Digestive Health & the Performance Horse, Part 1

Managing the equine athlete from the inside out, and why probiotics are so important to digestive health.

Most performance and competition horses are bred along specific lines for the sports they compete in. Theoretically, this gives them the “the edge” in competition, be it show jumping, cross country, endurance, dressage or any other competitive sport. But all these horses are under a lot of stress from the rigors of training, competition, travel and other factors. So when it comes to getting that extra edge, the key is your horse’s health – and overall health is ultimately derived from digestive health.

Developing a healthy digestive tract

To achieve digestive health, your equine athlete needs the best nutrition possible, along with high potency pre/probiotics. This combination promotes and maintains microbial balance within the intestine, and the absorption of all nutrients. It also gives your horse the energy he needs to help him be the best he can be. To prevent ulcers, which are so common among horses in competition, it is necessary to feed frequent small meals by way of slow feeders. In addition, it’s important to make sure your horse has eaten prior to training, or just prior to competition, so that his digestive acids breaking down feedstuffs and not burning an empty stomach lining.

Let’s look at your horse from the inside. When a horse starts grinding food with his teeth, his mouth releases enzymes, and that begins the food’s approximately 75 to 100-foot journey through the digestive tract. The food mixes with digestive juices as it enters the stomach, where digestive enzymes and billions of microbials begin their work. Although a horse’s stomach is relatively small compared to his size, it is tasked with initiating the breakdown of nutrients using digestive enzymes and stomach acids; very little absorption takes place here. Soluble carbohydrates, along with minerals, fats and proteins, are absorbed in the small intestine. Insoluble carbohydrates that are not so easily digested, as well as any undigested soluble carbohydrates, then pass to the cecum, or the “fermentative vat”, before moving into the large intestine. A variety of live microbial in the cecum break down the remaining nutrients into viable, usable forms – among these are absorbable volatile fatty acids that the horse uses for energy and nutrients.

Be on the look out for Part 2 of this post next Monday!

Happy Riding!