horses eat wheat straw

Question
hello, do horses eat wheat straw, is it an advisable forage? what all does it contain?

actually, in indian stables, owners and trainers order wheat straw since it is cheap. i have found most of the horses eating wheat straw and few struck by colic.

Answer
Hello Rohit,

Thank you for your question.  Some horses will eat wheat straw even if it is being used as bedding.  Often they will nibble at it if they lack enough effective fiber in the diet, or if they are without enough forage in the day...and sometimes they will pick at it out of boredom and in an attempt to simulate natural foraging behaviour.  The straw will have some nutritional value but for the most part, the structural carbohydrates in straw are indigestible.

Thanks, Corlena