This idea has been in the back of my head for some time. Web-enabled pet feeders have been on the market for some time, including a “Remote Pet Feeding & Viewing Camera Kit” from smarthome.com, featuring a large pet feeder from Ergo Systems, various INSTEON devices to control automation (INSTEON USB PowerLinc, INSTEON ApplianceLinc), and a webcam. Link: http://www.smarthome.com/6184CK/Remote- ... der/p.aspx

But what if I wanted to apply such a technology to outdoor animals such as horses, sheep, and goats? One can substitute an Agpro Pro Feeder for the Ergo AutoPetFeeder, use the INSTEON Outdoor ApplianceLinc in place of the indoor model, and use an outdoor webcam to achieve greater results. Granted, I assume I would have to add either loads of internet cable or a WiFi hotspot, to account for the larger areas involved.

How might the inclusion of Indigo improve such a project?

I use the Smarthome kit with Indigo to feed my dog, inside, automatically twice per day.

Indigo sends confirmation text or email messages whether the dog is fed by the Indigo schedule or when someone manually turns on the feeder as a bonus feeding. Also, when the home is set to "away" mode, the feeding does not occur, so food doesn't spill to floor.

I'm sure that inclusion of Indigo could improve in much greater ways, but those two simple improvements make the feeding system even more worry free.