Are you feeding for good gut health?
FRESH CLEAN WATER
DIVERSE RANGE OF FIBRE
SMALL MEALS
NOTHING ARTIFICIAL
SLOW TRANSITIONS
Fresh Clean Water
Adequate hydration is essential for all equines. The significance of voluntary water intake is frequently underestimated in feeding management.
Facilitates digesta transit and maintains gastrointestinal motility
Insufficient intake is a primary risk factor for impaction colic
Required for all cellular metabolic processes, including thermoregulation, nutrient transport via blood, and muscle function
Supports maintenance and regulation of hindgut pH balance
Horses on predominantly hay-based diets lack the inherent moisture content of fresh pasture (approximately 80% water) and should be actively encouraged to increase voluntary intake
Diverse Range of Fibre
Structural carbohydrates are fundamental to hindgut fermentation and microbial ecosystem stability. Key fibre fractions include cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins, beta-glucans, and lignin.
Cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins undergo microbial fermentation in the caecum and colon, yielding volatile fatty acids (VFAs) — the horse's primary energy substrate
Lignin is indigestible but contributes to digesta bulk, promoting peristalsis and preventing compaction
Fibre mass maintains intestinal patency and regulates rate of passage, optimising nutrient absorption across the intestinal epithelium
Fermentation supports proliferation of beneficial commensal bacteria; microbial diversity creates competitive exclusion against pathogenic organisms (preventing dysbiosis)
Dysbiosis manifests clinically as loose faeces, hindgut acidosis, behavioural agitation, and increased colic risk.
Source quality matters — fibre should derive from botanically diverse, minimally processed plant matter available in native forage species
Mill run, grain hulls, and industrial by-products offer low fermentability and limited prebiotic value compared to whole-plant fibre sources
Meal Size and Gastric Capacity
The equine stomach represents the initial site of enzymatic digestion, with a relatively limited capacity of approximately 8–15 litres (varying with body size). Gastric retention time for dry feed ranges from 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on meal composition and volume.
The non-glandular (squamous) mucosa of the proximal stomach lacks a protective mucus-bicarbonate barrier, rendering it vulnerable to acid exposure
Hydrochloric acid is secreted continuously — independent of feed intake — at a rate of approximately 1.5 L/hour
Large, infrequent meals cause acute gastric distension, increasing pressure and splashing acid onto unprotected squamous epithelium
Prolonged fasting between meals results in a low gastric pH environment with no feed buffer, promoting Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)
The horse evolved as a trickle feeder, grazing low-energy forage for up to 18 hours per day; digesta moves continuously via peristalsis through the gastrointestinal tract
Chewing during grazing stimulates salivary bicarbonate production (the only buffer for gastric acid in the proximal stomach)
Best practice: Provide small, nutrient-dense meals that encourage chewing, alongside access to hay and pasture at all times.
Gradual Dietary Transitions
The equine gastrointestinal tract relies on a highly specialised microbial population adapted to the current diet. Abrupt feed changes disrupt microbial equilibrium, potentially causing hindgut acidosis, colic, or laminitis.
Dietary transitions should occur over a minimum of 7–14 days, incrementally adjusting the ratio of old to new feed
This allows cellulolytic and amylolytic bacterial populations to adapt without producing excessive lactate or endotoxins
Monitor faecal consistency, appetite, and behaviour throughout the transition period as indicators of gastrointestinal tolerance.
Carbohydrate Management
Carbohydrates are an essential component of the equine diet. Plant matter comprises both structural carbohydrates (SC) — the cellulose and hemicellulose of cell walls, fermented in the hindgut to produce volatile fatty acids — and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), which are hydrolysed to simple sugars in the foregut and readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Prior to modern pasture improvement, native grasses were inherently low in NSC and less readily available, resulting in lower glycaemic loads and greater foraging effort
Excessive NSC intake overwhelms hindgut buffering capacity, causing rapid fermentation, lactic acid accumulation, and subsequent disruption of cellulolytic microbial populations
Dysbiosis from hindgut acidosis triggers bacterial die-off, endotoxin release, and increased intestinal permeability — key precursors to laminitis
Chronic hyperinsulinaemia from sustained high-NSC diets is implicated in Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), insulin resistance (IR), and obesity
Exclusion of Synthetic Additives
The equine digestive system evolved to process whole-plant material without exposure to synthetic compounds. Many commercial feeds contain artificial preservatives, flavourings, binders, and colourants that offer no nutritional value and may compromise gastrointestinal integrity.
Synthetic antioxidants are used to extend shelf life but have been associated with oxidative stress and hepatic burden in sensitive individuals
Artificial sweeteners and molasses-based palatants mask poor-quality ingredients while contributing to glycaemic dysregulation and altered feeding behaviour
Calcium propionate and other mould inhibitors may disrupt hindgut microbial populations when consumed regularly
Best practice: Select feeds with transparent ingredient declarations, minimal processing, and no synthetic additives — prioritising bioavailable, whole-food nutrient sources
Hay Selection and Quality Assessment
Hay constitutes the foundation of the equine diet, providing structural fibre essential for hindgut fermentation, gut motility, and behavioral satiety. Quality assessment should be systematic and evidence-based.
Assess for mycotoxin risk: hay harvested in humid conditions or stored at >15% moisture is susceptible to Aspergillus and Fusarium colonisation
Organoleptic assessment: colour (green indicates chlorophyll retention), aroma (sweet, not musty), leaf-to-stem ratio (higher leaf = greater digestibility)
NSC content varies significantly with cut timing — early morning hay contains lower NSC than afternoon-cut hay due to diurnal photosynthesis cycles
Soaking hay for 30–60 minutes reduces water-soluble carbohydrates by 20–40%, beneficial for metabolically compromised horses
Gut-friendly diet suitable for 500kg horse in moderate work
Alphafibre Equicubes 450g: Compressed hay matrix fortified with targeted supplementation. High structural fibre content with NSC maintained below 10% on a dry matter basis. Zero artificial additives. Formulated as a controlled daily ration suitable for all equines regardless of workload or metabolic status.
Completavite 10g Pasture and conserved forage nutrient profiles fluctuate with seasonal growth patterns, soil conditions, and storage duration. A 10g daily dose of Completavite, administered alongside 450g Equicubes, provides comprehensive micronutrient coverage without stock-grade fillers or synthetic binders.
Alphaflax 50ml Cold-pressed flaxseed oil provides a balanced Omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acid profile. Supports intestinal mucosal integrity, delivers systemic anti-inflammatory action via alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) conversion, and provides sustained lipid-derived energy with zero glycaemic impact.
Pasture & Hay Grazing management must be individualised based on metabolic status, body condition score, and pasture composition. Ad libitum turnout is optimal for hindgut motility. Where pasture NSC exceeds safe thresholds, restrict access and substitute with analysed low-sugar hay.
