Optimising Horse Digestive Health - What are the benefits?

As hind-gut fermenters, the digestive system of the horse is large, complex and absolutely vital to their health and wellbeing. The gut is important for so much more than simply digesting their food – though doing that well is pretty important!

The gut also regulates hydration, and is a key part of your horse’s defence system. In fact, the gut is the largest part of any mammal’s defence, through the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT), a type of lymphatic tissue found in the digestive system, that provides over 70% of the body’s whole immunity. Working alongside the GALT is the microbiome – a vast population of bacteria, yeast, protozoa and funghi, working to optimise digestion which, in turn, provides the energy to work, the building blocks for growth and repair, essential nutrients for every organ in the system, and the fuel to maintain condition.

Once we understand where immunity really sits, then we can understand that by supporting digestive health we not only help our get the most out of our horse’s diet, maintain a healthy condition, but also support their natural defences and support beneficial bacteria. By feeding the microbiome of the hind-gut with live probiotic yeast, we feed an effective digestibility enhancer, supporting their overall digestive health. The word ‘probiotic’ means for life and remember that is a simple way to remember how important they are to health. To get the best from your probiotic supplement, ensure it also includes a prebiotic, such as fructooligosaccharides. Prebiotics are specialised compounds that effectively feed the probiotic, therefore providing a fuel source for that essential digestibility enhancement.

While pre and probiotics are particularly recognised for the stability and health of the microbiota in the hind-gut, higher up the digestive tract, particularly in the stomach, we need a more complex approach. Probiotics are still important, as microbiota also exists in the stomach, but in that acidic environment we also need to ensure pH is maintained and stomach walls soothed.

We know that the modern equine life of stabling, performance work and regular travel can lead to digestive upsets. Associated acid splashes and compromised stomach mucosa health is now widely recognised as commonly occurring in race and performance horses. For these horses, we would recommend maintaining good digestive health with NAF GastriAid. GastriAid contains herbal support for gut health from psyllium, to condition the stomach and gut lining, together with the balancing properties of sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, and pre and probiotics for total microbiome health. We recommend avoiding starch and sugar feeds, instead opt for a high fibre diet.

By supporting the whole digestive tract, GastriAid is the ideal choice to maintain immune function and condition in all horses and ponies, maintaining health and vitality throughout the busy summer and autumn seasons as well as reducing the risk of gastric ulcers.

Selected References:

Vighi G et al (2008) Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clinical & Experimental Immunology. 153 (Supp1) 3-6
Moore-Colyer M.J.S: (2019) Gut health and dietary manipulation for performance horses: An overview of new studies regarding digestive aids available for horses. Proceedings of 9th European Equine Health & Nutrition Congress. Utrecht.
Geor R.J, Harris P.A & Coenen M (2013) Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Pub: Saunders.
Costa MC et al (2015) Characterization and comparison of the bacterial microbiota in different gastrointestinal tract compartments in horses. Veterinary Journal. 205(1) p.74-80.