To start with, a cow has four stomachs and is a ruminant. This means that a large part of digestion already takes place before the food reaches the intestines. A horse, on the other hand, mostly digests in the hind part of the digestive system: in the cecum and colon. There, fiber digestion takes place with the help of millions of bacteria and other microorganisms. Horses derive their energy mainly from fibers, which are converted into volatile fatty acids. Fibers are mainly found in roughage, not in pellets.

Mainly fibers

It is important for a horse to receive enough fibers, or roughage. This roughage should be of good quality and preferably contain stems. It should not be too rich in sugars and proteins, as it could ferment too much in the front part of the intestines. This could lead to gas formation. Dry and unpacked hay, harvested from a herb-rich grassland and containing a variety of fibers and ingredients, is the best for horses. Wet silage grass is typically cattle feed: suitable for an animal with four stomachs and needing to produce a lot of milk. Horses are not as good at processing silage grass. Although they often find it very tasty!

Other types of roughage

In addition to hay and silage grass, other forms of roughage are sometimes given. In the past, chopped corn was occasionally given. This is also typical cattle feed. Corn contains a lot of starch and horses are not as good at processing it. Nowadays, alfalfa or timothy hay are often given to horses. This adds variety. Alfalfa contains quite a bit of protein and calcium. It can be a good supplement for horses in sport, pregnant horses, or those sensitive in their stomach. Choose alfalfa that is not too prickly, as it may still be uncomfortable for the stomach lining. Timothy is a native grass species that has relatively more stems and fewer leaves. This means: more fibers. It is therefore a suitable plant for grazing or in horse hay. Both alfalfa and timothy hay stimulate your horse to chew more, which encourages more saliva production. This is good for digestion.

Grass pellets and beet pulp

For horses without access to pasture, grass pellets or hay pellets are a good alternative. Beet pulp also consists mainly of fibers. Some people believe there is a lot of sugar in it, but that is not true. The flakes or pellets are pressed from the fibers that remain after the sugar has been pressed from the beets. Always soak beet pulp, otherwise, there is a risk of your horse getting an esophageal obstruction. Note: with beet pulp, you mainly fill your horse, but do not nourish it. We are therefore not in favor of standard feeding of beet pulp, there are better alternatives such as various mashes from Agrobs and Vitalbix.

Herbal balls and branches

For horses that do not have access to pasture, it is nice and beneficial to offer them different fresh plants and herbs in a small hay ball. For example, pick grasses from the roadside, dandelions, and cleavers. Cut and dry nettles for a day to remove the sting. You can supplement this with rose hips, for example. It is also nice to occasionally give your horse a few branches to chew on, such as willow. This way, they also get extra fibers.

Conclusion: Provide variety, but mainly lots of fibers!

Horses have a unique digestion and a great need for fiber-rich roughage. Therefore, unpacked and stemmy hay of good quality is the basis for the horse's diet. In addition, there are several alternative types of roughage that can contribute to variety and stimulate chewing. You can also add some herbs and branches for variety.

Roughage 2.0:

• Good quality fiber-rich hay is the basis, preferably fed unlimitedly
• Optionally supplement with some alfalfa
• Optionally supplement with some timothy hay
• Grass pellets as an alternative for horses with limited pasture access
• Herbs and branches are a nice variation