What do horses eatin their feed?

The feeding of horses should be formulated based on the activity they perform. In this way, the diet of a racehorse is not the same as that of a specimen for recreation.

Horses are a domesticated animal breed found almost everywhere in the world. Naturally, these animals are well adapted to run on flat areas where vegetation abounds. At such sites, horses eat different foods that allow them to keep their bodies stocky and muscular.

The species has the scientific name of Equus caballus, which currently groups several different races. These animals are popular and are used for recreational and sports activities, so they must have a diet that supports this physical demand. Read on and find out what horses eat.

How is the digestive system of the horse?

Herbivores have a big problem when they consume plants, since the plant cells that constitute them are very difficult to digest. Therefore, horses have adaptations in their body that allow them to obtain energy from very unnutritious food.

Listed below are the most important features of your digestive system:

1. Slow and careful chewing: crushing is one of the most efficient processes when consuming plants, as it facilitates digestion and absorption of nutrients. This can also be seen in other herbivores such as goats, cows, and bulls.
2. Small stomach: this makes the digestive process faster. Horses do not have a stomach like ruminants, so they do not absorb nutrients well from their diet. However, they make up for this lack by increasing the number of times they eat a day.
3. Small intestine with enzymes: in this region there is enzymes that degrade food. This process is not very effective, but it allows you to take advantage of the food a little better.
4. Large intestine with microorganisms: Some herbivores use the help of bacteria that live in the intestines to degrade their food. In this way, plant nutrients are released and absorbed in a simpler way.

What do domestic horses eat?

Domestic horses have the same type of diet as wild horses, so there are not many differences between the two. However, they show a limitation in terms of the availability of their food. These animals are supplied with fodder with high amounts of fiber so that they can nourish themselves well.

Some of the most common types of food are the following:

• Hay: is the dry fodder (stems, leaves and seeds) that is obtained from legumes or cereals. Therefore, both options are rich in fiber, protein and carbohydrates, which makes them an excellent food for horses.
• Pastures: like wild specimens, the domestic equine is able to feed on pastures. However, for this diet to contain enough nutrients the specimen must eat almost all day. For this reason, this diet is usually supplemented with hay so as not to affect the animal.
• Toxic herbs (caution): It is important to emphasize that some herbs that grow on grasslands can be toxic to the horse, so you have to be very careful. Not every vegetable is worth feeding.
• Grains: this type of food is recognized for providing a large amount of energy to the animal. Therefore, it is only recommended in horses that have high energy needs, such as sports or cargo. Some examples within this group are corn, oats, wheat, barley and rye.
• Fruits or vegetables: they are taken as prizes for the specimens, since they can not be part of their daily diet.
• Salt and minerals: Horses should consume minerals as a supplement in order to regulate the osmotic balance of their body. This is because horses lose these components through sweating and must be replenished through diet. However, grasses and hay lack these molecules. Therefore, they are offered salt blocks or as additives in the animal's food.

Commercial or concentrated foods

There are certain commercial mixtures that allow to supply a standardized diet to the horse. This can be beneficial for the contribution of direct nutrients to the animal and, in addition, it is very convenient for the guardian.

However, the pre-established diet is not necessary for all types of horses. Feed is a good option to meet the nutrition of the body, but it is not essential. In fact, if they are not used carefully, long-term health problems could be caused in the specimen, such as obesity.

Horses take advantage of the nutrients that plants have (and that are difficult to process). Although it may seem simple, these organisms have a complex digestive system that helps them cope with their environment. This characteristic has allowed them to establish feral populations in countries such as the United States, which reflects the adaptive capacity of these beautiful animals.

The life of a wild horse

Horses are associated with environments with grasslands, steppes and plains with shrubs. In fact, it is believed that initially the populations of this animal occupied the regions of Hungary, Poland and Mongolia, where there are several areas with ecosystems suitable for them. In these habitats, the specimens took the opportunity to feed on the abundant pastures.

The species has an herbivorous diet, so it can consume a variety of small plants, fruits, leaves, saplings and bark. However, it fails to take advantage of the nutrients in these foods. For this reason, horses eat throughout the day in order to meet their natural energy needs and the low amount of calories in their main dietary elements.

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