Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.
And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Sue,
Oats are best fed where the outer hull is broken. So, this can be accomplished with crimped or rolled oats. Whole oats are the least digestible since the outer hull is intact. Steamed oats are "pre-cooked" and do offer slightly more digestibility. However, several vitamins are destroyed during the steaming process.
The goal when feeding oats is to have them digested early on in the digestive tract (small intestine). If they reach the hind gut, the bacterial flora that reside there can ferment the starch into lactic acid, leading to the digestive problems, as well as increase the risk of laminitis.
So, if you see whole kernels of oats in the manure, it is an indication that they are not properly digested or you are feeding too much.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, Colorado