Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hello Annie,
When you say, "grain," I'm assuming that you mean a high starch feed as opposed to a meal that is high in fiber.
A high starch feed stays in the foregut (stomach and small intestine) longer than forage would. Forage moves quickly to the hind gut, where it is "digested" by the bacterial flora that live there.
So, for a meal that contains cereal grains, it is best to let your horse be fully recovered from exercise. Depending on the degree of activity, this may take anywhere from 1/2 hour to 2 hours. Thank you, Willowrider, for your comment about this -- yes, you are correct.
For a meal that is high in fiber, or even just giving a horse hay, you can feed it sooner. Horse's digestive systems are designed to have forage in them at all times, which is why they should always have access to hay and/or pasture.
But, in either case, it is best to have the horse breathing normally.
Conversely, it is also a good idea to wait for at least 30 minutes after feeding to start an exercise program; longer if you are going to do intensive activity.
Hope this is helpful! Happy New Year!
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO