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A horse eating from a feedbag in Florence, Italy
An early 1930s horse's nose bag, made of reeds, from the island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean. Dimensions: height 26cms; base diameter 36cms; top diameter 28cms.
A horse with a bag feeder during the harvest in Cappadocia, Turkey

A feedbag, feed bag, feeding bag, nosebag, or morral,[1] is a bag, filled with fodder, and attached to the head of a horse, enabling it to eat.[2] The main advantages are that only a small amount of the feed is wasted, and it prevents one animal consuming the ration of another.[1]

It can be made of leather, reeds, but more commonly is a thick fabric or light canvas. Some modern designs are made of cordura or other durable nylon, with a solid bottom and mesh sides for ventilation.

To access the portion of the feed near the bottom of the bag, the horse needs to be able to touch its head to the ground, allowing it to push its nose into the end of the bag.

When a horse uses a feedbag for the first time, offering it in a hand-held position, without strapping it on, may allow the horse to become accustomed to it. This can reduce the risk of the horse panicking. Care must be also taken to adjust the bag to ensure that the horse can breathe easily.[3]

For extended rides, a plastic bag can be placed inside, allowing it to serve as a water bucket, with the head strap being used as the handle.

In popular culture, the feedbag is used in the expression "strap on the old feedbag", meaning to "dine". It suggests that the diner will pay little attention to etiquette, and that the meal will be taken simply to satisfy one's hunger. The term is also used in numerous restaurant names.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b "Cowboy Saddles and Tack Glossary". Cowboyshowcase.com. 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-02-17. 
  2. ^ "Feedbag | Define Feedbag at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2012-02-17. 
  3. ^ "Hoofbeats Magazine : An Australian riding, training and horse care magazine : The Green Horse". Hoofbeats.com.au. Retrieved 2012-02-17. 

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