{"id":32835,"date":"2026-09-04T08:58:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hartog.eu\/?post_type=articles&p=32835"},"modified":"2026-09-03T11:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T09:29:32","slug":"horse-four-hours-without-forage","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/hartog.eu\/en\/articles\/horse-four-hours-without-forage\/","title":{"rendered":"Why a horse should never stand longer than 4 hours without forage"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have probably heard the rule: never leave a horse without forage for more than four hours at a stretch. In this episode Maartje explains where that rule comes from.<\/p>\n

Short answer<\/h2>\n

A horse produces stomach acid continuously, even when it is not eating. Forage creates chewing, chewing produces saliva, and saliva together with the forage itself helps buffer that acid. If a horse stands too long without forage, acid is left in an empty stomach. That raises the risk of gastric ulcers.<\/p>\n

What is the equine digestive system designed for?<\/h2>\n

Continuous intake of fibre-rich feed. In a natural setting a horse spends up to eighteen hours a day eating. Our horses live a very different lifestyle in many situations – but their digestive systems have not changed with it.<\/p>\n

So even a stabled horse needs to be able to eat enough forage, without long gaps in between.<\/p>\n

What happens in an empty stomach?<\/h2>\n

Stomach acid is produced continuously, whether or not the horse is eating. In a grazing horse that acid is constantly diluted and buffered by saliva and by fibre-rich stomach contents. In an empty stomach, neither happens.<\/p>\n

One of the problems that can develop as a result is a gastric ulcer<\/strong>. The international consensus statement from the European College of Equine Internal Medicine explicitly names restricted forage availability and long periods without feed as risk factors.<\/p>\n

Why should you not train on an empty stomach?<\/h2>\n

During exercise, abdominal pressure pushes the stomach contents upwards. Stomach acid can then splash onto the upper, less protected part of the stomach lining.<\/p>\n

Forage helps in two ways:<\/p>\n