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The stomach of the horse is the smallest unit of the digestive tract with a capacity of approximately 2-4 gallons, comprising around 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. The horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals.
The horse's stomach makes up 10% of their digestive system, holding 8 to 15 liters (2-4 gallons).This small size matches their natural feeding pattern of eating small amounts often, rather than large meals. As mentioned earlier, wild horses spend 16-18 hours daily grazing, keeping their stomachs partially full.
The horse’s digestive system has two parts: the foregut and the hindgut. The foregut consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Digestion of proteins, fats and hydrolyzable carbohydrates (such as those found in grain) takes place mainly in the foregut.
The horse stomach is located in the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity, caudal to the diaphragm and liver, and mainly left to the median plane of the body. You will find two surfaces, two curvatures, and two extremities in the horse’s stomach.
The main functions of the horse's stomach are to: add gastric acid to help with the breakdown of food; secrete the enzyme pepsinogen to begin protein digestion; regulate the passage of food into the small intestine. The stomach is a holding and mixing tank, not unlike a cement truck that is constantly churning and mixing ingredients.
Horse owners and managers need a basic understanding of how the equine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) functions to provide ideal nutrition and management for animals in their care. This fact sheet provides practical knowledge of the physiology and function of the equine GIT and its relation to best practices.
The horse stomach can be divided into two main (mucosa) regions, the (upper) non-glandular region and the (lower) glandular region. The lining of the stomach is divided by a ridge or fold of the mucosa called the margo plicatus.
Horses secrete large amounts of saliva only when the horse is chewing. Saliva lubricates the bolus of feed for easier passage through the esophagus, helps buffer the acid in the stomach, and produces amylase, which begins the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Horses are susceptible to various stomach problems, including gastric ulcers and colic, which can significantly impact their digestion and overall health. These conditions necessitate prompt assessment and treatment by a qualified veterinarian to ensure proper gastrointestinal function.
In this article we are going to take a journey through the horse’s digestive system from nose to tail, discussing how each section works and how this links to practical feed management. The mouth and teeth have two main functions; to chew food and to wet food with saliva.