When you break it down to the basics, a horse’s stomach is like a small bucket that needs to remain partially full at all times. There is an ideal line, and if you dip below that line, the bucket sends a signal out that it needs more food soon. The horse then is triggered to seek more food to fill their bucket. As the bucket gets closer to empty, the bucket starts rattling and causing the horse to feel anxious, stressed, and hungrier. If the bucket is filled to the top, it will empty at a faster rate to reach that happy ideal line.

Imagine having 24 hours where you are responsible for keeping that bucket still. You have 2 flakes of hay and 24 hours to go. You can stuff the bucket full with hay each time it begins to rattle, and minimize the times you fill the bucket. But you’ll have to endure that rattling bucket each time, and soon you will be out of hay. The bucket will rattle for the rest of the 24 hours, until you get more hay. 

If you only have those two flakes of hay, tossing just enough to keep the bucket from rattling throughout the day will extend your peace – but you’ll still run out. If you want to keep the bucket happy, you’re going to need more hay, and if you want it to last the full 24 hours, you’ll need to toss just a little in the bucket at a time to keep it in that ideal line.

 Studies have shown that the signal to seek food occurs as early as 20 minutes after eating. This means that when you take your horse out for a ride, and 30 minutes down the road they start desperately grabbing for some grass, they aren’t trying to be naughty. Your horse is simply trying to stop the discomfort in their tummy! Forage and saliva is the cure to too-high levels of stomach acid. Feeding once in the morning and evening means that there are hours each day and night when most horses have uncomfortably empty stomachs. Discomfort leads to boredom habits like cribbing, pacing, destructive behavior, and even aggression.