FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2010; 41(9); 908-914; doi: 10.2746/042516409x447806

Changes in faecal bacteria associated with concentrate and forage-only diets fed to horses in training.

Abstract: Diets rich in readily fermentable carbohydrates, fed traditionally to meet the increased energy requirements of the performance horse, are associated with a number of gastrointestinal disorders that involve disturbances in the intestinal microbiota, however, these changes are poorly understood. Objective: With the long-term objective of improving intestinal health and to increase understanding of the relationship between diet and microbiota, the effect of feeding Standardbred horses a high-energy forage-only (F) diet was studied compared to a more traditional forage-concentrate (C) diet on faecal microbiota. Methods: Diets were fed in a cross-over design to 6 mature geldings on a scheduled training regime, both periods consisting of 29 days. DNA was extracted from faecal samples collected at 4 time points from each period, bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified and community composition assessed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism, cloning and sequencing. Faecal pH and cultivable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and enterobacteria were also assessed on the final collection day of each period. Results: Diet F resulted in a microbial composition that was more stable between sampling periods and had lower counts (P < 0.05) of cultivable LAB and specifically members of the Streptococcus bovislequinus complex. Motile and swarming Lactobacillus ruminis was present in all horses on diet C and not in horses on diet F. Diet C also resulted in the increase (P < 0.05) in members of Clostridiaceae cluster III and a concomitant reduction (P < 0.05) in an unknown group of Bacteroidales. Conclusions: The greater microbial stability and reduction in LAB and members of the Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex on diet F indicate an opportunity to develop feeding strategies that support equine health and welfare. Novel changes identified in the faecal microbiota that resulted from carbohydrate inclusion merit further investigation.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-04-14 PubMed ID: 20383990DOI: 10.2746/042516409x447806Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explored how high-energy forage-only diets might impact the intestinal health of performance horses when compared to traditional forage-concentrate diets. Results indicate that a forage-only diet provided greater microbial stability and reduction in some harmful bacteria, suggesting potential advantages for equine health and welfare.

Objective and Method

This research was aimed at understanding the changes in intestinal microbiota of horses that happen due to different types of diet:

  • The horses were fed with two different diets – a high-energy forage-only diet [F] and a traditional forage-concentrate diet [C].
  • The experiment applied a cross-over design involving 6 mature geldings undergoing a scheduled training regime – meaning, the horses were first fed one diet, then the other, allowing the researchers to monitor the impacts of each diet on the same horse.
  • Researchers collected faecal samples at four different time points from each diet period to examine bacterial changes. DNA was extracted from the samples for this purpose.
  • Along with the microbial analysis, the fecal pH and counts of certain bacteria types were also measured.

Results from Diet F and C

The results from the study revealed differences in the gut bacteria communities for diets F and C:

  • Diet F showed more stability in the microbial composition throughout various sampling periods and lower counts of certain bacteria (Lactic Acid Bacteria and Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex).
  • In contrast, all horses on diet C had the presence of a particular species of bacteria (Lactobacillus ruminis) that was not found in horses on diet F.
  • Furthermore, diet C resulted in an increase in certain harmful bacterial species (Clostridiaceae cluster III) and a decrease in an unknown group of Bacteroidales.

Conclusions and Further Recommendations

The study concluded that a forage-only diet (diet F) can potentially improve the health and well-being of horses by maintaining a stable microbial community in the gut. This diet also seemed to limit the presence of potentially harmful bacteria, making it a promising feeding strategy for performance horses. However, the research also noted that further investigations are needed, particularly into understanding why the inclusion of carbohydrates (as in diet C) leads to certain microbial changes.

Cite This Article

APA
Willing B, Vörös A, Roos S, Jones C, Jansson A, Lindberg JE. (2010). Changes in faecal bacteria associated with concentrate and forage-only diets fed to horses in training. Equine Vet J, 41(9), 908-914. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x447806

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 9
Pages: 908-914

Researcher Affiliations

Willing, B
  • Department of Microbiology, P.O. Box 7025, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Vörös, A
    Roos, S
      Jones, C
        Jansson, A
          Lindberg, J E

            MeSH Terms

            • Animal Feed
            • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
            • Animals
            • Bacteria / genetics
            • Bacteria / isolation & purification
            • Cross-Over Studies
            • Diet / veterinary
            • Feces / microbiology
            • Horses
            • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
            • Male
            • Phylogeny
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal
            • RNA, Bacterial
            • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

            Citations

            This article has been cited 56 times.
            1. Hepworth-Warren KL, Erwin SJ, Moore CB, Talbot JR, Young KAS, Neault MJ, Haugland JC, Robertson JB, Blikslager AT. Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1060759.
              doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1060759pubmed: 36937023google scholar: lookup
            2. Wunderlich G, Bull M, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. Understanding the microbial fibre degrading communities & processes in the equine gut. Anim Microbiome 2023 Jan 12;5(1):3.
              doi: 10.1186/s42523-022-00224-6pubmed: 36635784google scholar: lookup
            3. Chaucheyras-Durand F, Sacy A, Karges K, Apper E. Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota in Equines and Its Role in Health and Disease: The Black Box Opens. Microorganisms 2022 Dec 19;10(12).
              doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10122517pubmed: 36557769google scholar: lookup
            4. Weinert-Nelson JR, Biddle AS, Williams CA. Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems. Anim Microbiome 2022 Jun 21;4(1):41.
              doi: 10.1186/s42523-022-00192-xpubmed: 35729677google scholar: lookup
            5. Lara F, Castro R, Thomson P. Changes in the gut microbiome and colic in horses: Are they causes or consequences?. Open Vet J 2022 Mar-Apr;12(2):242-249.
              doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i2.12pubmed: 35603065google scholar: lookup
            6. Li XB, Huang XX, Zang CJ, Ma C, Chen KX, Zhao GD, Li Q, Li XY, Zhang WJ, Yang KL. Effects of steam-flaked grains on foals' growth and faecal microbiota. BMC Vet Res 2021 Sep 4;17(1):293.
              doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02994-8pubmed: 34481494google scholar: lookup
            7. Johnson ACB, Biddle AS. A Standard Scale to Measure Equine Keeper Status and the Effect of Metabolic Tendency on Gut Microbiome Structure. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 1;11(7).
              doi: 10.3390/ani11071975pubmed: 34359102google scholar: lookup
            8. Arnold CE, Pilla R, Chaffin MK, Leatherwood JL, Wickersham TA, Callaway TR, Lawhon SD, Lidbury JA, Steiner JM, Suchodolski JS. The effects of signalment, diet, geographic location, season, and colitis associated with antimicrobial use or Salmonella infection on the fecal microbiome of horses. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2437-2448.
              doi: 10.1111/jvim.16206pubmed: 34268795google scholar: lookup
            9. Walshe N, Cabrera-Rubio R, Collins R, Puggioni A, Gath V, Crispie F, Cotter PD, Brennan L, Mulcahy G, Duggan V. A Multiomic Approach to Investigate the Effects of a Weight Loss Program on the Intestinal Health of Overweight Horses. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:668120.
              doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.668120pubmed: 34222398google scholar: lookup
            10. Ericsson AC, Johnson PJ, Gieche LM, Zobrist C, Bucy K, Townsend KS, Martin LM, LaCarrubba AM. The Influence of Diet Change and Oral Metformin on Blood Glucose Regulation and the Fecal Microbiota of Healthy Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 1;11(4).
              doi: 10.3390/ani11040976pubmed: 33915682google scholar: lookup
            11. Boshuizen B, Moreno de Vega CV, De Maré L, de Meeûs C, de Oliveira JE, Hosotani G, Gansemans Y, Deforce D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Delesalle C. Effects of Aleurone Supplementation on Glucose-Insulin Metabolism and Gut Microbiome in Untrained Healthy Horses. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:642809.
              doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.642809pubmed: 33912605google scholar: lookup
            12. Mach N, Lansade L, Bars-Cortina D, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Ruet A. Gut microbiota resilience in horse athletes following holidays out to pasture. Sci Rep 2021 Mar 3;11(1):5007.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84497-ypubmed: 33658551google scholar: lookup
            13. Reed KJ, Kunz IGZ, Scare JA, Nielsen MK, Turk PJ, Coleman RJ, Coleman SJ. The pelvic flexure separates distinct microbial communities in the equine hindgut. Sci Rep 2021 Feb 22;11(1):4332.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83783-zpubmed: 33619300google scholar: lookup
            14. Sorensen RJ, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Ran Q, Marthaler DG, Kang Q, Vahl CI, Lattimer JM. Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Jan 1;99(1).
              doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa407pubmed: 33515482google scholar: lookup
            15. Kauter A, Epping L, Semmler T, Antao EM, Kannapin D, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H, Lübke-Becker A, Günther S, Wieler LH, Walther B. The gut microbiome of horses: current research on equine enteral microbiota and future perspectives. Anim Microbiome 2019 Nov 13;1(1):14.
              doi: 10.1186/s42523-019-0013-3pubmed: 33499951google scholar: lookup
            16. Willette JA, Pitta D, Indugu N, Vecchiarelli B, Hennessy ML, Dobbie T, Southwood LL. Experimental crossover study on the effects of withholding feed for 24 h on the equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jan 5;17(1):3.
              doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02706-8pubmed: 33402190google scholar: lookup
            17. Garber A, Hastie P, McGuinness D, Malarange P, Murray JA. Abrupt dietary changes between grass and hay alter faecal microbiota of ponies. PLoS One 2020;15(8):e0237869.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237869pubmed: 32810164google scholar: lookup
            18. Mach N, Ruet A, Clark A, Bars-Cortina D, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Crisci E, Pennarun S, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Lansade L. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes. Sci Rep 2020 May 20;10(1):8311.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65444-9pubmed: 32433513google scholar: lookup
            19. Mullen KR, Yasuda K, Divers TJ, Weese JS. Equine faecal microbiota transplant: Current knowledge, proposed guidelines and future directions. Equine Vet Educ 2018 Mar;30(3):151-160.
              doi: 10.1111/eve.12559pubmed: 32313396google scholar: lookup
            20. Su S, Zhao Y, Liu Z, Liu G, Du M, Wu J, Bai D, Li B, Bou G, Zhang X, Dugarjaviin M. Characterization and comparison of the bacterial microbiota in different gastrointestinal tract compartments of Mongolian horses. Microbiologyopen 2020 Jun;9(6):1085-1101.
              doi: 10.1002/mbo3.1020pubmed: 32153142google scholar: lookup
            21. Wang S, Yang B, Ross RP, Stanton C, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen W. Comparative Genomics Analysis of Lactobacillus ruminis from Different Niches. Genes (Basel) 2020 Jan 8;11(1).
              doi: 10.3390/genes11010070pubmed: 31936280google scholar: lookup
            22. Bulmer LS, Murray JA, Burns NM, Garber A, Wemelsfelder F, McEwan NR, Hastie PM. High-starch diets alter equine faecal microbiota and increase behavioural reactivity. Sci Rep 2019 Dec 9;9(1):18621.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54039-8pubmed: 31819069google scholar: lookup
            23. Lindenberg F, Krych L, Fielden J, Kot W, Frøkiær H, van Galen G, Nielsen DS, Hansen AK. Expression of immune regulatory genes correlate with the abundance of specific Clostridiales and Verrucomicrobia species in the equine ileum and cecum. Sci Rep 2019 Sep 3;9(1):12674.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49081-5pubmed: 31481726google scholar: lookup
            24. Peachey LE, Castro C, Molena RA, Jenkins TP, Griffin JL, Cantacessi C. Dysbiosis associated with acute helminth infections in herbivorous youngstock - observations and implications. Sci Rep 2019 Jul 31;9(1):11121.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47204-6pubmed: 31366962google scholar: lookup
            25. Plancade S, Clark A, Philippe C, Helbling JC, Moisan MP, Esquerré D, Le Moyec L, Robert C, Barrey E, Mach N. Unraveling the effects of the gut microbiota composition and function on horse endurance physiology. Sci Rep 2019 Jul 3;9(1):9620.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46118-7pubmed: 31270376google scholar: lookup
            26. Coleman MC, Whitfield-Cargile CM, Madrigal RG, Cohen ND. Comparison of the microbiome, metabolome, and lipidome of obese and non-obese horses. PLoS One 2019;14(4):e0215918.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215918pubmed: 31013335google scholar: lookup
            27. Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM. The Equine Gastrointestinal Microbiome: Impacts of Age and Obesity. Front Microbiol 2018;9:3017.
              doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03017pubmed: 30581426google scholar: lookup
            28. Biddle AS, Tomb JF, Fan Z. Microbiome and Blood Analyte Differences Point to Community and Metabolic Signatures in Lean and Obese Horses. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:225.
              doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00225pubmed: 30294603google scholar: lookup
            29. Dougal K, Harris PA, Girdwood SE, Creevey CJ, Curtis GC, Barfoot CF, Argo CM, Newbold CJ. Changes in the Total Fecal Bacterial Population in Individual Horses Maintained on a Restricted Diet Over 6 Weeks. Front Microbiol 2017;8:1502.
              doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01502pubmed: 28848517google scholar: lookup
            30. Hale VL, Tan CL, Niu K, Yang Y, Knight R, Zhang Q, Cui D, Amato KR. Diet Versus Phylogeny: a Comparison of Gut Microbiota in Captive Colobine Monkey Species. Microb Ecol 2018 Feb;75(2):515-527.
              doi: 10.1007/s00248-017-1041-8pubmed: 28735426google scholar: lookup
            31. Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Harris PA, Aiken GE, Flythe MD. Exogenous lactobacilli mitigate microbial changes associated with grain fermentation (corn, oats, and wheat) by equine fecal microflora ex vivo. PLoS One 2017;12(3):e0174059.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174059pubmed: 28358885google scholar: lookup
            32. Ericsson AC, Johnson PJ, Lopes MA, Perry SC, Lanter HR. A Microbiological Map of the Healthy Equine Gastrointestinal Tract. PLoS One 2016;11(11):e0166523.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166523pubmed: 27846295google scholar: lookup
            33. Kristoffersen C, Jensen RB, Avershina E, Austbø D, Tauson AH, Rudi K. Diet-Dependent Modular Dynamic Interactions of the Equine Cecal Microbiota. Microbes Environ 2016 Dec 23;31(4):378-386.
              doi: 10.1264/jsme2.ME16061pubmed: 27773914google scholar: lookup
            34. Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH, Crum A, Flythe MD. Effect of Dietary Starch Source and Concentration on Equine Fecal Microbiota. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0154037.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154037pubmed: 27128793google scholar: lookup
            35. Zhao Y, Li B, Bai D, Huang J, Shiraigo W, Yang L, Zhao Q, Ren X, Wu J, Bao W, Dugarjaviin M. Comparison of Fecal Microbiota of Mongolian and Thoroughbred Horses by High-throughput Sequencing of the V4 Region of the 16S rRNA Gene. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2016 Sep;29(9):1345-52.
              doi: 10.5713/ajas.15.0587pubmed: 26954132google scholar: lookup
            36. O' Donnell MM, Harris HM, Lynch DB, Ross RP, O'Toole PW. Lactobacillus ruminis strains cluster according to their mammalian gut source. BMC Microbiol 2015 Apr 1;15:80.
              doi: 10.1186/s12866-015-0403-ypubmed: 25879663google scholar: lookup
            37. Costa MC, Stämpfli HR, Arroyo LG, Allen-Vercoe E, Gomes RG, Weese JS. Changes in the equine fecal microbiota associated with the use of systemic antimicrobial drugs. BMC Vet Res 2015 Feb 3;11:19.
              doi: 10.1186/s12917-015-0335-7pubmed: 25644524google scholar: lookup
            38. Fernandes KA, Kittelmann S, Rogers CW, Gee EK, Bolwell CF, Bermingham EN, Thomas DG. Faecal microbiota of forage-fed horses in New Zealand and the population dynamics of microbial communities following dietary change. PLoS One 2014;9(11):e112846.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112846pubmed: 25383707google scholar: lookup
            39. Shepherd ML, Ponder MA, Burk AO, Milton SC, Swecker WS Jr. Fibre digestibility, abundance of faecal bacteria and plasma acetate concentrations in overweight adult mares. J Nutr Sci 2014;3:e10.
              doi: 10.1017/jns.2014.8pubmed: 25191602google scholar: lookup
            40. Dougal K, de la Fuente G, Harris PA, Girdwood SE, Pinloche E, Geor RJ, Nielsen BD, Schott HC 2nd, Elzinga S, Newbold CJ. Characterisation of the faecal bacterial community in adult and elderly horses fed a high fibre, high oil or high starch diet using 454 pyrosequencing. PLoS One 2014;9(2):e87424.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087424pubmed: 24504261google scholar: lookup
            41. Dougal K, de la Fuente G, Harris PA, Girdwood SE, Pinloche E, Newbold CJ. Identification of a core bacterial community within the large intestine of the horse. PLoS One 2013;8(10):e77660.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077660pubmed: 24204908google scholar: lookup
            42. Biddle AS, Black SJ, Blanchard JL. An in vitro model of the horse gut microbiome enables identification of lactate-utilizing bacteria that differentially respond to starch induction. PLoS One 2013;8(10):e77599.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077599pubmed: 24098591google scholar: lookup
            43. Blackmore TM, Dugdale A, Argo CM, Curtis G, Pinloche E, Harris PA, Worgan HJ, Girdwood SE, Dougal K, Newbold CJ, McEwan NR. Strong stability and host specific bacterial community in faeces of ponies. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e75079.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075079pubmed: 24040388google scholar: lookup
            44. Schoster A, Arroyo LG, Staempfli HR, Weese JS. Comparison of microbial populations in the small intestine, large intestine and feces of healthy horses using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. BMC Res Notes 2013 Mar 12;6:91.
              doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-91pubmed: 23497580google scholar: lookup
            45. Steelman SM, Chowdhary BP, Dowd S, Suchodolski J, Janečka JE. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes in fecal samples reveals high diversity of hindgut microflora in horses and potential links to chronic laminitis. BMC Vet Res 2012 Nov 27;8:231.
              doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-231pubmed: 23186268google scholar: lookup
            46. St-Pierre B, de la Fuente G, O'Neill S, Wright AD, Al Jassim R. Analysis of stomach bacterial communities in Australian feral horses. Mol Biol Rep 2013 Jan;40(1):369-76.
              doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-2070-5pubmed: 23065252google scholar: lookup
            47. Costa MC, Arroyo LG, Allen-Vercoe E, Stämpfli HR, Kim PT, Sturgeon A, Weese JS. Comparison of the fecal microbiota of healthy horses and horses with colitis by high throughput sequencing of the V3-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. PLoS One 2012;7(7):e41484.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041484pubmed: 22859989google scholar: lookup
            48. O'Donnell MM, Forde BM, Neville B, Ross PR, O'Toole PW. Carbohydrate catabolic flexibility in the mammalian intestinal commensal Lactobacillus ruminis revealed by fermentation studies aligned to genome annotations. Microb Cell Fact 2011 Aug 30;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S12.
              doi: 10.1186/1475-2859-10-S1-S12pubmed: 21995520google scholar: lookup
            49. Wlodarska M, Willing B, Keeney KM, Menendez A, Bergstrom KS, Gill N, Russell SL, Vallance BA, Finlay BB. Antibiotic treatment alters the colonic mucus layer and predisposes the host to exacerbated Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis. Infect Immun 2011 Apr;79(4):1536-45.
              doi: 10.1128/IAI.01104-10pubmed: 21321077google scholar: lookup
            50. Nilsson E, Moazzami AA, Lindberg JE, Jansson A. The metabolomic profile of a high starch versus no starch diet in athletic horses. Sci Rep 2025 Oct 13;15(1):35576.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-23422-zpubmed: 41083709google scholar: lookup
            51. Zhang W, Guo R, Sulayman A, Sun Y, Liu S. Research Progress on Influencing Factors of Gastrointestinal Microbial Diversity in Equine. Vet Med Sci 2025 May;11(3):e70271.
              doi: 10.1002/vms3.70271pubmed: 40145999google scholar: lookup
            52. Carter MM, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, Moore GE, George JM, Martinez RE, Karges K, Cox JR, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Bradbery AN, Rodiles A, Wickersham TA. Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 on the fecal pH, markers of gut permeability, fecal microbiota, and markers of systemic inflammation in sedentary horses fed a high-starch diet. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
              doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf005pubmed: 39803897google scholar: lookup
            53. Bishop RC, Kemper AM, Clark LV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM. Stability of Gastric Fluid and Fecal Microbial Populations in Healthy Horses under Pasture and Stable Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 16;14(20).
              doi: 10.3390/ani14202979pubmed: 39457909google scholar: lookup
            54. Johansson L, Ringmark S, Bergquist J, Skiöldebrand E, Widgren A, Jansson A. A proteomics perspective on 2 years of high-intensity training in horses: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 10;14(1):23684.
              doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75266-8pubmed: 39390056google scholar: lookup
            55. Smirnova KP, Frill MA, Warner SE, Cheney JA. Shape change in the saddle region of the equine back during trot and walk. J R Soc Interface 2024 Jun;21(215):20230644.
              doi: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0644pubmed: 38916112google scholar: lookup
            56. Springer RW, Cherry NM, Raub RH, Wellmann KB, Jones TN. Estimation of In Vitro True Digestibility and Fiber Degradation from Feedstuff Fiber Composition When Incubated in Equine Fecal Inoculum. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 29;13(23).
              doi: 10.3390/ani13233699pubmed: 38067050google scholar: lookup
            Subscribe to our newsletter
            Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.