Did you know that the length of the horse’s intestinal tract is about 100 feet long?

Feed material enters the mouth, gets swallowed into the esophagus, travels into the stomach, small intestine, cecum, large intestine (or large colon), small colon, and exits the rectum.  

The horse has one stomach with only one compartment. The function and design are similar to the human stomach. Although there is one major difference, horses cannot vomit as humans can. There is a sphincter muscle at the junction where the esophagus enters the stomach, which only allows feed to go in one direction. The main function of the stomach is to add acid to the feed to help start the digestion process.

The small intestine has three parts: the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. In the small intestine a major portion of digestion occurs. Pancreatic enzymes are mixed with feed material in the small intestine.  Most carbohydrates, proteins, fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and some minerals are absorbed into the horse’s blood stream here and carried off to needed locations.      

From here, feed material enters the cecum, which is a fermenting vat where microbes help to breakdown the feed material that the enzymes didn’t. Mainly fibrous feeds are digested here, hay and pasture grasses.  

Feed material then passes into the large intestine, which is composed of multiple sections; right ventral colon, sternal flexure, left ventral colon, pelvic flexure, left dorsal colon, diaphragmatic flexure, right dorsal colon, and transverse colon. There are multiple twists, turns and changes in the diameter of this section of the intestine. In these areas feed can get stuck and impacted, which often can be the location and cause of colic. In the large colon more microbial fermentation occurs. This is also the primary location for water absorption.       

It takes about 36-72 hours for feed to be ingested, passed through the intestinal tract, formed into fecal balls in the small colon and then finally passed out through the rectum.  

Then of course, there is the tack shop and feed store to round out the trifecta of our operations. We carry a full line of Blue Seal Feeds and our motto is "if you have it, we can feed it!" Beyond just feed for horses, we also carry a healthy assortment of feed for dogs, cats, chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, goats, birds, guinea pigs, parrots, and more! Our tack shop carries all the basics from barn supplies, halters, leads, and grooming equipment to sheets, blankets, English and Western saddles, bridles, boots, farrier supplies, harnesses, apparel, show clothes, helmets, Breyer horses, and gifts. To showcase our farm and sale horses and promote education for riders in all disciplines, we also host clinics, seminars, and competitions in our store and barn which we advertise on Facebook if you are looking for something fun to do with your horse and horse friends any time soon. From year one in the door, we have been happy to bring a traveling shop to Downeast Medal Finals in Skowhegan where we help some of our favorite customers enjoy the weekend by providing everything from a forgotten girth to a broken peacock to extra Show Sheen or rain sheets and winter jackets depending on the Skowhegan weather pattern for the weekend!

The long and the short of it is that we truly love horses and matchmaking. And one major key to our success is our incredible staff. You will love working with Andi and Beanie in the store and Carley, Bonnie, Lizzie and Kirsten in the barn. Owners Emily and her husband Bill, who also own and operate Lupine Farm, are thrilled to raise their children, Elliott and Willa, surrounded by all of the ponies they can dream of while they learn by example to appreciate the value of working hard and living a life being passionate about what you do.

Come see us soon at our farm and store in Vassalboro or at our booth at Medal Finals in September!  

Hemphill's Horses Feed and Saddlery, 575 Oak Grove Road, Vassalboro, ME 04989 207-872-7964. We are open Mon-Sat every week and Sundays from Thanksgiving through Christmas.  Follow us on Facebook!