The equine species have evolved to live on open grasslands. They are active for much of the time, wandering as they graze and engaging in locomotory activities. Evolutionary changes to the mouth, teeth and digestive system have resulted in modern horses, who are a species of herbivorous grazers. Their digestive system has evolved to sustain a foraging diet of complex plant materials high in fiber and cellulose, requiring extensive fermentation. The large bowel of the equine has evolved to work best when there is an almost constant supply of food making its way through the digestive system, and the entire process from ingestion to defecation takes around 48 hours.

The ability of the horse’s digestive system to cope with a diet high in concentrated feed, combined with limited access to forage, is a testament to the species’ ability to adapt to ensure its continued survival. The inability to graze, eat a natural diet, and have a constant trickle of food going through the digestive system can result in horses being predisposed to a range of physiological and psychological conditions.

• Unlike humans, horses only produce saliva when they chew. The quantity produced is dependent on chewing time. Saliva is mostly made up of bicarbonate, is swallowed with food, and acts as a necessary buffer to stomach acid. It also contains a high level of mucin, lubricating the esophagus to aid swallowing.
• Concentrated feed and limited access to forage results in reduced chewing, which leads to a lack of saliva production and a high susceptibility and occurrence of gastric ulcers.
• Concentrates are easily digestible and eaten quickly. This inevitably leads to periods of fasting.
• The lack of a continual trickle of food in the digestive system can lead to chronic and acute digestive problems.
• Horses fed a high proportion of their daily food intake from a height can develop significant physical, postural, and pain issues.
• Horses have a biological need to graze. When they do not have this option, a number of significant psychological and behavioral issues can emerge.
• The horse has an innate need to move as he eats. In their natural setting, horses are not stationary for much of the time, and lack of movement due to stabling or restricted turnout has an impact on homeostasis.

Providing adequate nutritional needs in the wrong context does not address the basic needs of the horse or provide the ability to express natural behavior in his movements or the way he eats.

• Horses should receive an adequate nutritional diet in a form that is natural to the species.
• The base of the diet for EVERY class of horse should be pasture, hay or “chop”/chaff.
• Access to forage should always be available, along with regular browsing opportunities.
• Horses should be provided with a properly balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs.

Determining a horse’s nutritional requirements has three key aspects:

Resources

Cooper, J. J., & Albentosa, M. J. (2005). Behavioral adaptation in the domestic horse: potential role of apparently abnormal responses including stereotypic behavior. Livestock Production Science 92 177- 182. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301622604002350

Murray, M.J., & Eichorn, E. S. (1996, December). Effects of intermittent feed deprivation, intermittent feed deprivation with ranitidine administration, and stall confinement with ad libitum access to hay on gastric ulceration in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 57 (11) 1599-603. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/14292543_Effects_of_intermittent_feed_deprivation_intermittent_feed_deprivation_with_ranitidine_and_stall_confinement_with_free_access_to_hay_on_gastric_ulceration_in_Horses

Ransom, J. I., & Cade, B. S. (2009). Quantifying Equid Behavior—A Research Ethogram for Free-Roaming Feral Horses. Publications of the US Geological Survey 26. Available at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/02a09/pdf/TM2A9.pdf

Waters, A. J., Nicol, C. J., & French, N. P. (2002, October). Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study. Equine Veterinary Journal 34 (6) 572-579. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11099549_Factors_influencing_the_development_of_stereotypic_and_redirected_behaviours_in_young_horses_Finding_of_a_four_year_prospective_epidemiological_study?ev=publicSearchHeader&_sg=XQG-Xdq0jTgWMGxHfO32GUtY0F-bDpL7J8NOWUMT7z84_gLkmd9UWPwWCOvehB6u5Jd1bBelRBW6h5A