Why a horse's health starts with the intestinal flora

Horses are very sensitive to digestive problems. The gastrointestinal tract of an adult horse can be as long as 40 meters, with a capacity of up to 200 liters! Along this entire tract, various problems can arise. The health of a horse is therefore largely dependent on the health of its digestive system. Especially in winter.

One of the most important ways to maintain your horse's immunity is to ensure a well-functioning gastrointestinal tract. This is literally the foundation of your horse's health. Of course, this primarily means that there should be sufficient high-fiber roughage of good quality available for your horse. This is essential for the health of the intestinal flora.

Your horse's intestinal flora

The intestinal flora (or microbiome) is a complete ecosystem of bacteria and fungi that assist in digesting food in different parts of the intestines. Your horse's intestinal flora is extremely important, especially because a horse has only one stomach and cannot ruminate like cows, for example. For digesting plant cell walls and absorbing nutrients from them, your horse is entirely dependent on the fermentation by bacteria in the large intestine. This can only be successful if those bacteria are in good condition and if the intestines contain the right types of bacteria in the right amounts in the right places. It is a delicate balance.

Kidney function and bile function

However, a horse's intestines do more than just digest. They are the gateway for various substances entering the horse's body. This includes antibiotics, pollution from the environment, toxic substances, and sand, among others. The intestines must handle all these substances well to keep the horse healthy. This means, for example, that toxic substances need to be removed, and blood-purifying substances need to be absorbed. In this way, the intestines assist the kidneys in their task of keeping the body clean. Since a horse does not have a gallbladder, the digestion of fats from the feed also needs to be carried out by the intestines. This is known as bile function. Good kidney function and bile function are therefore part of a healthy digestive system.

Maintaining the health of horse intestines

In short: a horse has a healthy gastrointestinal tract when the intestinal flora is in order, kidney function is good, and the bile function of the intestines works properly. If your horse is experiencing intestinal issues, it is a good idea to boost all three aspects. An excellent way to do this is with herbs. In the wild, horses spend the whole day looking for various herbs to eat. They choose what they need, and the herbs they eat vary by season. Since our horses, especially in winter, are largely dependent on us for their feed, they usually do not have the choice to eat herbs. It can therefore be a good idea to supplement these, especially if you are unsure whether your horse's intestines are functioning optimally.

Symptoms of digestive issues

The following symptoms may indicate poor digestive function:

• Horse appears less energetic;
• Horse gets tired more quickly;
• Dull coat and/or difficulty shedding winter coat;
• Varying consistency of manure (watery/solid);
• Excessive gas or a bloated belly;
• Mild diarrhea or cramps.

If your horse has colic, call a vet. Also, if you suspect sand could be present in the intestines, deal with that first. However, if a horse appears dull and tired, lacking in resistance, give the intestines a boost with herbs such as cat's claw, wormwood, hawthorn and yellow gentian.