Irish Pony Club C Practice Test

Introducing hay first sets up the digestion for solid feed. Chewing hay stimulates saliva, and that saliva contains bicarbonate, which helps buffer stomach acid and begins the digestive process. It also lubricates and softens the forage for easier swallowing and helps move material through the gut. Grain would add energy quickly but doesn’t provide the same buffering and digestive preparation, and starting with supplements alone doesn’t teach the mouth and stomach how to handle forage. So the best explanation is that hay is introduced first because it produces saliva, which supports digestion and helps protect the stomach as solid feeding begins.