Horses evolved as continuous grazers whose digestive physiology requires near-constant forage intake, and management that restricts this creates significant welfare and health problems.
Modern horse management frequently conflicts with equine digestive physiology. Horses fed twice-daily concentrate meals with restricted hay between feeds experience significant welfare consequences: gastric acid accumulation causes ulcers, and oral stereotypies (crib-biting, wood chewing) develop as compensation for frustrated grazing behavior. The welfare-positive approach prioritizes forage: ad-lib hay or slow feeder hay nets that allow near-continuous chewing and eliminate the gastric acid exposure caused by empty stomachs. This simple management change prevents both physical suffering from ulcers and psychological frustration from forage restriction.