Forage First

Importance of Forage for the Equine’s Digestive System

By Dr. Amy K. McLean, PhD

The horse’s diet should be focused on forage first. Allowing grazing time can improve their overall digestive health.

The horse’s digestive tract is designed for multiple small meals fed throughout the course of a day. Wild horses graze for 16-18 hours taking small bites and walking a few steps between bites. Most horses today based on exercise schedules and management are fed a few large meals maybe once, twice, three or four times a day in a twenty-four-hour period. They consume their daily diet within a few hours. Meanwhile, their stomach is continuing to produce hydrochloric acid, their mind is still thinking about chewing and eating yet there’s no stimulation. The fewer meals throughout the day can often be detrimental for many horses. They may develop gastric ulcers in their glandular and nonglandular region of their stomach and even small intestine due to the lack of forage being consumed. Ideally, a horse’s diet should be centered around forage or the saying, “forage first.” Supplementing your horse’s diet with concentrates (grain, sweet feed, pellets) is generally consumed rather quickly and doesn’t extend the feeding time. Also, concentrates can increase acidity in the horse’s stomach which is already an acidic environment and even lead to carbohydrate overloading in the small intestine and create sugar or carbohydrate imbalances for horses leading to serious health conditions such as laminitis or even colic.

Many horses that have a limited amount of forage in their daily diet will become bored throughout the day and this can lead to behaviors that do not serve a purpose called stereotypies. An example is cribbing, crib biting or windsucking, where the horse will place its upper incisors on a stationary object and pull back and suck in air. The behavior becomes addictive and irreversible by releasing endorphins in the brain as a reward when the horse performs this behavior. Increasing forage intake and exercise can often prevent such behavior and promote good gut health. Another concern with limited forage is the buildup and entrapment of gas within the gastrointestinal tract. It can take up to 48 hours for a horse to completely digest and process forage but if forage is limited there’s a longer period where the system is sitting empty. Entrapped gas can lead to spasmodic colic which can be a very painful abdominal upset.

Other considerations with offering more forage include the natural wear of the horse’s teeth. The first organ of digestion is the mouth starting with the upper and lower lips, then the front teeth, the incisors followed by the tongue, salvia glands, pre-molar, and molar teeth. The teeth are the grinding surface for foodstuffs that are naturally worn down and in certain patterns based on their diet. A diet lacking or not centered around forage can create carries in the horse’s infundibulum (the center part of the horse’s tooth) and wear away at the grinding surface like a cavity.  Irregular growth patterns such as hooks, ramps and waves so basically uneven grinding surfaces form in the pre-molar and molar teeth when the diet is lacking forage.  Since the mouth is the first organ of digestion it initiates the breakdown of foodstuffs with the teeth grinding and salvia assisting with breaking down the feedstuffs and lubrication to move the food through the system. After feedstuffs have traveled to the stomach where vitamins, minerals and proteins are absorbed then the feedstuff will move through the small intestine and into the large intestine.

A fermentation vat in the large intestine found on the right side of the horse’s abdomen called the cecum is responsible for the breakdown of fiber. Forage provides two types of carbohydrates, non-soluble carbohydrates (fiber or the skeletal system of the plant) and soluble or water-soluble carbohydrates (sugars and starches). Most sugars and starches the soluble/water soluble are absorbed pre-cecal, so small intestine but fiber which I non-soluble is broken down in the cecum.

The cecum has some help in breaking down fiber by bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. If the horse’s diet suddenly changes or is no longer forage based the microbial populations can die off and or not be accustomed to breaking down the new source of feed. Forage based diets are high in fiber, the horse can digest the following sources of fiber in this order: cellulose, hemi-cellulose, and lignin. Again, the forage will sit in the fermentation vat for 6-8 hours while the microbes attempt to break down the different fiber sources and then transform the fiber into an energy source called volatile fatty acids. The volatile fatty acids are then transported across the cecum wall and enter the blood stream and can be used as a source of energy. However, if the horse is lacking forage in its diet, then fewer energy sources are available, and the overall gut health is compromised.

Keep in mind when feeding your horse, the diet should be focused on forage first. So, think about providing your horse with forage throughout the day to improve their overall digestive tract health from head to tail. Next time we will discuss sources and creative ways to feed forage to your horse with a focus on attributes of alfalfa.

Why grain-Free feed might benefit your horse

While it's true that horses enjoy grain-free feed, it's essential to understand why this type of diet can be beneficial for them. By focusing on a grain-free diet, you can help support your horse's digestive health, reduce the risk of certain health issues, and even improve their overall performance and longevity.

Grains can sometimes be challenging for horses to digest efficiently, leading to issues like colic, laminitis, and insulin resistance. By opting for a grain-free option like Alfa Force Equine feed, you can provide your horse with a nutritionally balanced meal that is optimized for their digestion. This can help prevent digestive upset and keep your horse feeling their best.

In addition to the digestive benefits, a grain-free diet can also minimize spikes in blood sugar levels, which is crucial for horses prone to metabolic issues. By feeding grain-free feed, you can help support a more stable energy level throughout the day, promoting better stamina and endurance in your horse's performance.

So, while horses undeniably love grain-free feed like Alfa Force Equine, it's worth noting that this choice is not just about taste—it's about providing your horse with the best possible nutrition to thrive and stay healthy for years to come. Make the switch to grain-free Alfa Force today and see the difference it can make in your horse's well-being!