Equine Supplements, Backed by the Power of Scientific Research

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By Dr Erin Roddy, DVM - Proprietor and Head Veterinarian

As science changes, we change with it.

The evidence for links between the health of the microbiome and overall digestive health in humans is well established, but for a long time the evidence for the same link in horses remained anecdotal. This made it difficult to use as truly scientific backing for product development.
Fortunately, recent equine research has provided a concrete connection between poor performance and problematic behaviour in horses, and specific issues in their gut microbiome.

Whether the horse in your care is a beloved paddock ornament or the next Melbourne Cup contender, we want every owner to understand how their horse’s gut health affects its behaviour, attitude, performance, recovery and life span.

The healthier your horse’s microbiome is, the positive impact you will see on their overall health, attitude, and athletic ability.

Scientists now know more than ever about horses gut microbiome

The scientific information available surrounding the horse’s microbiome has greatly expanded in the last few years. The gut microbiome is made up of bacteria, but also fungi, archaea, protozoa, and viral elements. All of these elements must be correctly balanced and in sync in order for your horse to be as healthy as possible.

Even a small shift in the balance of the horse's gut microbiome can result in health problems, behavioural issues, and poor performance.

Why is the horse's hindgut so important?

Horses are hindgut fermenters, meaning that they do the majority of their digestion in their hindgut. This is why we see the greatest concentration of microbiome elements in the hindgut; because it’s these elements that actually perform the work of the hindgut fermentation.

When the horse consumes fibers (such as grass, hay, or beet pulp) the materials are broken down by acids and enzymes in the stomach and small intestines into a product called chyme. This chyme then passes to the cecum and the colon where together over 100 liters of material are processed by the microbiome.

The microbiome takes in the forage that the horse eats and processes it into volatile fatty acids (VFAs). It is these VFA which provide energy and nutrients the horse needs for not only their general health and well being but also the energy they need for athletic performance.

Linking the horse's microbiome to performance

Scientific research is starting to provide the links between the exact relationship between the microbiome and athletic performance. In fact, specific negative behaviors have been linked to specific microbes which have a negative effect on the microbiome.

This research suggests that the health of the microbiome contributes more to athletic performance than the horses’ genetic makeup.

When the microbiome changes, the pattern of fermentation changes - which leads to an alteration in the balance of the different elements that make up the microbiome. Even a small imbalance can start a large cascade which results in a variety of health concerns including colic, laminitis, diarrhea, and infection.

The stress factor in horse's gut health

Some of the most exciting research has been in the relationship between stress and gut heath in horses. This research clearly indicates that common stressors such as athletic activity, travel, and inappropriate recovery after physical activity directly affect the balance of the microbiome and the lining of the gut itself. These negative alterations have a direct and immediate effect on the function and efficiency of the horse’s metabolism.

Recent research has also shown the stress in the horse activates the nervous system to release glucocorticoids (also known as the stress hormone). These stress hormones are related to leaky gut syndrome which allows toxins and bacteria to cross the GI/Blood barrier and move into the bloodstream.

Leaky gut syndrome can have long lasting effects on the horse’s immune system, digestion, and metabolism.

These negative health effects also result in poor athletic performance and attitude/behavioral issues. In fact, direct research into such negative behaviors as girthiness, bucking, biting, and resistance to moving forward are very likely linked directly to gut health and an imbalance of the microbiome.

Horses with a healthy and robustly balanced microbiome not only metabolize their feed as efficiently as possible, which results in the right kind of energy to perform their jobs, but also will experience less stress during training and will be more resilient to other stressors they encounter.

So how can horse owners help their horse's gut health?

The cornerstone of a healthy and balanced microbiome will always be good quality fiber and a balanced diet.  Learning about correct nutrition, care and management practices for your horse to reduce potential stressors is a great starting point.  As many horses can have an unhealthy microbiome from previous dietary imbalance or other life stress, these can require extra support to improve gut health.

It's important to remember that even in a horse with a very healthy microbiome, the daily stresses such as training, changes in weather, travel, and age related changes in immune system can wreak havoc in a previously healthy system.  Consider including specific supplements and nutritional support products that are designed to address a variety of gut health issues including those supporting a healthy, well balanced microbiome against every day stressors, rebuilding a damaged microbiome, as well as protecting against extreme stresses such as travel and elite level training.

Supporting the structure and function of the entire GI tract to ensure that your horse is as healthy as possible will produce great results and able them to perform to the best of their ability.

Research Links:
De La Torre, U., Henderson, J.D., Furtado, K.L., Pedroja, M., Elenamarie, O., Mora, A., et al., 2019. Utilizing the fecal microbiota to understand foal gut transitions from birth to weaning. PLoS ONE 14(4): e0216211

Andrews, F., 2020. Colonic Ulcers: A Pain in the Hindgut! Equine Health Studies Program LSU. Edu

Mach, N., Ruet, A., Clark, A. et al., 2020. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes. Sci Rep 10, 8311

Tavenner, M.K., McDonnell, S.M., Biddle, A.S., 2020. Development of the Equine Hindgut Microbiome in Semi-Feral and Domestic Conventionally-Managed Foals. Animal Microbiome 2(43).

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https://poseidonanimalhealth.com.au/blogs/all/science-equine-supplement