How Do Horse's Digestive Systems Work?

The equine digestive system is a complex and fascinating structure can efficiently process a diet primarily consisting  of forages. Understanding how horses digest feed is crucial for proper nutrition and management. 

The horse's digestive system can be divided into two main sections: 

Foregut: Includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine 

Hindgut: Comprises the cecum, large colon, small colon, and rectum 

Horses are classified as hindgut fermenters, meaning that a significant portion of their digestion occurs in the large  intestine through microbial fermentation. Digestion begins in the mouth, where the horse uses its lips, teeth,  and tongue to select and chew food. Chewing stimulates saliva production, which serves these two important  functions. Lubricating food for easier swallowing. Buffering stomach acid to help prevent ulcers. After chewing,  food passes through the esophagus to the stomach. The equine stomach is relatively small, comprising only about  10% of the total digestive tract volume. Key points about the stomach include a capacity of approximately 2-4  gallons, continuous production of acid and limited starch digestion occurs here. Due to its small size and continuous  acid production, horses are best suited to eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. 

The small intestine is the primary site for digestion and absorption of nutrients such as proteins, fats, and non structural carbohydrates. It's approximately 70 feet long and

makes up about 30% of the total digestive system. It  is important to note that horses have a limited capacity to digest starch in the small intestine. Overfeeding grain can 

ead to undigested starch reaching the hindgut, potentially causing digestive upset.

Horses going off feed due to  digestive upset can start a cascade of issues that put the horse at risk for ulcers.  If your horse is struggling with ulcers, or off feed; try out Gastro Re-Cover! 

Then the large intestine, particularly the cecum and large colon, is where the majority of fiber digestion occurs. This  process is facilitated by billions of microorganisms that ferment plant material into usable nutrients. Some of the  key features of the large intestine include it comprises about 60% of the total gastrointestinal tract, home to a  diverse microbiota essential for fiber digestion and produces volatile fatty acids, which are an important energy  source for horses.your life.