Why Abrupt Diet Changes are Bad for Your Horse

Researchers say progressive changes in diets lead to healthier microbiomes and fewer digestive issues, such as diarrhea and colic.
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Abrupt Diet Changes’ Effects on the Equine Microbiome
It’s important to remember that change from grass to hay and from hay to grass is not only a change to the diet but also a change to the way the horses are managed, which includes temperature and humidity, light regime, exercise, social interaction, etc. | Photo: iStock
A rapid switch between grass pasture and a hay diet can upset the gut microbiome, which might explain why some horses experience colic or laminitis when changing feeding regimes, according to Scottish researchers.

While scientists still don’t fully understand the ideal health status of horses’ gut microbiomes—the ecosystem of microscopic organisms such as bacteria and viruses inhabiting the digestive system—they do recognize that changes in the microbiome seem to reflect changes in digestive health, said Anna Garber, PhD, of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow, in the U.K.

Genomic Sequencing of Feces After Altering Diet, Environment

In their study, Garber and her fellow researchers performed genomic sequencing on fecal samples from six healthy, adult Welsh Pony geldings undergoing two abrupt diet changes over 28 days.

The ponies first spent a month living full-time on grass pasture. The researchers then abruptly moved the ponies into individual box stalls for 14 days, where they received about 4-5 kilograms (9-11 pounds) of hay per day—rations designed to replicate real-life scenarios of riding horses. At the conclusion of that two-week period, the researchers instituted another abrupt change, moving the ponies back to group-living in a grass pasture

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Written by:

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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