Why Your Horse's Gut Health Matters More Than You Think
Does Horse Gut Health Really Matter?
The morning feed routine feels familiar - you measure out your horse's usual feed, add fresh water, and watch them happily tuck in. But have you ever wondered if what you're providing truly supports the complex ecosystem living inside your horse's digestive system? At Equell, we've spent years studying how modern horse management affects gut health, and what we've learned might surprise you.
The Hidden World Inside Your Horse
Your horse's hindgut houses trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms working tirelessly to break down fibre and extract nutrients from everything they consume. This microscopic community - the gut microbiome - doesn't just handle digestion. It influences your horse's behaviour, immune function, nervous system and overall wellbeing in ways that research is only beginning to reveal.
When we restrict our horses to small paddocks with limited plant variety, we're inadvertently limiting the diversity of beneficial bacteria in their digestive systems. Wild horses roam vast territories, naturally consuming over 40 different plants and fibres daily. Our domesticated horses often survive on just a handful of forage types, creating an imbalance that can manifest as digestive upset, behavioural changes, or poor nutrient absorption.
Signs Your Horse's Gut Needs Support
We've noticed that horse owners often attribute certain behaviours to temperament when gut health might be the real culprit. Horses with compromised digestive systems frequently display:
- Increased irritability or anxiety during handling
- Reluctance to maintain condition despite adequate feed
- Intermittent loose droppings or changes in manure consistency
- Picky eating habits or food aversion
- Bloating or visible discomfort after meals
- Reduced performance or energy levels
These symptoms don't always indicate serious illness, but they signal that your horse's digestive system isn't functioning optimally. The good news? Supporting gut health naturally can often address these issues whilst improving your horse's overall quality of life.
The Science Behind Prebiotic Support
Simply adding more bacteria to your horse's system through probiotics may not yield any noticeable results if the horse is not consuming sufficient feed for their existing hindgut bacteria. Instead, we focus on feeding the beneficial bacteria already present through targeted prebiotic fibres. These specialised plant components pass through the stomach unchanged, arriving in the hindgut where they become food for good bacteria, helping to support microbiome diversity and overall gut health.
Multiple prebiotic fibres work more effectively than single sources because different bacterial species prefer different food types. By providing variety, we encourage a diverse microbial population that's more resilient to stress, dietary changes, and environmental challenges.
Our Gut Food contains carefully selected prebiotic fibres from chicory, dandelion root, and seaweed, alongside nutrient-dense superfoods like blueberries and rosehips. This combination doesn't just feed beneficial bacteria - it provides natural antioxidants that support your horse's response to daily oxidative stress, helping to maintain health tissues and cells, from hooves to skin!
Natural Ingredients That Make a Difference
We've formulated every Equell product with ingredients that work synergistically to support digestive health, including a range of natural ingredients, plants, herbs and botanicals in every blend, from joint support to calmer! Each ingredient is chosen for specific health benefits, here are just a few natural ingredients used across the Equell range and why:
Fenugreek has been studied for its potential to act as a natural acid buffer in the stomach, with a high fibre content (including mucilage) contributing to a soothing layer in the gut, helping to mitigate against acid splash.
Spearmint, Chamomile & Ashwagandha useful in stress management and hormone balance
Ginger and Spirulina assist the body's natural inflammatory response and can help to soothe tired muscles and joints
Cinnamon and oregano act as natural carminatives, helping to reduce bloating and digestive discomfort that can affect your horse's comfort and performance.
Rosehips and blueberries deliver concentrated antioxidants that support cellular health throughout your horse's entire body, not just the digestive system. Helping to support the fight against oxidative stress and maintain healthy cells and tissues.
Nettle and hawthorn leaf provide additional natural vitamins and minerals that support overall vitality and immune function.
Ginseng and Echinacea - support the immune system and have been widely studied in respiratory health
Beetroot adds natural nitrates that support circulation, helping nutrients reach cells more efficiently. Beetroot is important in the nitric oxide pathway. The NO pathway is vital in many bodily functions, important for supporting muscle blood flow and exercise performance & recovery especially.
Alfalfa unfairly demonised because of studies specifically relating to sharp, spikey alfalfa chaff, powdered Alfalfa is soft and is actually a superfood. It is rich in calcium and can act as a natural acid buffer. High in fibre it aids digestion and regular bowel movements, helping to support against bloating.
By using natural plant fibres in every blend, we recreate the variety your horse would naturally seek whilst foraging, supporting the gut microbiome diversity that modern management often lacks.
Safe for Every Horse
We understand that many horse owners worry about ingredients that might trigger laminitis or metabolic issues. Every Equell product in the current range is safe for prone individuals but please feel free to reach out to our team at info@equell.co.uk if you have concerns or questions on a specific product.
All our supplements are non-heating and won't cause excitability or unwanted behaviour changes. We've also ensured they are competition safe and manufactured in a fully accredited BETA NOPS® approved facility, with all ingredients regularly screened for naturally occurring prohibited substances.
Simple Feeding for Maximum Benefit
Introducing our supplements to your horse's feeding routine couldn't be easier. We recommend starting with a quarter scoop mixed thoroughly into their feed, gradually increasing to the full rate over several days. This approach helps even the most sensitive horses adjust to new flavours and textures. Split the amount between all their daily feeds to support consistent digestive function throughout the day.
Supporting Your Horse's Natural Design
Modern horse management often prioritises convenience over natural behaviour patterns. Whilst we can't replicate the freedom of wild grazing, we can support our horses' digestive systems with targeted nutrition that acknowledges their evolutionary needs.
Our gut balancer - Güt Food - bridges the gap between the natural world horses were designed for and the managed environments they inhabit today. By supporting beneficial bacteria in the hindgut and providing diverse prebiotic fibres, we're helping your horse's digestive system function as nature intended.
Your Horse Deserves to Thrive
A healthy horse truly does glow from the inside out. When digestive function improves, you'll often notice positive changes in coat condition, energy levels, and overall demeanour. Supporting your horse's gut health isn't just about preventing problems - it's about helping them reach their full potential.
Your horse's gut health affects every aspect of their wellbeing. By supporting the beneficial bacteria in their digestive system with natural prebiotic fibres and carefully selected botanicals, you're investing in their long-term health and happiness. Ready to see what optimal gut health can do for your horse?
Performance Supplements for Horses - Where Palatability is Paramount
We understand that even the best horse supplement is hopeless if your horse won’t eat it! We produce palatable calming supplements, joint supplements, gut balancers, respiratory supplements, immune support, muscle builders and more – all with a money back guarantee. We even have a range of 100% natural equine supplements for your horse.
OUR COMMITMENT TO HORSES AND OWNERS
At Equell, we’re horse lovers, just like you. Our passion drives us to create equine supplements that make a real difference, whether you need a supplement for performance horses to support recovery from competition (maybe you will add it to a recovery mash for your horse!), a gut balancer for digestive health or hind gut support, or simply want a daily horse vitamin and mineral supplement for your leisure horse to support every day health. Give your horse a helping hand from nature for a healthy, happy and diverse microbiome.
We offer quality, affordable, horse supplements with free shipping on all orders. We strive to be the best equine supplement brand, putting horses and their owners at the forefront of everything we do, from product development through to customer service. If you cant find what you are looking for please ask our team who will be happy to help!
Choose Equell equine supplements:
Rooted in nature, proven by performance.
