Is fiber still important for todays domesticated horse?
After water, fiber is the most important component of the diet for any horse. The horse has evolved to eat fiber, and although a modern thoroughbred may be a far cry from its distant ancestors, its digestive physiology remains one that is best suited to a high fiber diet. But, not only does the horse have a physical need for fiber to maintain his digestive function, he also has a psychological need to chew. In the wild or turned out with free access to pasture, a horse will eat for approximately 16-18 hours per day. Why should one control the amount of sugars and starches in your horse’s diet? Digestion The horse’s small intestine is relatively short and is the only part of the digestive tract where starch and sugar can be digested and absorbed by the horse’s own enzymes. Any starch that remains undigested passes through into the hindgut where it can cause starch-overload. This happens as the undigested starch is fermented in the hindgut by the microbes that normally break down fiber.
