He's a Smart Horse: Question & Answer,   Company Positioning Marketing

Professor Edge was a marketing effort on a few levels. Working in an outlet known for its equine supplies and services, Edge was set up as a relationship builder between the clients, company and web site. The idea of a nerd type smart horse was a carefully chosen concept to build a long term identity. By the time the 4th newpaper article came out, people began to reaffirm the company's specialty niche. Plan was to cross-link marketing with store and web site.

Hi Professor:      We have four horses out 24/7 in sand/earth paddocks.  They are easy keepers and presently not worked.  We feed four times a day a grass hay.  We feed three bales per day spread out and sometimes more depending on weather.  They are not out on pasture as we have none.  They are supplemented with “easy cubes” and added flax.  I was told if we added a protein supplement it would keep them more satisfied?  At present two of them have a hay belly.  Do you think we should cut back their hay and add more protein?  The hay was tested and the calcium was low, so that’s why we started supplementing with easy cubes.  
Thanks Gord

Dear Gord: If a horse eats a large quantity of hay they get the appearance of a large belly due to the long time digesting the hay.  It is fairly natural for horses to have a large belly but it may not be what we want to see.  For many horses, 90% of their diet is hay and the hay belly thing is a cosmetic thing.   Now, you don’t want to really increase the protein as it won’t make a difference to the horse’s requirements as 10-11% is the overall requirement in the total diet.  Excess protein can be hard on their system.  High protein can cause heavy ammonia if they are stabled some but that is not a worry in your case.
Feeding less hay is an option and can decrease the proportion of their belly.  I would say the best option is to feed better quality hay with a lower level fiber hay that has an overall higher digestibility.
(Information provided by Professor Edge, Specialist on Assignment, Rooney Feeds Ltd. 613-258-1567)