Question: Which holds more: your horse’s stomach or his water bucket?

Answer: Your horse’s water bucket, which holds about 20 quarts, has nearly twice the capacity of his stomach. Able to hold an average of eight to 12 quarts, the stomach is one of the smallest organs of the equine digestive tract, accounting for only 8 percent of the total gastrointestinal volume. In fact, little actual digestion occurs in the stomach. It serves mainly as a small collection and holding tank, metering out material to the small intestine.

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