Test Yourself On Horse Digestion

Challenge #2

Difficulty: Medium

How much do you really know about your horse’s digestive health?
Take our quiz to find out!

How many hours per day do horses need to spend grazing to meet their nutritional needs?

1. 7
2. 9
3. 17
   Horses are “trickle feeders,” meaning they’re designed to eat small amounts of food constantly throughout the day. Well over half of your horse’s diet should come from forage (i.e. hay or pasture), which is broken down in the hindgut. That means your horse’s hindgut has a lot of work to do, and it functions best when it does that work gradually throughout the day. In addition, the constant movement during turnout also contributes to healthy digestion.
4. 24

A sudden change in a horse’s activity level has been proven to increase their chance of experiencing a colic episode.

1. True
   Suddenly changing your horse’s exercise routine (whether increasing or decreasing workload) has been linked to digestive upset. Make changes to your horse’s workload as gradually as possible, and consider adding a digestive supplement like SmartDigest Ultra to lend additional support during the transition. Sometimes you don’t have any control over the changes in your horse’s workload, like if your horse is suddenly put on stall rest. In these cases, a digestive supplement may be even more important.
   

   

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2. False

Which of the following are proven to increase a horse’s risk of colic?

1. Changes in his type of grain
2. Changes in his amount of grain
3. Changes in hay
4. All the above
   Most horse owners recognize that changes in their horse’s grain can put them at risk for colic, but they don’t realize that changes in hay, such as a new cut (which is a common part of daily barn life), can put their horse at risk as well. Changing your horse’s grain (type or amount) increases his risk of colic up to five times, while changes in hay increase the risk of colic a startling 10 times! Aim to keep your horse’s diet as consistent as possible, and if you have to make a change, do it gradually (ideally over 7-10 days). You can also try a digestive health supplement with prebiotics, which help keep the microbes of the hindgut healthy during feed transitions, as well as yeast and enzymes for their additional GI benefits.

Which of the following are warning signs of colic?

1. Pawing
2. Repeatedly lying down and getting up
3. Lack of bowel movements
4. Worsening attitude
5. Resistance to work
6. All of the above
7. a, b, and c
   Pawing, repeatedly lying down and getting up, and lack of bowel movements are warning signs of colic. Worsening attitude and resistance to work are actually warning signs of gastric ulcers. Colic and gastric ulcers do share some risk factors and warning signs, which can sometimes make it hard to find out what’s really going on. The best thing you can do is get educated—always talk to your veterinarian about any digestive health concerns, but for more background on these topics, read our blog at SmartPak.com/UlcerRisk
8. a, d, and e

Keeping your horse hydrated is as simple as keeping his water bucket full.

1. True
2. False
   Healthy hydration is essential for normal digestion and overall health, but sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially in the winter. When it gets cold, horses may become dehydrated because they are reluctant to drink very cold water, or worse—their bucket is frozen altogether. Adding an electrolyte that contains salt can help encourage your horse to drink even when it’s chilly. To battle frozen buckets, try the Heated Flatback Bucket, which helps keep your horse’s bucket ice free and the water a more inviting drinking temperature.
   

   

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