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  Discussion on How horses keep warm
Author Message
Member:
Mariss

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 7, 2005 - 11:50 am:

I know horses keep warm when they eat additional forage which then ferments and produces heat. My horse had colic surgery nine years ago. Practically his whole large intestine was removed. He has about 12 inches left. His only trouble since that time was when he got an infection on his cecum about three years ago. Since that operation which removed the infected lesion he has been fine again. He is a beautiful wb cross and has a great personality. I was wondering if since he has so little large colon is he able to keep himself as warm with gut fermentation. What do you think Dr. O.? p.s. I too love this site.
Member:
Chrism

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 7, 2005 - 5:41 pm:

I always thought it was the process of digestion which released heat and created warmth. Longer intestines would make the warmth from one meal last longer, I guess. A grazing animal would normally be loading his digestion in lots of small feedings, for a steady stream of warmth generating digesting.

Other ways horses keep warm is by moving, huddling in groups, standing out of the wind, standing with butts to the wind, growing hair coat with hollow hair shafts in the winter, making their hairs stand up to trap a layers of air.

Does your horse act cold (clamped tail, shivers, etc.)? How is he kept (stalled, turned out, with or without blanketing)?

Just some thoughts.
Member:
Mariss

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 7, 2005 - 7:13 pm:

By fermentation I meant digestion I guess. I've never noticed shivers and I'll have to remember to look at the tail. He is out in large paddock all day and in a stall that has a walk out 16' x 12' at night. I can close and keep him in the stall if the weather is bad. Today was wind chill 15F he was playing with his pasture mate whenever I checked. Sun was out and felt warm on you. I was just wondering what the dynamics of the warming process without a complete gut would be. I generally don't blanket him.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 8, 2005 - 11:03 am:

If he has a severely truncated large bowel he will produce less heat. Whether you call this process of fermentation "digestion" or not is really semantics. It is microbial controlled digestion: the conversion of long chain carbohydrates that the horse cannot digest to fatty acids that the horse can use as energy substrate and heat is a by-product of this process.
DrO
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