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Increased chew time also facilitates the natural wear of teethwhen eating at ground level. A natural grazing position allowsthe mandible (jaw bone) to come down and forward in the atlantoaxial and temporomandibular joints. This enables themandible to move up and down, side to side, forward and backwithout any restriction; facilitating optimum mastication and reduction of particle size.Keeps Horses Warm In Cold WeatherForage (hay or pasture) provides large amounts of insolublefiber, which is primarily digested in the hindgut (where bacterialfermentation produces internal body heat). High fiber feeds produce long lasting internal body heat to maintain core body temperature. The hindgut is your horse’s furnace! Keeping it stokedwith fuel (forage) helps to keep them warm internally.Keeps Horses OccupiedDue to the amount of chew time grass hay requires, they stayoccupied for longer periods of time per pound. Horses sleeponly 3 to 4 hours in a 24-hour period and usually no longer than20 minutes at one time.Grass hay is a more convenient form of forage to offer in multiple locations by scattering piles of hay or multiple slow feeders.Multiple feeding stations keep your horse moving, which mimics grazing behavior and promotes gut motility. Encourages Water ConsumptionFiber consumption increases water consumption, and the extrawater is held in the cecum until absorption. The equine cecumserves as a storage site for water and electrolytes, if forage is present. During exercise, when dehydration may be an issue, thececum can help keep the horse stay hydrated and supply him withelectrolytes that are lost in sweat. Bottom line - forage encourageswater consumption and creates a reservoir of fluids in the cecum.The minimum sodium requirements should be fed daily insupplements to encourage a natural thirst response.Helps Prevent Gastric UlcersGastric ulcers can develop in as little as 24 hours - and recurin 24 hours respectively. The most common causes of gastric(stomach) ulcers are lack of forage and stress.Foraging throughout the day and night maintains a higher(more alkaline) stomach pH because chewing and swallowingactivate saliva production – which buffers gastric acid. Horses,donkeys and mules produce gastric acid continuously in preparation for constant uptake. The average 1,000 pound horse produces 16 gallons a day of gastric/hydrochloric acid. Thatequates to .66 gallons per hour (16 gallons divided by 24 hours).The stomach only has a two to four gallon capacity and canbegin to empty in as little as 15-20 minutes or when it becomes2/3 full. If the stomach becomes empty, unbuffered gastric acidaccumulates potentially burning holes in the stomach lining.Numerous Slow Feeder OptionsFor those whose horses do not have access to forage (pastureor grass hay) 24/7, grass hay slow feeders are available in a variety of designs and mesh sizes. Most slow feed manufacturers arewilling to share their knowledge and suggest the best options foryour unique environment and weather conditions - call them andtake advantage of their expertise.40 Arizona Horse Connection February, 2026Grass hay pellets typically expand 2 to 4 timesin volume when soaked.Simulate grazing with a standard hay bag.continued on page 42Nationwide Door-To-DoorHauling ServicesTalk/Text:​​520-604-9813info@carouseltrails.com • www.carouseltrails.comFollow us on Social Mediaand sign up for our SubStack Newsletter!GIFFORD EQUINEAppraising • Training • Rehoming • SalesLicensed horse appraiser and member of the AmericanSociety of Equine Appraisers. Jason Gifford appraiseshorses for insurance, various tax purposes including taxdonations, estate settlements, divorces, bankruptcies,loans, business partnerships and for selling horses, tolist just a few. He will travel to your location to thoroughly inspect your horses(s) and obtain all information needed to prepare the appraisal report. If you want an appraisalthat has a basis of fact, that supports the value opinion, that uses nationally accepted appraisal standards and methods, that can be explained and represents what the currentmarket says it’s worth, then you need Jason’s expertise to prepare the appraisal report!Jason Gifford • (623) 293-7487www.giffordequine.com