Change feed, change behaviour!

Starches and fibrous feed influence the composition of gut bacteria as well as the behaviour of a horse

- Dr Mac

It has been known for centuries that feeding horses grain makes them fast and furious, the type of energetic behaviour required of racehorses and carriage horses. A complete absence of grain, on the other hand, is also undesirable, as working horses will lack the energy to pull ploughs in winter, and sport horses will be unable to keep up when competing in racing, eventing or showjumping.

It is well known that donkeys and certain breeds of horses need high-fibre diets and will be prone to laminitis if fed even relatively small amounts of grain.