Whole oats include intact hulls, which protect the grain’s endosperm from oxygen and the possible breakdown of numerous nutritional components. So whenever possible, feed horses whole oats. | Photo: iStock

Q: I can see fully formed oats in my horse’s manure. Does this mean he’s not digesting his feed and, if he’s not, then is he not getting the nutrition he needs (or am I wasting my money on textured feed that includes oats)?

A: This is a great question and one I get asked often. The short answer? It might or might not mean your horse isn’t digesting the oats. You won’t know without further investigation, and that means getting your hands in some manure.

What at first glance might appear to be fully formed grains of oat may, in fact, be just the remains and outer indigestible hull. To find out, get a few pieces of oat from the manure and press them between your finger and thumb, and see what’s inside. It should be empty, which will confirm that your horse has digested all the good stuff and just the hull remains. However, if white starch comes out when you squeeze them, this means your horse hasn’t fully digested the oats