Do not become too alarmed if you see what looks like undigested oats in horse manure. Chances are this is merely the hull or outside covering of the oat. The horse has likely digested the most nutritious part of the grain, the oat seed, and passed on the hull. Every now and then, whole oats can be found in the manure of some horses and this may be due to improper mastication (chewing) or poor dental health, some of these oats can actually be seen growing to seedlings if the manure is left for a period of time. Horses apt to bolt their feed or eat hurriedly may not properly grind oats with their molars, causing them to be swallowed before the hull is broken. An equine dentist or veterinarian should evaluate the teeth of horses that pass whole oats in manure to be sure no dental anomalies are present.
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