Digestive problems in horses – healthy gut all year round
Our horses‘ digestive systems are highly complex and sensitive. Food passes through numerous stages, from the horse’s mouth to the end product, horse manure. In our guide, we explain how the digestive system works, what digestive problems your horse may encounter during the course of the year, and how you can support your horse’s digestion!
How does a horse’s digestive system work?
The first foundations for healthy digestion are established in the horse’s mouth, where the food is broken down and thoroughly mixed with saliva. The longer the horse takes to do this, and the longer the food requires due to its texture, the better it is for the subsequent digestive process. For this reason, forage should make up the majority of the diet. Saliva lowers the pH value of stomach acid, which has a positive effect on gastric health.
Did you know that your horse’s stomach is not that big in relation to the rest of its body? A horse’s stomach can hold approximately 15 litres. This makes it all the more important to give horses the opportunity to follow their natural instincts and provide them with a constant supply of forage. Due to their small stomach capacity, horses eat several small portions throughout the day.
In the small intestine, feed is broken down into its components so that nutrients can be absorbed. The broken-down proteins, fats and carbohydrates are then absorbed through the small intestine mucosa. Feed that is too starchy cannot be digested particularly well by horses due to a lack of enzymes. The roughage that is ingested passes through the intestine largely undigested.
The large intestine is the final destination for the undigested roughage. Microorganisms help to break down the crude fibres into digestible components. In addition to the absorption of vitamins and fatty acids via the large intestine mucosa, the ‚waste products‘ of digestion are transported to the rectum to be excreted in the form of the familiar horse droppings.
What digestive problems are common in horses?
The most common problems include:
- Choke (Obstruction of the oesophagus)
- Colic
- Diarrhoea
- Free faecal water
- Gastric ulcers
- Inflammation of the stomach lining
What could be causing these digestive issues?
The digestive system of our horses is complex, and the causes of underlying complaints are equally diverse.
These can include:
| Causes | Common symptoms / complaints |
| Dental problems | – Colic – Chokes |
| Greedy eating habits | – Chokes |
| Too long breaks between meals | – Gastric ulcers – Colic |
| Not enough exercise | – Colic |
| Stress | – Gastric ulcers – Gastritis – Diarrhoea – Colic |
| Unsuitable food | – Colic – Inflammatory stomach/intestinal diseases – Diarrhoea – Free faecal water |
| Intestinal parasites | – Diarrhoea – Inflammatory stomach/intestinal diseases – Constipation |
| Poisons | – Diarrhoea – Flatulence – Colic – Blood in manure |
Not all colic is the same
There are numerous types of colic in horses, which differ in terms of their causes. Spasmodic colic is the most common type of colic. Other types include gas and impaction colic, sand colic, and intestinal strangulation or obstruction. The latter two in particular can very quickly lead to a life-threatening condition. Therefore, if you have even the slightest suspicion of colic, consult your vet!
Read our guides on ?First aid for colic‘, ?Preventing colic effectively‘ and ?The right diet after colic‘.
First aid for colic symptoms
Original Landmühle has launched Stomach Welfare, a digestive oil that promises rapid relief from the first symptoms of colic. With its combination of star anise, fennel and caraway, it relaxes the gastrointestinal tract and can often prevent colic from developing!
Our recommendations for a well-stocked stable medicine cabinet.
Horses can suffer from digestive problems all year round
Depending on the season, there may be different causes.
Digestive problems in spring/summer
- Often due to to insufficient acclimatisation to grass
- Poisonous plants
- Sand colic caused by grazing on sparse, sandy-soil pastures
- Increased stress during the competition season
Digestive problems in autumn/winter
- Lack of exercise
- Increased lignin intake due to increased consumption of lignin-rich straw
- Limited access to forage
- Feeding poor-quality forage (contaminated, contaminated with germs and mould)
- Risk of sand colic due to keeping animals on sandy paddocks and feeding hay directly off the ground
How can I support my horse’s digestion?
A healthy digestive system in horses is based on species-appropriate keeping and feeding. By following the 10 basic rules of horse feeding, you will already make a significant contribution to your horse’s gastric and intestinal health.
With these five tips, you can also eliminate other risk factors for common digestive problems:
- As much exercise as possible – and that doesn’t just mean working the horse, but primarily unrestricted movement out in the field or in the paddock. Two hours a day is the minimum. The more, the better!
- Regular dental check-ups are a must. It is not uncommon for stomach and intestinal problems to be caused by misaligned teeth, which make it impossible for the horse to chew its food properly.
- Avoid stress! Many people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome – and our horses‘ digestion can also easily become disrupted when they are stressed. Yard moves, competition situations, conflicts within the herd, excessive training demands – there are many potential stressors in a horse’s everyday life. Observe your horse closely and take measures to relieve psychological pressure if necessary.
- Grazing muzzles and hay nets regulate feed intake. This may also be necessary for greedy horses that eat hastily in order to ensure species-appropriate feed intake.
- Parasites and poisonous plants can impair digestion and, in some cases, even lead to death. While you can control parasite infestation with regular worm counts and de-worming treatments, you should remove poisonous plants from the field. You can find more information about poisonous plants in our guide.
Our product recommendations for smooth digestion
Even if you already take as many factors as possible into account for your horse’s gut health, imbalances in digestion or illnesses can still occur that cannot be predicted or prevented.
1. Original Landmühle Psyllium Seed
Ideal for cleansing the intestines. The mucilage secreted by the swollen psyllium husks binds sand and soil particles that have been ingested, making them easier to excrete. They also have a regulating effect on diarrhoea, free faecal water and constipation.
Click here for Psyllium Seeds2. Original Landmühle Stomach Welfare
The remedy of choice for acute digestive problems that may indicate colic. The herbal oils it contains, made from fennel, caraway and star anise, have antispasmodic and carminative effects and can provide relief while you wait for the vet.
Buy Original Landmühle Stomach Welfare
3. Original Landmühle Digestive Herbs for horses
The digestive herbs fennel, caraway and aniseed are often administered to treat flatulence. This occurs more frequently at the beginning of the grazing season due to the change in feed.
Digestive Herbs for horses in the shop4. Original Landmühle Brewer’s Yeast for Horses
Brewer’s yeast is rich in B vitamins, which are important for maintaining healthy intestinal function in horses. A deficiency in B vitamins disrupts the intestinal rhythm and can lead to colic or diarrhoea.
Click here for Brewer’s Yeast
5. Original Landmühle Feed Charcoal
Feed charcoal consists of dried and burned biomass (plant components, wood) and has the ability to store water. This can be used to treat diarrhoea or free faecal water. The charcoal not only binds fluid, but also toxins and harmful substances in the intestine and aids excretion.
Buy Feed Charcoal6. Original Landmühle SuperTreats Gastric Friend
Horses with digestive problems require careful attention to their nutrition. Treats are usually off limits. With Gastric Friend, you can give your horse with a sensitive stomach a reward in-between meals.
Click here SuperTreats Gastric Friend
7. Original Landmühle Prebiotic Balance+
Ideal for restoring balance to the intestinal flora. It can be used to treat free faecal water, stomach irritation and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract following medication.
Shop Prebiotic Balance+