Gut Health
Horse Gut Microbiome
The microbes that turn hay into energy, and how to keep them fed.
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Your horse can’t digest hay on his own. Trillions of microbes in his hindgut do it for him. This page covers what they need from you, and the daily support we built around them.
Key points
- Trillions of microbes in the hindgut turn hay and grass into energy for your horse.
- Plenty of forage keeps the fiber-loving microbes fed and the whole community in balance.
- Sudden feed changes, starchy meals, travel and some medications can quickly shift the mix.
- Immune and G-Tract support balance, but lasting manure changes deserve a call to your vet.
What is the horse microbiome?
The gut microbiome is the whole community of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other tiny organisms living along the digestive tract. Most of them live in the cecum and colon. The cecum alone holds around 8 gallons and works a lot like a fermentation vat.
No single species runs the show. Some microbes specialize in tough plant fiber, others mop up starch that slipped past the small intestine, and others turn those by-products into fuel. What matters is how well the whole crowd gets along.
Hindgut fermentation: what the microbes give back
- Energy. Fermenting fiber makes volatile fatty acids, a major energy source for a horse on forage.
- Fuel for the gut wall. Some of those fatty acids are the main food for the cells lining the colon.
- Vitamins. Hindgut microbes make some B vitamins and vitamin K.
- Less room for trouble. A stable, crowded community leaves fewer gaps for unwanted organisms.
- A training partner for the immune system. So much immune tissue sits by the gut wall that the microbes are in constant contact with it.
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What knocks the balance off
- A new batch of hay or a jump to lush spring pasture
- Big starchy meals that spill into the hindgut
- Antibiotics and some other medications
- Hauling, competing, a new herd or long stall rest
- Age, since older horses often have a less varied mix
When starch floods the hindgut, starch-loving bacteria multiply and the gut gets more acidic. Owners usually notice looser manure, gas or a horse who goes off his hay. If signs like these don’t clear up in a day or two, call your vet.
Microbiome support for horses, day to day
Fiber is the big one. Good hay or pasture keeps the fiber fermenters fed and in charge. Split concentrates into smaller meals, make every feed change over a week or two, and keep the daily rhythm consistent through busy seasons.
Our formulas add to that. ImmuBiome Immune pairs Turkey Tail and Lion’s Mane with 8,000 mg of prebiotics, 3 billion CFU of probiotics and bovine colostrum. ImmuBiome G-Tract adds 25 billion CFU of live Saccharomyces yeast and is built for the whole digestive tract. Both mix into damp feed. The same eight strains and prebiotics run through nearly every other formula we make, so a horse on Breathe or Joint & Recovery is feeding his microbes too. None of them replaces good forage or your vet.
More on the gut
- Gut health, the big-picture overview
- Prebiotics and probiotics and beta-glucans
- Digestive health and leaky gut
- Hindgut & Ulcer Support formulas and immune support formulas
Microbiome questions from owners
What does CFU mean on a supplement label?
CFU stands for colony forming units, a count of the live organisms that can grow and multiply. Put simply, it’s how many living probiotics are going into his feed. Nine of our formulas carry 3 billion CFU, and G-Tract adds 25 billion CFU of live yeast.
Do antibiotics wipe out my horse’s gut bacteria?
They can reduce and reshape the population for a while, since they don’t only target the bacteria causing trouble. Follow your vet’s instructions exactly, and ask whether G-Tract fits during and after the course.
Can a horse’s microbiome change with the seasons?
Yes. Studies that track horses through the year see the mix shift as pasture, hay and weather change. Gradual transitions between seasons help the population keep up.
Do older horses need more microbiome support?
Senior horses often have a less varied microbiome and can react more to change. Good forage, dental care and a consistent routine matter even more as they age, and Immune or G-Tract can back that up.
Can I test my horse’s microbiome?
Some labs offer fecal microbiome testing. The results are interesting but still hard to act on, so most owners get more from watching manure, appetite and condition.
Shop gut support
Daily gut support
Every formula ships free on subscription, and you can return any tub within 30 days, even opened.
Immune
4.94 (530)
From $69
Turkey Tail and Lion’s Mane with 8,000 mg of prebiotics, 3 billion CFU of probiotics and colostrum.
G-Tract
4.93 (778)
From $69
Probiotics plus 25 billion CFU of live yeast for the whole digestive tract.
More ImmuBiome formulas
Spine & Nerve
4.9 (1275)
From $69
Lion’s Mane plus five more mushrooms for daily spine and nerve support.
Breathe
4.91 (545)
From $69
Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga for healthy airways in dust and pollen season.
Strength & Stamina
4.96 (358)
From $69
Cordyceps, King Trumpet and colostrum for hooves, coat and stamina.
Keep reading
Horse Gut Microbiota: Owner Basics
Read the article
Inside the Horse Gut: A Clear Owner Tour
Read the articleHorses and Grass: Spring Pasture Risks Explained
Read the articleThis page is for general information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
