Equine Digestive System, Nutrition & Care

70 vocabulary flashcards covering equine digestion, nutrition, feeding practices, health issues, parasites, and hoof care.

Incisors

Front teeth of the horse that clip and grasp forage before it is moved back for chewing.

Cardiac sphincter

Powerful muscular ring between esophagus and stomach that prevents horses from vomiting.

Pepsin

Stomach enzyme that begins protein digestion by breaking proteins into amino-acid chains.

Duodenum

First section of the small intestine where most enzymatic digestion and bile action occur.

Jejunum

Middle section of the small intestine; primary site of nutrient absorption.

Ileum

Final part of the small intestine leading to the cecum.

Cecum

First part of the large intestine ("water gut"); microbial fermentation chamber for fiber.

Hindgut

Collective term for the cecum and colon where fermentation of fiber takes place.

Large colon

10–12 ft section that absorbs carbohydrate end-products; frequent site of impaction colic.

Small colon

10–12 ft segment where most water is absorbed and fecal balls are formed.

Rectum

Final one-foot chamber that stores waste before expulsion through the anus.

Water (nutrient)

Makes up 62–68 % of body weight; a 1,000 lb horse drinks about 10–12 gal daily.

Dehydration

Loss of 8–10 % body water that quickly becomes life-threatening for a horse.

Amino acids

Basic units of protein needed for growth, muscle, reproduction, lactation, and tissue repair.

Fat (dietary energy)

High-energy nutrient; hard for horses to digest in large amounts because they lack a gall bladder.

Soluble carbohydrates

Starches and sugars digested to glucose in the small intestine; main quick energy source.

Insoluble carbohydrates

Fibrous cellulose fermented in the hindgut rather than enzymatically digested.

Volatile fatty acids

Energy-rich compounds produced by microbial fermentation of fiber in cecum and colon.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, and K that can be stored in body tissues for later use.

Water-soluble vitamins

B-complex vitamins that are not stored and must be supplied continuously.

Macro minerals

Minerals needed in larger amounts, e.g., Ca, P, Na, K, and Cl.

Trace minerals

Micronutrients such as Mg, Se, Cu, Zn, and I required in small quantities.

Forage

Roughage such as hay or grass; should form at least 50 % of a horse’s diet by weight.

Concentrate

Energy-dense feeds like grain or pelleted rations added when calorie needs rise.

Legumes

Forage plants like alfalfa or clover, high in protein and calcium.

Grasses

Pasture or hay species (timothy, brome, fescue, etc.) with lower protein than legumes.

Hay

Dried, baled mixture of grasses/legumes; most nutritious when cut early before full maturity.

Haylage

Moist, lightly fermented forage between hay and silage; higher sugar and palatability.

Silage

Fully fermented "pickled" grass or crop used as high-moisture forage.

Straw

Low-energy, low-protein stems from cereal crops such as oats, barley, or wheat.

Chaff

Short-chopped forage product (often molassed) used as a hay replacer or feed extender.

Oats

Cereal grain considered safest for horses—lowest starch, highest fiber among common grains.

Bran

Outer layer of wheat grain; high in phosphorus, used for fiber but can unbalance Ca:P ratio.

Sugar beet pulp

High-digestible-fiber feed with good energy content and a favorable calcium level.

Compound feed

Commercially formulated complete cubes or pellets providing balanced nutrition.

Succulents

Water-rich feeds (e.g., fruits) added for bulk and palatability.

Nutraceutical

Non-toxic food component like glucosamine that confers proven health benefits.

Yeast (digestive aid)

Supplement that supplies B-vitamins and supports hindgut microbial activity.

Probiotics

Live beneficial microorganisms fed to improve intestinal microbial balance.

Prebiotics

Non-digestible feed ingredients that nourish beneficial gut bacteria.

Rules of good feeding

Eleven guidelines including clean water, feeding by weight, plenty of fiber, and gradual changes.

Vitamin A deficiency

Leads to night blindness, poor growth, and reproductive failure in horses.

Big head disease

Facial bone enlargement from long-term calcium deficiency or Ca:P imbalance.

Ca:P ratio

Ideal dietary balance of calcium to phosphorus (1–2 : 1) critical for skeletal health.

Electrolyte supplementation

Providing Na, K, and Cl to replace minerals lost in sweat during intense work or hot weather.

Choke

Esophageal blockage from poorly-chewed or rapid feed intake; a veterinary emergency.

Colic

General term for abdominal pain; can result from gas, impaction, twists, or dietary changes.

Laminitis

Painful inflammation of hoof lamina often triggered by sugar or starch overload.

Heaves

Chronic allergic bronchitis (COPD) caused by dusty or moldy hay; leads to labored breathing.

Tying-up

Equine exertional rhabdomyolysis causing muscle pain after rest-then-work pattern.

Contracted tendons

Growth disorder in young horses often linked to improper diet or Ca:P imbalance.

Bloodworms

Large strongyles that migrate through mesenteric arteries; once the most dangerous parasite.

Small strongyles

Most common equine parasite today; encyst in lining of the large colon.

Roundworms

Parasites affecting foals; can migrate through lungs and intestines; resistant strains exist.

Tapeworms

Flat parasites attaching at the ileocecal junction; require an intermediate host.

Bots

Fly larvae that develop in the horse’s stomach after eggs are licked from the legs.

Fecal egg count

Laboratory test measuring parasite eggs per gram of manure to guide deworming.

Anthelmintic

Deworming drug classes such as avermectins, benzimidazoles, and pyrantels.

Farrier

Skilled professional who trims hooves and applies horseshoes, including corrective work.

Thrush

Infection of the frog producing foul odor; linked to wet, dirty footing.

Corns

Bruised areas of the sole from repeated pressure, often due to poor or long-worn shoes.

Abscess (hoof)

Localized infection within the hoof causing sudden severe lameness; must be drained.

Navicular disease

Degenerative condition of the navicular bone and associated tendon causing intermittent lameness.

Seedy toe

Separation of hoof wall from white line at the toe, forming a cavity; often due to neglect.

Corrective horseshoe

Specialized shoe designed to treat or support specific hoof or limb problems.

Egg bar shoe

Oval bar shoe that supports the rear of the hoof; commonly used for navicular syndrome.

Heart bar shoe

Shoe with frog-covering plate to support the coffin bone in cases such as founder.

Founder

Chronic laminitis where the coffin bone rotates or sinks within the hoof capsule.

Impaction colic

Form of colic where feed material blocks the intestine, often in the large colon or ileum.

Toxic plants

Species such as avocado, oak, red maple, or sorghum that can poison horses if ingested.