Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Forage Welfare Science

Forage is the foundation of equine welfare; inadequate forage quality, quantity, or access causes gastric ulcers, stereotypies, and metabolic disease.

Key Facts

Horses evolved to graze for 16-18 hours per day; modern management often restricts this severely
Periods without forage exceeding 6 hours increase gastric ulcer risk significantly
Ad libitum forage is ideal but requires management in overweight or metabolic horses
Hay quality, dust levels, and hygiene directly affect respiratory and digestive health
Forage analysis allows precise matching of nutritional provision to horse requirements

Welfare Considerations

Forage access is the single most important welfare provision for horses; management that restricts foraging time for more than short periods causes predictable, preventable suffering.

What You Can Do

Provide forage ad libitum or with minimal gaps for horses in your care
Use slow feeder nets to extend foraging time for horses on restricted diets
Invest in forage testing to ensure nutritional adequacy