The Next Generation of Equine Probiotics: Sym-Biota EQ
Soil research over the past 50 years has provided us with a profound understanding of how important healthy soil is for the long-term health of animals, humans, and plants. Yet maintaining healthy soil, or rehabilitating tired, compacted, over-grazed, acidic soil takes time. It’s an ongoing process which cannot be not accomplished in one growing season.
Horses and dirt
As frustrated as we might be when our freshly-bathed horse seeks out a nice patch of dirt to roll in, our horses intrinsically know that dirt is good for them. Not only does it feel good to get down and roll, the soil microbes and bacteria can attach themselves to the epidermal layer, the largest organ of the body.
When horses eat grass, their noses and lips come in contact with the soil microbes — the starting point of formulated horse probiotics — and the humic and fulvic acids. When they spend hours and hours grazing, they are absorbing these important horse probiotics and nutritional factors.
Healthy soil
Healthy soil is a key to healthy plants, healthy food, healthy animals, and healthy humans. Healthy soil is composed of bacteria, fungi, humic and fulvic acids. Healthy soil for pastures and backyards ranges from a pH of 6.0 to pH of 7.0.
Horses grazing on healthy soil get a variety of soil microorganisms, fungi, and fulvic acids. Horses have been dining on healthy soil components for thousands of years.
One of the challenges horses face in modern times is the lack of healthy soil in pastures. In a Zoom webinar on soil that BioStar hosted, we were all reminded that building healthy soil takes time.
Healthy soil components at work
Soil-based microorganisms and fungi work as probiotics and prebiotics in the horse’s GI tract. Some of these microorganisms can reduce an overpopulation of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Soil-based organisms are not sensitive to gastric pH or acid, so are able to survive intact in the small intestine and colon.
Humic and fulvic acids are the result of humification, the breakdown of organic matter (decomposed plant material) known as humus, shilajit, and reed sedge peat. A humus layer in nature can be millions of years old.
Humic acid binds minerals from the decomposed plant material, thus providing these organic minerals to the living plants and grasses. Humic acids make more nutrients available to the plants. Horses benefit from this nutrient-dense forage.
Fulvic acid is a carrier of nutrients to the plants. In horses, fulvic acid provides the body access to vital nutrients and minerals. Fulvic acid can sequester superoxide radicals and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and help reduce oxidative stress, which is often linked to chronic inflammatory diseases.
Sym-Biota EQ
Sym-Biota EQ™ is a liquid formulation of horse probiotics that mimics healthy soil. This probiotic supplement is especially important for horses who are competing, horses that spend less than 6-8 hours per day grazing, horses who live on dry lots, horses whose pastures are over-grazed, and during winter when there is no fresh forage available.
Sym-Biota EQ replicates the beneficial components of healthy soil that horses, dogs, and humans have benefited from for thousands of years.
Sym-Biota EQ Health Benefits:
This liquid formula replicates healthy soil to provide superior gut health and overall wellness for horses by providing:
Active soil-based-organisms (Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis) support a diverse colony of beneficial microbes in the GI tract. Increasing microbial diversity can reduce the rise of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Providing 50 billion CFUs of active beneficial bacteria per 4 ml means you don’t need to give your horse many ounces of powdered probiotics to attain colonization.
Chaga mushrooms, used for centuries in Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine, have adaptogenic qualities, which help manage stress and support homeostasis. Chaga is a rich source of beta-glucans which can support the immune system and protect gut mucosa. This is important for horses with ulcer sensitivities.
Reed Sedge Peat from the US and Canada provides Humic and Fulvic Acids from deposits in the US and Canada. Humic and Fulvic acids are important components of healthy soil, which support nutrient and mineral absorption in the small intestine. Fulvic acids are important for the healthy functioning of GI tract tight junctions. These tight junctions form a barrier preventing pro inflammatory molecules and pathogens from the mucosal tissues and circulatory system. Common infiltration of the intestinal wall is known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• Beneficial for horses with allergies, Sym-Biota EQ provides both GI tract support and immune support.
• Fast-acting liquid formula, Sym-Biota EQ does not need refrigeration, and can be given daily or as needed.
SEPT 2020: NOW AVAILABLE!
Also available for dogs: Symbiota K9
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.
