The present invention relates to an animal feeder for the controlled consumption of hay or similar feed to a horse, other equidae or similar grazing animal. The invention provides such feeders in the form of flexible receptacles having an area of open mesh through which the animal consumes the contents of the receptacle over predetermined period of time dependant upon the size of the mesh openings chosen. Such feeders are configured such that a feeding animal in a standing position can only access feed disposed within the receptacle when the feeding animal's head is lowered in a natural feeding headset.