PORTA-GRAZER by Grazing Feeders, Inc.

Provides head down grazing- when pasture is not an option! 2nd Only to Grazing!

Need a head-down grazing feeder when pasture turnout isn't an option?

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

XL Porta-Grazer two-piece slow hay feeder barrel with grazing pan

PORTA-GRAZER by Grazing Feeders, Inc.
PORTA-GRAZER™ Second Only To Nature- 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 patented two-piece slow hay feeder (U.S. Patent 10,149,455 B2) made by Grazing Feeders, Inc., and invented and manufactured in the USA. Each unit pairs a heavy barrel with a floating grazing pan, so a stabled or confined horse must eat with its head down at the same slow, steady pace it would set out on pasture. The company has built these feeders for more than 16 years, and describes the result as "Second Only To Nature."

Porta-Grazer XXL Corner Grazer slow hay feeder for horses

How the patented grazing pan works

The secret is a "patented interlocking tab system" that locks the grazing pan into the barrel while it sits partially extended above the rim, leaving room for more hay underneath. As the horse pulls forage up through the pan's feed holes, the pan drops deeper into the barrel by gravity and the natural spinning motion of the horse, continuously presenting fresh hay. Because the horse cannot toss, sort, or pick through the load, waste drops dramatically and the hay never lands on the ground where sand or parasites could be ingested.

Mini Porta-Grazer slow hay feeder for miniature horses and ponies

How the PORTA-GRAZER is built

The barrels and pans are molded from food-grade (not recycled) polyethylene plastic that is UV-protected and rated to withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees below zero. An XL unit stands about 24″ tall and 22″ wide, weighs roughly 20 lbs empty, and includes a 3/4″ threaded drain plug, so the same feeder doubles as a soaker and rinser for horses that need wetted or rinsed hay. Owners report the durable plastic "resists years of use."

XL Porta-Grazer Traveler set with portable hay feeder and water trough

Which model fits your horse

Pan feed-holes come in 10-hole (3″), 8-hole (3.5″), and 6-hole (4″) sizes to dial in how fast each horse eats. The lineup runs from the Mini Porta-Grazer™ for miniature equines (holds about 2 flakes) to the XL Porta-Grazer (about 3 flakes / 5,655 cubic inches) and the XXL Corner Grazer (up to 6 flakes / a 24-hour feeder), plus Traveler sets that add a 9-gallon water trough, an XL Porta-Grazer™ Soaker/Rinser, a budget DIY build-your-own kit, and a Goat & Sheep Feeder.

Trusted by vets, universities, and mounted patrols
The PORTA-GRAZER is approved by equine veterinarians and dentists, and is marketed as a tool to prevent and manage sand colic, impaction colic, ulcers, laminitis, choke, Copd/respiratory issues, weight gain, and insulin resistance, while curbing stall vices like cribbing, wood-chewing, kicking, and weaving. Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine uses XXL Corner units at its Amarillo facility, and the Houston Police Department Mounted Patrol reports, "They are working beautifully!"

How to order direct or find a dealer

You can buy direct at porta-grazer.com, where the Mini Porta-Grazer™ starts at $299.00, the XL Porta-Grazer at $319.00, and the XXL Corner Grazer at $379.00; combo specials, Traveler sets, the Soaker/Rinser at $478.00, and replacement pans are also stocked. Reach the company at (208) 315-0373 or, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM MST. International buyers can order through dealers in Australia (portagrazer.com.au) and Switzerland (portagrazer.ccvshop.ch).

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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 problem does it solve?

The PORTA-GRAZER™ is a patented slow hay feeder made by Grazing Feeders, Inc. that lets a stabled or confined horse eat with its head down, the same natural grazing posture it would use on pasture. It solves the problem of horses bolting their hay, sorting and wasting it, or going long hours with an empty stomach, all of which contribute to colic, ulcers, and stall vices. The company sums it up as 'Second Only To NATURE.'

How does the patented grazing pan actually work?

The feeder is two pieces: a barrel and a grazing pan. A patented interlocking tab system (U.S. Patent 10,149,455 B2) locks the pan into the barrel while it sits partially extended above the rim, leaving extra room for hay. As the horse pulls forage up through the feed holes, the pan drops deeper by gravity and the horse's own spinning motion, so fresh hay is always presented and nothing is left to toss on the ground.

How long does a load of hay last?

It depends on the model and pan hole size. The XL Porta-Grazer holds about 3 average flakes (roughly 5,655 cubic inches) and is designed as a twice-daily feeder, while the XXL Corner Grazer holds up to 6 flakes and is marketed as a 24-hour feeder. Smaller feed holes slow eating further, stretching the same load over more hours.

What sizes and models are available?

The lineup includes the Mini Porta-Grazer™ for miniature equines (about 2 flakes), the XL Porta-Grazer (about 3 flakes), and the XXL Corner Grazer (up to 6 flakes). There are also XL and Mini Traveler sets that add a 9-gallon water trough, an XL Porta-Grazer™ Soaker/Rinser, a DIY build-your-own kit, replacement pans and lids, and even a Goat & Sheep Feeder.

What is the PORTA-GRAZER made of?

The barrels and pans are molded from food-grade (not recycled) polyethylene plastic that is UV-protected. The material is rated to perform in temperatures down to -30 degrees below zero, and owners report the durable plastic 'resists years of use.' An XL unit weighs about 20 lbs empty.

How much does a PORTA-GRAZER cost?

Ordering direct at porta-grazer.com, the Mini Porta-Grazer™ starts at $299.00, the XL Porta-Grazer at $319.00, and the XXL Corner Grazer at $379.00. Combo specials, Traveler sets, the XL Soaker/Rinser ($478.00), and replacement pans and lids are also available. Prices and sale pricing can change, so check the site for current figures.

Can the PORTA-GRAZER be used to soak or rinse hay?

Yes. The feeders include a 3/4″ threaded drain plug, so the same unit doubles as a soaker and rinser. There is also a dedicated XL Porta-Grazer™ Soaker/Rinser model for owners of horses that need wetted hay to reduce dust or sugars, with a separate Soaker/Rinser Lid sold as a component.

How do you load the PORTA-GRAZER?

Place the hay flat against the inside wall of the barrel, then fold it down to the bottom so it forms an arch shape. Align the pan's keyhole with the arrow handle on the barrel, drop the pan in, and spin it to lock it into place. The company says the feeder 'loads in seconds.'

Is the PORTA-GRAZER approved or recommended by veterinarians?

Yes. Grazing Feeders, Inc. states the PORTA-GRAZER is approved by equine veterinarians and dentists. Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine uses XXL Corner units at its Amarillo facility, and many owners report their own vet recommended the feeder for a specific horse.

Can it help a horse with insulin resistance or laminitis?

The company markets the PORTA-GRAZER as a tool for weight control and managing insulin resistance and laminitis, because slowing intake and providing steady, head-down grazing helps regulate how a horse processes forage. One long-time owner, Debbie Hanavan, says she has used it for years with her insulin-resistant horse and that 'he's never had laminitis.' Always coordinate any metabolic management plan with your own veterinarian.

Does it help with cribbing and other stall vices?

Yes, that is one of its most-cited benefits. By keeping a horse occupied with natural, slow grazing, the feeder is reported to reduce cribbing, wood-chewing, wall-kicking, weaving, and dunking. One owner, Mary, reports that after her vet recommended it her 'cribbing horse stopped cribbing almost completely.'

Does the PORTA-GRAZER really reduce hay waste?

Yes. Because the horse eats through the pan and cannot pull hay out to toss, sort, or trample, far less is wasted than with hay on the ground or in nets. Owners frequently note that horses eat what is in front of them instead of picking through and dropping the rest, which also keeps hay clear of sand and parasites.

How is it different from a slow-feed hay net?

Unlike hay nets, the PORTA-GRAZER has no strings or knots to catch teeth, shoes, or halters, and it does not have to be hung and refilled repeatedly. One owner, Laurie Gerst, says she sold her slow-feeder hay nets because she 'was wasting hours filling them up and developing arthritis.' The rigid barrel-and-pan design also keeps the head down in a true grazing posture.

Who makes the PORTA-GRAZER and where?

It is made by Grazing Feeders, Inc., and is invented and manufactured in the USA. The company has been in business for more than 16 years and holds U.S. Patent 10,149,455 B2 on the feeder design.

How do I contact Porta-Grazer or order one?

You can order direct at porta-grazer.com or call (208) 315-0373; the company can also be reached by email at [email protected]. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM MST.

Are there dealers outside the United States?

Yes. International buyers can order through authorized dealers in Australia at portagrazer.com.au and in Switzerland at portagrazer.ccvshop.ch. In the U.S., the feeders are also carried by retailers such as Getty Equine Nutrition.

What pan hole sizes are offered and why do they matter?

Grazing pans come in 10-hole (3″), 8-hole (3.5″), and 6-hole (4″) configurations. Smaller, more numerous holes slow eating the most, which is ideal for easy keepers or metabolic horses, while larger holes suit horses that need to take in more forage. Choosing the right pan lets you fine-tune intake speed for each individual horse.