Digestion = resistance

The intestines can be seen as the most important part of the horse. If the intestines/digestive system are in order, then the resistance will also be in order. The resistance and the intestines are closely linked. That is why you often see that when horses have a resistance problem, it also affects the digestion.

A well-functioning intestinal system will optimize the resistance of the horse. It is therefore extremely important to carefully deal with the stomach and intestines of your horse.

Start at the basics

Horses are still very close to nature when it comes to digestion. We breed horses for a specific purpose which means we select for certain physical qualities, but in the genes, the horse is still very close to its origin. In terms of nutritional needs, little has changed compared to the horse from hundreds of years ago!

The basis of the horse should always be good quality roughage. Dry, unpacked hay is the very best for horses. Of course, it should not be dusty or contain mold spores. Coarse hay, low in sugar, and consisting of various grasses and herbs are most optimal. Other good roughage sources are: branches, (barley) straw, reed, and herb-rich grass.

Try to avoid pre-cut hay/silage for horses. This roughage disrupts the body's acidity. This makes it difficult for minerals to be absorbed and disturbs the intestinal flora. For many horses, this results in watery manure and overall acidification of the body.

Also, don't forget that horses naturally eat almost all day long. The stomach is very small compared to the body. Horses should therefore never go longer than 4 hours without roughage, and for many horses, this is already too long, which poses a risk of ulcers and other unwanted behaviors (e.g. eating sand).

Avoid grains and large amounts of sugars

Grains are a major source of starch which is converted into pure sugars by the body. Sugars provide quick energy but also a quick dip afterwards. In addition, large amounts of sugars disrupt the intestinal flora and can, in severe cases, result in laminitis or insulin resistance.

Horses also consume sugars through roughage, even up to 1 kg per day with unlimited grazing. However, these sugars are spread throughout the day, allowing the horse to process them naturally. This prevents hypo and hyper fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

The sugars in concentrated feed (and also many supplements based on sugars, e.g. dextrose) often come from grains, molasses, and other sugar products. A sports mix can easily have a starch/sugar content of around 40%. If your horse gets 2 kg of sports mix, that's 800 grams of sugar that your horse has to process! These sugars are released suddenly, causing the horse's blood sugar level to spike, but after the sugars are processed, the blood sugar level drops significantly.

Therefore, it is always preferable to give a grain-free product! Your horse should derive its energy from roughage. The digestion of fats provides more and longer-lasting energy than the digestion of sugars. Also, your horse won't experience a sugar crash, resulting in longer-lasting energy and better performance. It's good to know that when you transition your horse from a grain-rich feed to a grain-free feed, your horse may experience an energy dip. The transition from sugar burning to fat burning takes some time, but afterwards, your horse will have more energy!

Gradually build up grazing time / new feed

The horse's intestinal flora is extremely sensitive to changes. The bacteria living in the intestines are tuned to the food the horse eats. Different bacteria are needed for grass than for hay. Therefore, the switch from hay to grass should also be done carefully. Don't put your horse on the pasture for several hours at once after the winter period. Start with a maximum of half an hour and gradually increase this over the following weeks.

It is also advisable to introduce new feed gradually. Especially if you give more than 1 kg of concentrated feed. First, mix the old feed with the new feed and gradually increase the new feed.

Conclusion: Provide the right nutrition

Unfortunately, many digestive complaints are caused by improper feeding management. Poor choices in this regard can disrupt the intestinal flora and the body's pH, leading to health problems. Therefore, always opt for unpacked hay and a concentrated feed (or balancer) that is grain-free and low in sugars.

Feed the horse as it would eat in nature. Small portions of roughage, distributed throughout the day, with a variety of herbs, grasses, branches, and, for example, tree bark.

Did you know?:

• Liquid nettle supports the intestinal flora?

• Hawthorn, yellow gentian, absinthe, and cat's claw (combined with each other) also have positive effects on digestion?

• Sand in the intestines can also cause watery manure? And that sand eating can become a bad habit if horses go too long without food?