According to Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. "A hay belly does not equate to an overweight horse when the rest of his body is normal, actual fat does not accumulate extensively on the horse’s lower abdomen (belly). Overweight individuals do accumulate worrisome fat in specific areas such as the neck, withers, back, ribs, shoulders, and tail head. Excessive fat in these areas can indicate the calories fed exceed the actual needs of the individual, lack of nutrients necessary for optimum thyroid and hormone function and/or the sugar and starch levels in your feeding program need to be assessed and/or reduced. Horse owners who deliberately limit hay consumption and replace it with cereal grain, hay pellets or complete feeds to avoid a hay belly are doing their horses a disservice and increase the risk of digestive and metabolic disorders. Forage (hay or pasture) should be the foundation of all horse’s diet." Additional causes of a distended abdomen can be attributed to ulcers and/or parasites. Excessive gas can give the appearance of a hay belly from large amounts of indigestible fiber lacking optimum mastication either from bolting hay or dental challenges. Meals that are quickly consumed reduce the optimum time necessary for each distinct region of the digestion tract to properly digest and prepare forage as it advances from ingestion to excretion (Mouth > Stomach > Small Intestine > Large Intestine). Slow feeding can minimize bloating/excess gas by promoting longer chew time per pound; reducing the size of particles and increasing saliva production better preparing fiber for the digestive tract. ​ Learn why slow fed forage is best for your mini's health. Find answers to common miniature horse diet questions & more 👉follow the link in bio 👉tap on Blog Posts – Organized by Topic 👉tap on Minis & Farm Animals 👉tap on Feeding Miniature Horses & Donkeys: Why Slow Fed Forage is Best #minihorses #minidonkey #minimule #minihorse #miniequinehealth