Horses are classified as herbivorous mammals and migrators. Their digestive systems have evolved over time to make the most of natural pastures. They have a stomach with a relatively small capacity (an average of 12/18 liters), while their intestinal tract is much larger. This means that horses must be fed small meals regularly so that the large intestine, where most digestion takes place, is always replenished. If the intestinal tract is continuously triggered by processing smaller amounts of feed (roughage, concentrates, etc.) the risk of colic is significantly reduced. Sufficient water (in all seasons) is extremely important!
Good quality roughage is very important for horses that spend a lot of time in the stable. The horses spend longer eating. This also reduces the chance of boredom, because boredom can bring stable vices and you would rather not want that. But saliva production is also increased with roughage, which is important for good digestion. The roughage passes through the digestive system less quickly than concentrates, so more energy can be extracted from it.
It is important to feed horses calmly and at fixed times, preferably separately in a box. In a group, animals that are lower in the ranking are crowded out and tend to eat much too quickly to have as much as possible, which does not benefit digestion.
Nutrition is very important for a horse. Not only the quality and quantity, but also the periodicity with which the horse is fed has an enormous influence on the health and behavior of the horse. A lot of research has been done into feeding horses in the last 15 years. It has been proven that horses that are fed in a staggered manner and with sufficient variety become much calmer and easier to handle since their stomach is never empty but also never too full. This means that your horse is more willing to work for you and, above all, does not see a walking hay bale entering the stable when you visit.
A horse in nature spends 14 to 16 hours eating; this is almost impossible for domestic horses. An automatic feeding system not only ensures several feeding moments per day, it also brings peace to the stable. A horse that does not eat from hunger and is therefore not 'nervous' is an animal that is calmer and eats less. An extra point of attention for horses prone to colic! You will see that your horse gets more energy from several smaller portions than from 2 or 3 large ones. This also means you can save up to 30% on general feed costs. Why? Because the horse can get the full energy from the feed through smaller portions and there is less feed waste. Studies have shown that there is up to 50% less chance of colic and up to 70% less chance of stomach ulcers.