This is in contrast to cattle, which begin fermentation much earlier in the digestive process, in their rumen (four-chambered stomach). Horses are sometimes referred to as “hind gut fermenters” for this reason. It holds roughly 8 to 10 gallons and it is here where fermentation truly starts. Food enters the cecum, a large, comma-shaped organ on the right side of the horse’s abdomen, after exiting the ileum. The first part of the large intestine is the cecum. The primary functions of the horse’s large intestine (made up of the cecum, large colon and small colon) are to house microbes that break down cellulose via fermentation and to absorb water and vitamins. Up to this point, fiber from roughage such as grass and hay has not been broken down. With abundant mixing, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken into their smaller subunits and absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. The pancreas also contributes various enzymes, and bile from the liver is added in as well. Throughout the small intestine, serious digestion takes place as numerous types of digestive enzymes are secreted. Colic can be caused by impactions in the hairpin turns of the large intestine. About 70 feet in length with a total capacity of about 12 gallons, the small intestine has three parts, as in humans: the duodenum, jejunum, and the ileum. Small IntestineĪfter a quick exit from the stomach, food enters the small intestine. If horses aren’t allowed to eat frequent, small meals, the rapid emptying of the stomach leaves the lining exposed to gastric acid, and ulcers can form. Horses’ stomachs are relatively small-holding only 2 to 4 gallons-and they empty very quickly. This unique anatomical feature of the horse prevents ingesta from easily coming back up, therefore preventing horses from being able to vomit. The esophagus enters the stomach at an extremely acute angle. Your veterinarian will sedate the horse and create a siphon with a nasogastric tube to lubricate and break up the blockage through direct irrigation and rehydration with water. Medical intervention is typically required to relieve choke. A horse with choke is also at risk for developing aspiration pneumonia due to accidental inhalation of food particles or water.Ī horse with choke will appear distressed and may play in water but not drink, or repeatedly stretch out his neck and attempt to swallow. Occasionally, a chunk of feed will get stuck in the esophagus-this is referred to as “choke,” although that’s a bit of misnomer, since a horse with an esophageal obstruction can still breathe.Ĭhoke can be dangerous the esophagus is relatively thin-walled and can be damaged and scarred, or even torn. If you watch closely, you can sometimes see a lump of feed work its way down a horse’s neck. The esophagus pushes food down in a wave-like motion called peristalsis. This long, muscular tube is roughly 4 to 5 feet long in an adult horse and takes feed from swallow to stomach.
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