The significance of chewing in horses

Chewing is crucial to both the physical and psychological wellbeing of horses, but it remains understudied. Physiologically, it reduces feed particle size, stimulates saliva production, maintains dental health and supports digestion. Psychologically, chewing satisfies natural behavioural needs, and unmet chew requirements can lead to redirected foraging behaviours and frustration. Understanding and optimising chew parameters – such as frequency, duration and intensity – is particularly relevant for horses on restricted rations for weight management or dental issues. While current nutritional interventions often focus on more convenient solutions, such as supplements or bucket feed adjustments, and do not consider chew behaviour, addressing fundamental aspects like fibre intake and chew parameters has the potential for significant impact on equine health and welfare. Existing studies highlight the complexity of chewing, influenced by forage type, presentation and feed form, suggesting potential for this to inform and improve feed management. However, to improve relevance and applicability to practical feeding scenarios, further research should investigate factors like feed palatability, physical structure and the difference between bite and chew, all of which may be valuable in increasing understanding and interpretation of chew parameter data. Developing consistent terminology and methodologies is crucial to advancing this field. While new technologies offer opportunities to measure chew parameters, establishing foundational research is vital for future studies to accurately assess and enhance equine feeding strategies.