What is the approximate size of a horse's stomach?

• A. Size of a rugby ball
• B. Size of a basketball
• C. Size of a loaf of bread
• D. Size of a watermelon

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that a horse’s stomach is relatively small and can only hold a modest amount of food at once. In practical terms, the stomach is about the size of a rugby ball, which means it isn’t designed to store large meals. Because of that, horses digest best when fed small amounts frequently throughout the day. If a big meal is given, it can be uncomfortable and digestion isn’t as efficient, and long gaps between feedings can lead to stomach discomfort or ulcers from acid building up.

Think of the rugby-ball size as the way to picture the stomach’s capacity: not large, not tiny, but just enough for a steady trickle of food. A basketball would imply a noticeably larger capacity, a loaf of bread is too small to represent what a horse can hold at once, and a watermelon is far larger than what the stomach can manage.