By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

The digestive system of horses and ponies is designed to process forage for the majority of each day. With modern management practices, however, horses are often maintained in stalls and fed meals twice daily, which can be consumed in a few hours or less. Horses left without forage for more than four or five hours may develop gastrointestinal or behavioral problems.

One option for decreasing the amount of time a horse spends without forage is the use of slow feeders. A recent study showed that consumption time was up to 61% higher when ponies were given access to partially filled haynets than when fed hay on the ground.

Another study exploring the benefits of slow feeders tracked chewing patterns with various slow-feeding devices.^* Those researchers hypothesized that haynets with smaller holes would increase chewing frequency compared with feeding on the ground. Chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which contains bicarbonate, a compound that buffers the acidity in the stomach. More chewing produces more bicarbonate.

“Horses continuously produce gastric acid but only produce saliva while they are chewing. Therefore, continuous chewing can help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers by producing bicarbonate in the saliva,” explained Ashley Fowler, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

To test the hypothesis that haynets increase chewing and alter chewing dynamics, the researchers fitted eight horses with “chewing halters.” These devices recorded individual chews using a pressure sensor on the noseband. Horses were maintained in stalls and fed bermudagrass at 1.5% body weight twice daily at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The researchers calculated the number of chews per kilogram of hay, chewing duration (total time spent chewing per day), and the percent of chews completed in the first 120 and 240 minutes of feeding. Horses were fed using haynets with large holes, haynets with small holes, haynets with only a bottom hole, and unrestricted off the stall floor.

Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, the haynets did not increase chewing frequency. Horses fed from the small hole haynet, however, had a longer chewing duration than horses fed off the stall floor. Further, fewer chews were completed in the first 240 minutes of being fed for horses feeding from small hole haynets compared to haynets with a single bottom hole.

“This research shows that slow feeders do not increase the number of chews for a specific amount of hay, but the small hole haynet did lengthen the amount of time that the horse spent chewing. This study also found that the horses had an increased rate of consumption from the haynets with a single bottom hole, which means not all slow feeders are created equal and need to be carefully evaluated,” advised Fowler.

In addition to access to forage, another way of protecting the sensitive squamous region of the stomach from acid damage is by offering a product containing antacids and stomach-coating agents.

Fowler added, “The squamous, or upper, portion of the stomach has fewer protective mechanisms against acid compared to the glandular, or lower, portion of the stomach and is more susceptible to developing ulcers from acid splash. Along with stimulating alkaline saliva production, consuming forage also helps create a fiber mat in the stomach, providing a physical ‘splash-guard’ to stop the acid from spraying on the squamous mucosa.”

Read more: Haynet Research in Horses: Something to Chew On

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

An average Thoroughbred’s racing career spans only a few years, yet horses often live well into their 20s and sometimes into their 30s. Successful transition to a second career helps protect and build the Thoroughbred industry, improving the welfare of horses as well as the image of racing in general.

According to a recent study of off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB) sold through an online auction, some horses are more likely to be adopted than others.^* Here’s why:

Age. A horse’s sale price increases until it peaks at the age of 9 years old when it begins to decrease. The value continues to decrease each additional year. By 19 years old, the horse would probably be given away rather than sold.

Gender. Mares sold for about $924 less than geldings. “In this study, there was a larger number of mares. Of 170 horses included in the study, 63% were mares,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., of Kentucky Equine Research.

Color. Chestnut, gray, or roan horses were valued at more than $1,000 compared to bay, brown, or black horses. “This could have been because the more popular colors were less common, with only 26% of the 170 horses in this study chestnuts and only 12% gray or roan, which is less than half of the study population,” Crandell said.

Registrations. Horses registered with the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter Jumper Association, or United States Eventing Association had an added value of nearly $2,000. “Horses with showing or competition experience appear more popular. Potential buyers can look up the horse’s past placings, and likely have more confidence regarding whether the horse was suitable for competition,” explained Crandell.

“This may also reflect some concern for injuries,” she added. “For example, horses that have not competed may have been injured on the track and therefore may not be able to compete in second careers and might be more suited to trail riding.”

“Understanding market demands can help identify desired characteristics for Thoroughbreds entering alternative disciplines, which may in turn improve welfare by better aligning buyer demand with available market supply,” wrote the researchers.

Ultimately, improving our understanding of factors that make Thoroughbred marketable will lead to long-term placement of OTTBs in new careers.

According to Crandell, “These horses can have special nutritional demands as a result of intense training at the track. Making sure they have a balanced diet is key to transitioning to a successful second career.”

Joint supplements are among the most popular nutritional supplements given to equine athletes. These can include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and even long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. A focus on joint health also includes maintaining an appropriate body weight, which proves problematic even for some athletic horses.

Read more: Which Off-Track Thoroughbreds Are Most Desirable?