around. No hardware to endanger your horse. To take the pan in or out you simply line up the key hole with the arrow on the handle. The feeder can also be secured by one handle if you don’t want your horse playing with it.

So, How Does Porta-Grazer™ Help?
By putting low calorie forage in the Porta-Grazer™ your horse is able to graze in a more natural head down position that allows the jaw to slide into position for proper chewing. The rotating pan lifts the hay up thru the holes and holds it so the horse is able to size and tear each bite same as if in pasture while providing more chewing time which produces more saliva that buffers the stomach acid. Once the horse is self-regulated it will eat what it needs to buffer the acid and walk away, to come back again later when it needs to buffer the acid again. Horses naturally graze 18-20 hours a day...
Using a Porta-Grazer also prevents wasted hay, and keeps the hay off the ground and out of the mud, sand, dirt, snow etc. Porta-Grazer™ Both Discourages & Helps Many Digestive Ailments  
Thus providing a way for horses to graze when pasture is not an option. Can be used anywhere-inside,outside, at home or on the go. Horses that eat regularly with their Porta-Grazer™ are often much healthier! Porta-Grazer™ was designed to help horses eat better, with small meals continuously, to keep a healthier gut, head position and improved digestion.

Sand Colic
Impaction Colic
Ulcers
Laminitis
Founder 
Parasites
Weight Control
Insulin Resistance
Copd 
TMJ
Choke
Bad Stall Habits,  such as chewing wood, kicking walls, cribbing, weaving 
Helps with Back, Hock, Neck issues
Allows Dunking/Soaking ...and more!

How Porta-Grazer™ Can Discouraget and Even Help Heal Ulcers

Don’t let ulcers keep your horse from performing their best-- just do what it takes to help heal them! Horses need access to forage 24/7 to keep their stomach acid buffered to prevent ulcers.

So How Do We Feed Our Horses 24/7 Without The Horse Becoming Fat?

Easy! Use a low calorie grass hay, such as Timothy, Teff or Bermuda. It’s the calories IN the hay that needs regulated not the volume of hay. In order to give your horse, the ability to keep that acid in check it needs a continuous supply of low calorie forage at all times.

►Another option is using straw. Oat, wheat or barley straw. You can mix the straw in with your hay in the Porta-Grazer to add more volume without adding much in the way of calories.

Porta-Grazer™ Helps Discourage Sand Colic
How using a Porta-Grazer™ can prevent sand colic: Hay is pulled through the holes and torn off. The dust, sand and dirt are shaken loose and work its way to the bottom of the barrel. There it is collected in a trough out of the horses reach to be discarded later. Little to no feed is dropped to the ground to be contaminated with foreign materials and ingested.
When feeding on the ground sand and dirt particles can be ingested. Horses do not eat naturally off of the ground, they eat the tops of plants that grow from the ground.

Porta-Grazer™ Eliminates Hay Waste! The $avings Are Notable!
The unique patented design eliminates hay waste by not allowing hay to be picked through or spread to the ground and wasted. The tab locking system keeps the pan in the barrel even when rolled around. The hay stays in the feeder instead of being spread all over the ground. The pan also prevents the horse from searching thru the hay to get the sugar first. Only being able to eat what pops up thru the holes. The pan is designed to lift and hold the bits of hay up to the horse so they can size and tear off each bite same as if in pasture.

What If I Need To Soak My Hay?
Soaking has never been easier and you stay dry! Load dry hay as per directions, place pan in, fill with water. When done soaking simply remove the drain plug to drain the water out. Then give to the horse.
Note: Plug should always be removed when the feeder is in use.

What About When I Am On The Road?

PORTA-GRAZER™ Traveler reduces travel stress for you and your horse by not interrupting your horses feeding regiment while away from home. Just grab it from the stall, fill it with feed, pop on the lid and go. When the lid is removed it then becomes a water trough to hold several gallons of clean water!

What Do Customers Say About The PORTA-GRAZER™?

We’ve only had our grazers about 2 weeks. Our vet suggested them because our horses were getting colic and sand impaction. Our horses are calmer and happier, it seems like it happened overnight. No fighting, no colic, no waste, no sand. These are the best!Karen Plomondon SmallThis has saved my horse from browsing on sand. He would wolf down his feeding and be so bored, now he’s occupied, happy and healthier.Marilyn WaidelichThe PORTA-Grazers work great! They took to them right away spending most of their time eating, not wasting hay and messing their stalls. My stall cleaning time has gone from about 45 minutes to just a few minutes a day. Great product. Thanks. Deb Renger, Five time Canadian Champion Barrel Racer

Couldn’t be more pleased with our three feeders. We have a senior horse, who needed the bigger holes, with our other two quarter horses using the regular feeder. This is the Best investment we ever made. You save so much money…there is no more wasted hay that has blown away or been messed on. We test our boys fecal every six months and there has not been sand in it for over a year. Our youngest gets bored really easy, so he loves to play with his. These things Hold up!!! So, I wouldn’t call them “Expensive”, but rather a “Money Saver”. You save money on feed, Sand Clear, and vet bills. Sounds like a win-win to me! Thank you, for delivering an Awesome and Quality product!!! Feeling blessed!!
Lynette Owning
Order Your PORTA-GRAZER™ Today!
The Healthy benefits when using a Porta-Grazer™ helps save you money. No more wasted hay, healthy content horses, less time spent cleaning stalls, allows the horse to eat in a more natural head down position while keeping the back, neck and hock aligned. The Porta-Grazer™is a solution that you and your horse will love! The savings on hay that was previously scattered and soiled, the slow feeding advantages that help keep your horse's digestive system, make it all worth while. Be Sure to Order Today!

What exactly is the PORTA-GRAZER™?

The PORTA-GRAZER™ is a portable slow hay feeder built by Grazing Feeders, Inc. to recreate natural pasture grazing for horses kept in stalls, paddocks, and trailers. A horse pulls hay through a perforated pan that spins and slides side to side; as the hay is consumed the pan lowers to the bottom of the barrel, so the animal eats head-down, one torn bite at a time. The design is patented (Patent No. 10,149,455 B2) and uses no locks, latches, or loose hardware to catch on a horse or rider.

PORTA-GRAZER XXL Corner Feeder with 8-hole grazing pan for 24-hour feeding

Who makes the PORTA-GRAZER™?

The PORTA-GRAZER™ is the creation of founder Walt Tharp, a lifelong horseman who has worked as a rancher, breeder, competitor, farrier, and natural hoof trimmer. After watching the "feast and famine" feeding routine common in confinement, he set out to "replicate as close as possible a natural grazing environment for your confined equines by slowing down feed intake while simulating head down grazing behavior." The feeders are 100% USA made and manufactured in California, and the company has been in business 16+ years.

PORTA-GRAZER XL Traveler set with 9-gallon water trough lid for trailering

What is it made of, and how tough is it?
Each feeder is molded from rugged, food-grade (not recycled) polyethylene that is UV-protected and rated to 30 degrees below zero. The company describes the plastic as "softer than normal healthy horse teeth," so a properly loaded pan lifts hay without inviting chewing damage. Units are built to survive rolling and tipping, carry a 15-year UV inhibitor, and many have stayed in daily service for 10 to 15 years.

PORTA-GRAZER Mini Traveler slow feeder with water trough for miniature horses

How does head-down grazing protect a horse's health?

Continuous, head-down forage keeps the jaw moving, and the company notes that "saliva production (10 gallons a day) is dependent on the movement of the jaw muscles." That "alkaline mixture of saliva and forage buffers the stomach acid as it is being digested," which is why slow grazing is tied to relief from ulcers, colic, choke, weight control, and stall vices such as cribbing, wood chewing, and pawing. The PORTA-GRAZER™ is "Approved by Equine Veterinarians and Dentists" and the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine chose XXL Corner models for its Amarillo facility.

Which model fits your horse and routine?

The Mini stands 18 inches tall and holds about 2 flakes for miniature horses; the XL holds 3 flakes for twice-daily filling; and the XXL Corner Feeder holds 6 flakes for once-a-day, 24-hour feeding. XL and Mini Traveler Sets pair the feeder with a 9-gallon water trough lid for the road, and every model includes a drain plug so hay can be soaked or the unit rinsed. Soaker/Rinser configurations and dedicated pellet pans are also available for low-calorie timothy pellets, cubes, and soaked-hay diets.

How do you buy a PORTA-GRAZER™?

Feeders ship FedEx Ground directly from porta-grazer.com. Current pricing includes the Mini Porta-Grazer at $299.00, the XL Porta-Grazer at $319.00, the XXL Corner Grazer at $379.00, and the budget Porta-Grazer DIY at $249.00, with Traveler models at $339.00 (Mini) and $359.00 (XL) and combo specials from $578.00. Reach the company at (208) 315-0373 or, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM MST, with international dealers in Australia and Switzerland.

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The Solution Section (FAQ)

What is PORTA-GRAZER™ — and what does it solve?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc.: PORTA-GRAZER™ provides head-down grazing when pasture is not an option — a system that simulates natural grazing by allowing your horse to eat hay or pellets at a naturally slower pace. Replaces the usual feast-and-famine system of being fed twice a day and eating too quickly. Approved by equine veterinarians and dentists. Per the company: "Second Only To NATURE." Celebrating over 14 years of business worldwide. Used by Disney World and Disneyland for their horses, by mounted police departments, race tracks, clinicians, trainers, and everyday horse people.

How does the PORTA-GRAZER™ actually work?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc., the mechanism:

Hay is placed in the feeder; the feed pan is placed on top of the hay
The pan has a special arrangement of holes sized according to horse size and feed type
Feed is pulled through the holes and torn off as it's consumed — simulating natural grazing
As feed is pulled through, sand and dirt are removed and collect out of reach in the bottom of the feeder
The patented rotating pan lifts and holds bits of hay up to the horse so they can size and tear each bite same as if in pasture
The pan rests on top of the hay and goes down as the hay is consumed
The tab locking system keeps hay in the feeder even when rolled around
No hardware to endanger your horse

To take the pan in or out: line up the keyhole with the arrow on the handle. The feeder can also be secured by one handle if you don't want your horse playing with it.

Why does head-down grazing matter biologically?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc.: by putting low-calorie forage in the PORTA-GRAZER™, your horse grazes in a more natural head-down position that allows the jaw to slide into position for proper chewing. The rotating pan lifts the hay up through the holes and holds it so the horse can size and tear each bite same as in pasture. More chewing time produces more saliva that buffers the stomach acid. Once the horse is self-regulated, it eats what it needs to buffer the acid, walks away, and comes back later when it needs to buffer the acid again. Per the company: horses naturally graze 18–20 hours a day. Using a PORTA-GRAZER™ also prevents wasted hay and keeps it off the ground and out of mud, sand, dirt, and snow.

What conditions can PORTA-GRAZER™ help discourage or address?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc., conditions PORTA-GRAZER™ discourages and helps:

Sand Colic, Impaction Colic
Ulcers, Laminitis, Founder
Parasites
Weight Control, Insulin Resistance
COPD, TMJ, Choke
Bad stall habits — chewing wood, kicking walls, cribbing, weaving
Back, hock, neck issues
Allows dunking/soaking

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How does it help with ulcers — and what kind of hay should I use?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc.: horses need access to forage 24/7 to keep stomach acid buffered. The trick: feeding 24/7 without the horse becoming fat. The answer: low-calorie grass hay (Timothy, Teff, or Bermuda) — it's the calories IN the hay that need regulating, not the volume.

For more volume without calories: oat, wheat, or barley straw mixed in with the hay in the PORTA-GRAZER™. Per the company: "Don't let ulcers keep your horse from performing their best — just do what it takes to help heal them."

How does PORTA-GRAZER™ help prevent sand colic and reduce hay waste?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc.:

Sand colic prevention: hay is pulled through the holes and torn off; dust, sand, and dirt are shaken loose and work to the bottom of the barrel, collected in a trough out of the horse's reach. Little to no feed is dropped to ground to be contaminated. Per the company: "Horses do not eat naturally off of the ground; they eat the tops of plants that grow from the ground."

Hay waste prevention: the patented design doesn't allow hay to be picked through or spread to the ground. The tab locking system keeps the pan in the barrel even when rolled around. The pan prevents the horse from searching through hay to get the sugar first — only what pops up through the holes is accessible.

Can I soak my hay in it — and what's the PORTA-GRAZER™ TRAVELER?

Per Grazing Feeders, Inc.:

Soaking: never been easier, and you stay dry. Load dry hay per directions, place the pan in, fill with water. When done, simply remove the drain plug to drain the water out, then give to the horse. Plug should always be removed when the feeder is in use.

PORTA-GRAZER™ TRAVELER: reduces travel stress for both you and your horse by NOT interrupting the feeding regimen while away from home. Grab from the stall, fill with feed, pop on the lid, and go. When the lid is removed, it becomes a water trough holding several gallons of clean water.

What do customers say — and how do I order?

Voices from the source:

Karen Plomondon Small (vet recommended for colic + sand impaction): "Our horses are calmer and happier, it seems like it happened overnight. No fighting, no colic, no waste, no sand. These are the best!"

Marilyn Waidelich: "This has saved my horse from browsing on sand. He would wolf down his feeding and be so bored, now he's occupied, happy and healthier."

Deb Renger, 5-Time Canadian Champion Barrel Racer: "They took to them right away spending most of their time eating, not wasting hay and messing their stalls. My stall cleaning time has gone from about 45 minutes to just a few minutes a day. Great product."

Lynette Owning (3 feeders, senior + 2 quarter horses): "This is the BEST investment we ever made. You save so much money... We test our boys fecal every six months and there has not been sand in it for over a year... You save money on feed, Sand Clear, and vet bills."

To order: (208) 315-0373, email [email protected]. Address: 2120 Ogle Lane (mail only), Indian Valley, Idaho 83632. Pricing varies by feeder type and size; pricing as quoted is subject to change due to economic factors and material-market conditions — confirm current pricing with Grazing Feeders, Inc. directly when ordering.

What is the PORTA-GRAZER™ and what does it do?

The PORTA-GRAZER™ is a portable slow hay feeder made by Grazing Feeders, Inc. that lets confined horses graze head-down the way they would on pasture. The horse pulls hay through a perforated pan that spins and lowers into the barrel as the hay is eaten, slowing intake to one torn bite at a time. The company calls it '2nd Only to Grazing' and says it provides natural head-down grazing when pasture is not an option.

Who invented the PORTA-GRAZER™ and where is it made?

It was created by founder Walt Tharp, a lifelong horseman who has worked as a rancher, breeder, competitor, farrier, and natural hoof trimmer. He designed it after seeing the health problems caused by the 'feast and famine' feeding common in confinement. The feeders are 100% USA made and manufactured in California, and the company has been in business more than 16 years.

How does the PORTA-GRAZER™ actually work mechanically?

Hay is loaded into the barrel and a perforated pan rests on top. As the horse pulls and tears hay through the holes, the pan spins, slides side to side, and gradually settles to the bottom of the barrel under gravity and the horse's pushing motion. This keeps each bite small and the head down, which slows eating and keeps the horse engaged. There are no locks, latches, or hardware involved.

What is the feeder made of and how durable is it?

Each unit is molded from rugged, food-grade (not recycled) polyethylene that is UV protected and rated to 30 degrees below zero. The plastic is intentionally 'softer than normal healthy horse teeth' so a correctly loaded pan won't invite chewing damage. Units carry a 15-year UV inhibitor, withstand rolling and tipping, and many have lasted 10 to 15 years in daily use.

What models and sizes are available?

There are three core models: the Mini (18 inches tall, holds about 2 flakes, for miniature horses), the XL (holds 3 flakes for twice-daily filling), and the XXL Corner Feeder (holds 6 flakes for once-daily, 24-hour feeding). Traveler Sets for the Mini and XL add a 9-gallon water trough lid for the road. There are also DIY, Soaker/Rinser, and Goat & Sheep configurations.

How much does a PORTA-GRAZER™ cost?

Current pricing from porta-grazer.com lists the Mini Porta-Grazer at $299.00, the XL Porta-Grazer at $319.00, the XXL Corner Grazer at $379.00, and the budget Porta-Grazer DIY at $249.00. Traveler models run $339.00 (Mini) and $359.00 (XL), and combo specials start at $578.00 (Mini), $608.00 (XL), and $718.00 (XXL Corner). A Goat & Sheep Feeder is $299.00.

How do I introduce my horse to the PORTA-GRAZER™?

The company recommends a gradual transition: continue feeding as you normally do and use the Porta-Grazer as a secondary feed source for the first 5-10 days until your horse is accustomed to grazing from it. Secure the feeder by one handle so it sits flat and can't tip, and load only enough hay so the pan sits about 3 inches below the barrel lip. Once the horse eats comfortably, discontinue other hay and you can fill it fully and untie it.

What is the correct way to load the hay?

Stand a flake of hay flat against the inside wall of the barrel with the cut stem ends facing up, then push down and roll the flake to the bottom of the opposite side, creating an arch. Insert the pan hole-side down so it rests on top of that arch of hay. Don't over-fill, because too much pressure under the pan can cause it to eject when the horse spins it.

What health problems can the PORTA-GRAZER™ help with?

Because it keeps horses grazing head-down and chewing continuously, the company associates it with relief from ulcers, sand and impaction colic, choke, laminitis, weight control, insulin resistance, respiratory issues including COPD, and bad stall habits like cribbing, wood chewing, and pawing. The mechanism is salivation: jaw movement produces up to 10 gallons of alkaline saliva a day, which buffers stomach acid during digestion.

Is the PORTA-GRAZER™ veterinarian approved?

Yes. The product is described as 'Approved by Equine Veterinarians and Dentists,' and the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine selected XXL Corner models for its Amarillo facility. It has also been used by the Houston Police Department Mounted Patrol. The company says it is used worldwide by well-known clinicians, trainers, veterinarians, and everyday horse people.

Can I soak hay in the PORTA-GRAZER™?

Yes. Every model includes a small drain plug so you can soak hay or rinse the bucket, which is useful for horses needing soaked forage to reduce sugars or dust. The company recommends using the lowest hole-count pan when soaking. Dedicated Soaker/Rinser units and a Soaker/Rinser Lid ($169.00) are also offered. Remove the drain plug when you are not actively soaking to prevent water accumulation outdoors.

Can I feed pellets or cubes instead of flake hay?

Yes, with the right pan. The XL and Mini models have dedicated pellet pans designed for low-calorie timothy pellets, and cubes can be fed using the lowest hole-count pans. Grain is not recommended, however, because fine debris traps in the barrel trough. Pan selection should always match the type and texture of feed you are using.

How do I choose the right pan and avoid tooth marks?

The pan should be matched to your hay type, and proper loading lets the pan lift the hay naturally so the horse can grasp it. Teeth marks on the pan are a sign of improper pan selection or overfilling, which forces the horse to push down through the holes and damages the plastic over time. To remove the pan, align the keyhole or notch with the arrow handle and drop it freely down through the notches, then give it a spin.

Does each horse in a herd need its own feeder?

Yes. The company states that when feeding in a herd setting each horse needs its own feeder, and the feeders should be spread apart. Spacing them prevents dominant horses from guarding access and ensures every horse gets continuous forage. This mirrors how horses naturally spread out to graze on open pasture.

Will using a slow feeder make my horse lose weight, or do I restrict hay volume?

The company's position is that horses are designed to have forage 24/7, so you should regulate calories through hay quality rather than by restricting volume. Using smaller-hole pans to force unnaturally slow eating causes frustration and unnatural eating patterns. The Porta-Grazer slows the rate of consumption naturally while still allowing near-constant access to forage.

How is the PORTA-GRAZER™ shipped and how do I order one?

Feeders ship via FedEx Ground directly from porta-grazer.com. Because the units cannot be stacked, each one ships in its own box and there are no bulk shipping discounts. You can order online or contact the company at (208) 315-0373 or [email protected], Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM MST. International dealers are located in Australia and Switzerland.

Can the PORTA-GRAZER™ be used for animals other than horses?

Yes, within limits. There is a dedicated Goat & Sheep Feeder ($299.00), and the Mini is suitable for miniature horses and some hornless sheep and goats measuring at least 18 inches from neck to ground. These animals require 8-hole pans because they eat differently than horses. Horned animals are not suitable for the feeder.