Loose Droppings in Horses & Hindgut Health

Want to know what to feed a horse with loose droppings? Read on to find out!

As the seasons shift, so too can your horse’s gut health. You might notice changes in behaviour, energy, or the first obvious sign - loose droppings. Whether it’s rain-soaked pastures, richer grass growth, travel, stress, or even small tweaks in routine, digestive upset can occur fast. 

Signs of Digestive Upset in Horses

If your horse is suddenly girthy, fussy with feed, or prone to soft or loose droppings, it could be a sign of hindgut imbalance - and it’s more common than you might think. Many horses suffer from low-grade hindgut stress that goes unnoticed but can affect digestion, mood, and even coat condition. It can lead to nervous horses, spookiness and out of character behaviour.

5 top signs of hindgut imbalance in horses:

• Loose or inconsistent droppings – including watery stools or changes in frequency and texture.

• Excessive gas or bloating – visible distension or frequent flatulence can indicate fermentation issues.

• Unexplained changes in behaviour or mood – irritability, girthiness, or resistance under saddle.

• Weight loss or poor condition – despite adequate feed intake, nutrient absorption may be compromised.

• Increased sensitivity to flies or skin irritation – linked to gut-driven immune dysregulation and inflammatory response.

What to Feed Horses with Loose Droppings

Horses with loose droppings are typically lacking fibre or need a greater variety of prebiotic fibres to support their hindgut microbiome. Loose droppings can also be due to hindgut irritation or build up of sand for horses that live and graze on sandy soil or eat off sand based floors. When the gut is compromised, loose droppings are one of the first visible signs. 

Unlike many horse gut supplements that target stomach acid or are focused primarily on the stomach, our digestive range of supplements - Gut Food for hindgut support and Dry Up for horses with loose droppings - are designed to work where long-term digestive health really begins: the hindgut. That’s where trillions of beneficial microbes live - forming your horse’s microbiome. When this system is nourished and balanced, horses experience optimal digestion/nutrient absorption, consistent droppings and overall wellbeing and vitality.

Natural horse supplements, Powerful Support

Equell Gut Food is our complete digestive support formula and our best gut balancer for horses - created to nourish the hindgut and support a healthy, diverse microbiome. 100% natural, packed with prebiotics, herbs, superfoods, antioxidants and plant-based ingredients, it feeds the good bacteria that form the foundation of digestive and immune health.

Whether you’re managing a sensitive youngster, a veteran, or a competition horse in full work, Gut Food helps stabilise digestion and ease the transitions that can throw gut health off track.

Key Benefits:

• Supports hindgut balance and digestive comfort
• Aids normal dropping formation
• Supports microbiome diversity naturally
  
• Free from fillers and artificial additives

Equell Dry Up is a naturally based, targeted digestive supplement for horses with loose droppings or digestive upset. It can also be useful for horses with faecal water. Dry Up combines natural fibres, binders and microbiome supporting pre and post biotics, helping to support normal digestive function and encourage the formation of firm droppings in a balanced hindgut environment.

Trusted by Riders. Backed by Real Results.

All Equell products are BETA NOPS accredited and trusted by top riders who want their horses to feel and perform their best - naturally. It’s ideal for horses that need support through seasonal changes, stress, or changes in diet, and works beautifully alongside our UlcerAid formula for comprehensive gut health. Everything starts in the gut!

From the Inside Out

We believe in equine nutrition rooted in nature and perfected by science. That means supporting your horse’s health where it matters most — the gut. Because a happy hindgut doesn’t just mean better digestion; it means a calmer, more rideable horse who truly shines from within.

~ The Equell Team