Digestion starts in the mouth. In order to eat efficiently, everything needs to line up correctly - the grinding surfaces need to align in order to chew and break down their feed and forage.
The horse has muscles to retract the lower jaw, but not to move it forward. When the horse is grazing, their head is down when eating and the lower jaw slips slightly forward. So, for a horse with a well conformed mouth;
This position allows the horse to grind forage efficiently, just as nature intended.
When a horse eats with their head raised (for example, from haynets or high buckets):
Feeding from floor level helps maintain correct jaw alignment, promotes more even tooth wear, and supports healthy digestion. Whenever possible, allow your horse eat naturally, as nature intended — head down, teeth aligned, and chewing comfortably.
We also recommend that your horse is seen regularly (every 6 to 12 months) by a qualified Equine Dental Technician. You can find a list of qualified professionals on the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) here.
Your horse may require an easier to manage soaked hay replacer such as Simple System's HayCare or Lucie Fibre Cubes. For free feeding advice contact the Simple System Feed Line on 01728 604 008 or complete the online enquiry form here.
In the wild, with unrestricted access to pasture, horses would spend the summer “stocking up†by eating nutritious grass - and plenty of it - to aid them in building a thick coat and laying down excess weight...
Horses’ teeth change throughout their lives - they are continually growing and continually wearing, as they chew and grind their grazing and forage.
Grass has the potential to grow all year, which is different from many other plants. Certain things are necessary for this growth, but if they are not met, the grass will be dormant, waiting for conditions to improve.Â
