In recent decades, many people have abandoned traditional forms of horse keeping in favor more “natural” horse management practices which better support the horse’s emotional and physical health. At the forefront of this is feeding in a way that mimics how free-roaming horses eat.
Traditional feeding practices typically include two grain and hay meals per day, which often leave the horse without any food at all for long periods of time. Because the horse’s stomach continually secretes acid, saliva (produced by chewing food) is needed to buffer this acid. When horses go for long periods of time with no food, that acid can eat away at the stomach lining, causing ulcers, which may also lead to colic.
Ensuring that your horse has access to forage 24/7 is much more conducive to their gut health as well as their overall health. But how does one feasibly do this?
Barring access to fresh pasture, there are generally two options when it comes to providing hay 24/7 for horses: feeding free choice with either a round bale or multiple square hay feedings throughout the day or using slow feeders. The second option may require some cost up front, but it will save you money and time in the long run. Not to mention, slow feeders can also prevent easy keepers from overeating as they might with free-choice hay.
If you aren’t familiar with slow feeders, these are nets or solid feeders with small to medium-sized openings for hay access. Their purpose is to slow down the rate at which a horse eats, allowing the forage to last a longer period of time.
If making the switch to slow feeders, however, it’s important to purchase the right one for your horse. Some horses may grow frustrated with smaller-sized holes and others may not be able to get as much hay as they need and lose weight as a result. Choose a slow feeder that your horse can eat from but still slows his rate of hay consumption. Placing multiple slow feeders around your property can encouragement movement as your horse travels from feeder to feeder to eat throughout the day.
Supporting a horse’s natural head-down grazing posture is also important when choosing a slow feeder. Eating from the ground or a lower vantage point will not only reduce strain on their body but also help the horse to chew correctly and produce the appropriate amount of saliva needed to buffer stomach acid.
There’s no doubt that slow feeders can support a horse’s gut health by ensuring that they always have hay to eat. But along with using slow feeders, supplementing with a high-quality probiotic such as ProGuard Probiotics will further support your horse’s gut health. ProGuard contains three lactic acid “good” bacteria strains that promote healthy digestive function, helping to ward off bad bacteria and prevent them from overtaking the GI tract. Good bacteria also help the body to make important B vitamins and support a strong immune system.
To better support your horse’s gut and overall health, consider making the switch to slow feeders, and for added protection, feed a probiotic as well.