05/01/2026
Feed your horses at GROUND level.
I often see feeders placed at an elevated position. As a CESMT, I also see the repercussions of that. A horse was designed to eat at ground level. When fed at an elevated position, the skeletal, muscular, dental, respiratory, and digestive systems are all negatively impacted.
Dental
When a horse’s head is lowered to ground level, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and atlantoaxial joint are able to articulate correctly. The mandible is then able to move down and forward, side to side, front to back, allowing for proper mastication (chewing), natural wear of teeth, and reduced particle size of food, which helps to prevent the risk of choke. If fed in an upright position, horses are more likely to develop a tense TMJ. The TMJ communicates balance and equilibrium to the brain, and when compromised, a horse’s sensory system is affected.
Digestion
Studies have shown than when horses eat at ground level, they take smaller bites and chew longer. The more a horse chews, the more saliva is produced. Saliva is crucial to the digestive process. It not only prepares food better for the digestive tract and allows for increased nutrient absorption, but it also helps coat the stomach. This prevents formation of ulcers and can lessen the risk of colic as well.
Respiratory
When the horse’s head is down, gravity helps to clear out any drainage from the nose, which reduces the risk of respiratory infections. A lowered head when eating also helps to minimize inhalation of dust and particles.
Muscular and skeletal
As a horse’s head lowers, muscles of the neck, throat, and back are elongated. This helps to keep muscles strong and supple, which in turns helps to keep the skeletal system aligned. Muscles of the throat that remain strong and supple also help to ensure a horse can swallow properly, reducing choke. When horses are fed in an elevated position, these muscles can become shortened and tense. Tension leads to soreness, reduced circulation, and inflexibility. This hinders a horse’s movement, posture, lymphatic system, and overall health of the musculoskeletal system.
With all that said, place those feeders on the ground. You don’t have to actually feed on the ground, especially if you’re worried about waste, sand colic, etc, but choose feeders that are built to sit on the ground. Horses were designed to eat that way and will thank you for it. 🤍
