Feed the Gut Microbiome for Optimum Health

The gut microbiome is much more diverse in healthy, wild horses than the gut microbiome of healthy, domesticated horses.¹ This is due in large part to the diverse diet of wild horses, who consume varieties of:

In comparison, our domesticated horses have access to a narrow range of forages. Pastures are no longer home to native grasses and wild herbs, and pasture seeds are sold with cattle in mind – which often contain higher non-structural carbohydrates (NSC [sugars and starches]) values.

Biotechnology plays a huge role in developing forage grass traits that benefit livestock and, therefore, boost animal production. For example, herbicide-tolerant pasture grasses, like rye grass, are designed for easier weed control.

The alfalfa hay that many of us feed to our domesticated horses is no exception to the use of biotechnology: it is genetically modified (also known as GMO).

Why is a diverse gut microbiome important?

A diverse microbiome supports a stronger immune system, protects against pathogens, reduces anxiety, and improves:

The brain-gut connection

The psychological benefits resulting from a diverse microbiome (listed above) come about via the gut-brain axis, as 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut by microbes. Specific gut microbes produce key neurotransmitters, such as:

What factors affect the gut microbiome of horses?

Age also affects the gut microbiome, with older horses tending to a less diverse microbiome.

How does a lower diversity of gut microbiota affect horses?

Lower diversity is linked to autoimmune diseases, lower functioning immune systems, allergies, obesity, insulin resistance, and negative moods/attitudes.

It can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and leaky gut, which increase the risk of invading pathogens and hormonal imbalances.

Decreased diversity in the microbiome can also lead to gut dysbiosis, which impacts the immune system and all things digestion (e.g. gas, diarrhea, colic).³ Immune and digestive issues often negatively affect performance, induce weight loss, and increase inflammation. Some studies have even linked gut dysbiosis to laminitis and ulcers.^4,5,6

So, how do we increase diversity in the gut microbiome?

In an ideal situation, our pastures would provide the necessary plant and forage diversity for our horses. Start by removing toxic plants, but allow the wild herbs to grow with the grass seeds. Pastures for horses do not need to look like golf courses!

The other fundamental place to start is by feeding several types of hay. While this may be workable for some, this method is often not practical for most for various reasons: the horse has allergies/sensitivities to certain hays, or the hay is too high in NSC, or the horse doesn’t like the taste of a different hay, or the economical impacts are too heavy, or the ability to even obtain different types of hay is prevented because of geographic limitations.

Fortunately, there are convenient alternatives:

StableFeed

The company that brought Sainfoin Forage Pellets to the market now has a new forage pellet: Sainforage. This pellet (easy to add to your horse’s diet!) provides a cornucopia of diversity:

BioStar’s NEW! Spectrum EQ™

Our newest formulation provides various plants, many of which were once found in pastures in the United States:

It also includes the microalgae Tetradesmus obliquus — which supports mood, wellbeing, and stress levels — and whole food nanovesicles:

Learn more about the Spectrum EQ™ formula here!

The English hedgerow

Common 100 years ago and now making a comeback in the United Kingdom, the English hedgerow consists of plants and trees, such as:

There are some terrific, extra benefits to creating a hedgerow in our own pastures: pollinators and birds. Swallows, bluebirds, Purple Martins, wrens, and hummingbirds are terrific predators of flies and mosquitos.

The hedgerow plants themselves also benefit: when horses nibble on the leaves, the plants are prompted to grow more leaves.

What about probiotics?

When we feed our horses a variety of forages and Spectrum EQ™, the need for probiotics is reduced to an ‘as-needed’ basis:

What a diverse gut microbiome will do for your horse

By feeding for diversity…

…the gut microbiome can flourish, supporting multiple biological systems for improved health, performance, and overall wellbeing.

References

1 Gut Microbiome Characteristics in feral and domesticated horses from different geographic locations | Communications Biology: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03116-2

2 Regulation of Neurotransmitters by the Gut Microbiota and Effects on Cognition in Neurological Disorders | MDPI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062099 (p. 4)

3 The Role of Gut Microbiota in Health Functions | Longdom: https://www.longdom.org/open-access-pdfs/the-role-of-gut-microbiota-in-health-functions.pdf

4 Fecal microbiota of horses with colitis and its association with laminitis and survival during hospitalization | PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9708523/

5 Acidosis laminitis – the gut microbiome | Veterinary Practice: https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/acidosis-laminitis-the-gut-microbiome

6 Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota in Equines and Its Role in Health and Disease: The Black Box Opens | PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9783266/

About the Author: With over 30 years experience in the equine and human supplement industry, Tigger Montague knows nutrition from the synthetic side as well as the whole food side. She started BioStar US in 2006 with formulas she created in her kitchen. Before she started the company, she was an avid rider and competitor with eventing and show jumping, until she got hooked on dressage in the late 1980’s. She has competed on horses she’s owned and trained all the way from training level to Grand Prix.

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