>Small intestines. Here is where most of the grain products are
>digested. Digestion in the small intestines takes only 60 to 90
>minutes. Hay is only partialy digested here. Most hay is pushed on
>to the large intestine. Fat is also digested mostly here.
>1- So, feeding grain a hour before the ride means that morning
>breakfast is already digested and the energy ready to use during
>the ride.
>2- If you feed too much too fast, the intestines can't digest it all
>and pass it on to the large intestine. In the large intestine,
>grain isn't digested well, can lead to colic, killing off of the
>bacteria, and other things.
Truman - It seems the 'feed too much too fast' part is the danger
here - but my read on this is that a normal grain ration an hour
before a ride is not necessarily harmful.
Steph