Horses with access to free choice feeding or a slow feeder spent more than half their day doing natural activities such as foraging, according to results from a Morris Animal Foundation study.
Taking care of horses means more than just giving them a place to stay, food and water. It means giving them an environment where they can do things that are part of their natural behavior like grazing.” – Jéssica Carvalho Seabra, a researcher involved in this study.
Source: EQUUS, October 18, 2023. Link. During the study, the researchers noticed that horses became more aggressive as the feeders’ size became smaller and access to the food became more difficult. To mitigate this, they suggest that when horses are given a limited amount of food, it’s important to ensure enough space for each of them to eat without feeling crowded.