True health begins in your horse’s gut. Learn how to optimize your horse’s feeding program to support their complete gut health from Erin Roddy, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer of Poseidon Animal Health and equine nutrition expert Clair Thunes, PhD.
Q: Why is gut health so crucial for the overall well-being of horses?
Roddy: Gut health is fundamental to a horse’s overall well-being because it directly impacts their digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function and even behavior. A healthy gut ensures that horses can efficiently digest and absorb the nutrients from their feed, maintaining their energy levels, body condition and overall vitality.
Additionally, a well-functioning gut supports a robust immune system, reducing the risk of infections and diseases. Establishing good gut health is an incredible opportunity to transform total health in our horses and allow them to reach their full potential in training, performance and recovery. So many of the disorders and diseases we have struggled with we now know are directly related to their gut health.
Q: How does gut health impact a horse’s feed utilization and nutrient absorption?
Roddy: A healthy gut optimizes feed utilization and nutrient absorption by maintaining a balanced microbiome and effective digestive processes. This balance allows for the efficient breakdown of feed into essential nutrients that the horse’s body can absorb and use. Conversely, poor gut health can lead to malabsorption, where nutrients pass through the digestive system without being adequately utilized, resulting in weight loss, poor condition and other health issues. When the gut isn’t healthy, it is impossible for the horse to convert feed efficiently, often leading owners to feed more and more when the problem isn’t the amount of feed, but the health of the gut.
Q: Can you explain the gut-brain axis and its significance in equine behavior and health?
Roddy: The gut-brain axis refers to the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. This connection is significant because it influences a horse’s behavior, stress response and overall mental health. The gut produces various neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which affect mood and behavior. Thus, a healthy gut can lead to a calmer and more balanced horse, while poor gut health can contribute to anxiety, behavioral issues and stress-related problems. Arrogance, stubbornness, spookiness and tension are symptoms of poor gut health, not the horse being “bad” or “difficult.” These behaviors are simply the horse’s way of telling us that their insides are not working how they should.
Thunes: We know more about it in human nutrition than we do in equine. Large amounts of neurotransmitters such as dopamine are released in the gut during the digestive process, especially during microbial fermentation. Those also may have a somewhat calming effect on horses. We know the gut is intimately tied to brain function, and therefore behavior.
Q: How can owners maintain optimal gut health for their horses?
Roddy: In addition to regular veterinary check-ups with dental exams and routine de-worming care, horse owners can maintain optimal gut health by providing a balanced diet rich in a variety of fiber sources, ensuring constant access to clean water and minimizing stress. Not feeding enough long-stemmed forage in the diet is the most common mistake people make, followed by an inadequate vitamin and mineral profile in the diet. Any change in feed will cause a dramatic change in the microbiome, so preventing abrupt dietary changes is paramount.
In my opinion, any horse who trains or competes will also benefit from a good quality, complete gut health supplement. This will help support the unavoidable stressors in diet and management that these horses can experience. Supplementing with products like Poseidon Animal Health’s Digestive HP supports good gut health by promoting a balanced microbiome and enhancing nutrient absorption.
This supplement helps maintain overall digestive health, reducing the risk of gut-related issues and supporting the horse’s overall well-being. It is designed to support and protect against the everyday stressors modern-day horses encounter from diet, management, and the environment.
This Q&A was brought to you by Poseidon Animal Health.