Gut Health for Horses - Understanding Digestion & Supplements
Date Posted:10 December 2025
A horse’s digestive system is both remarkable and incredibly sensitive. Designed for continuous grazing, it relies on steady fibre intake, stable microbial balance, and a calm, predictable environment.
When any of these elements are disrupted, whether by stress, travel, high-grain diets, sudden feed changes, ulcers, or inconsistent routines, the gut often shows the strain quickly.
Poor gut health doesn’t just affect digestion. It can influence behaviour, coat condition, energy levels, nutrient absorption, immunity, and even a horse’s willingness to perform.
For many horses, especially those in demanding workloads, gut support is not just beneficial, it’s essential.
Gut Health for Horses - Improving Digestion, Comfort and Performance
Modern equine supplements can help restore digestive balance, protect the stomach lining, and support hindgut function.
Products such as Poseidon Digestive EQ, Poseidon Digestive HP, In-Sideout Horse Pre & Probiotic, Kohnke’s Own Fabby, and Kohnke’s Own Gastro Coat each offer targeted benefits for different types of horses and different digestive challenges.
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Why Gut Health Is So Important for Horses
A horse’s gut is responsible for breaking down fibre, absorbing nutrients, regulating immune function and producing energy.
When it’s not functioning well, the effects can show up in unexpected ways.
Many owners first notice gut issues through changes such as:
- Reduced appetite or picky eating
- Mild bloating, loose manure or inconsistent stools
- Girthiness or sensitivity around the belly
- Behavioural changes linked to discomfort
- Dull coat, weight fluctuations or poor topline
- Low energy or reduced performance
Because the equine gut houses trillions of microbes, maintaining balance is critical. Stress, travel, workload increases, medications, and feed changes can all disturb this balance, making targeted supplementation a key part of supporting digestive resilience.
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Poseidon Digestive EQ - Comprehensive Daily Support for the Whole Gut
One of the most respected gut supplements in Australia is Poseidon Digestive EQ, a complete equine gut health formula.
Designed to support both foregut and hindgut function, Digestive EQ provides nutrients that help stabilise gut pH, improve fibre breakdown and promote a healthier microbial environment.
Owners often choose Poseidon Digestive EQ for horses that are:
- Transitioning through feed or management changes
- Prone to digestive sensitivity or loose stools
- Recovering from periods of stress, travel or medication
- Needing support for weight management or overall digestive efficiency
Its blend of amino acids, digestive enzymes, and prebiotics make it suitable for daily maintenance, especially for horses in work or those needing consistent gut protection.
Horses that experience fluctuating manure, inconsistent appetite or mild hindgut discomfort frequently show improvement after incorporating Poseidon Digestive EQ into their diet, as it helps stabilise their digestive environment over time.
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Poseidon Digestive HP: Targeted Gut Support for High-Performance Horses
Performance horses and sport horses often face digestive stress due to intense training, travel, confinement and higher-calorie diets. This is where Poseidon Digestive HP, formulated specifically for high-performing horses becomes valuable.
Digestive HP focuses on:
- Supporting gastric comfort
- Maintaining hindgut stability during high-stress periods
- Improving nutrient utilisation
- Helping horses maintain condition through heavy workloads
It is especially useful for competition horses that experience stress-induced digestive fluctuations.
Many riders use Poseidon Digestive HP during competition seasons or training peaks to help their horses stay comfortable, maintain appetite and recover more consistently.
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In-Sideout - A Pre- and Probiotic Blend for Microbial Balance
For horses needing a strong foundation of gut flora support, In-Sideout Horse Pre & Probiotic for horses and ponies offers a practical and effective solution.
The blend aims to improve beneficial bacteria levels while regulating digestive processes in both the small and large intestines.
Owners commonly select In-Sideout for horses with:
- Mild digestive irregularities
- Sensitivity after feed changes
- Reduced appetite during stress
- Behavioural tension linked to gut discomfort
A balanced microbial population helps horses extract more energy from fibre and improves overall digestive consistency.
Horses recovering from illness, antibiotics or hindgut disturbances often respond positively to In-Sideout Horse, making it a staple in many barns for restoring microbial balance.
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Kohnke’s Own Fabby - Daily Fibre and Digestive Comfort Support
Some horses benefit from extra fibre, soothing nutrients and consistent stomach support, particularly those with naturally “fussy” digestion. Kohnke’s Own Fabby combines prebiotics with fermentable fibre sources to help stabilise digestion and support regular gut movement.
Fabby is especially suitable for:
- Horses with inconsistent stools
- Horses adjusting to pasture or seasonal changes
- Young horses transitioning into training
- Horses that become “tummy sensitive” during stress
Its gentle formulation makes it ideal for daily digestive maintenance.
Many owners use Kohnke’s Own Fabby as part of a foundational feeding program when managing horses with delicate or reactive digestive systems.
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Kohnke’s Own Gastro Coat: Targeted Stomach Comfort for Sensitive Horses
Stomach discomfort can significantly affect behaviour, willingness, posture and appetite. Kohnke’s Own Gastro Coat supports the stomach lining by providing coating ingredients and buffering minerals that help maintain gastric comfort.
It’s often chosen for horses that show:
- Girthiness or sensitivity during grooming
- Reduced appetite or slow eating
- Behaviour changes linked to digestive discomfort
- Stress-related digestive disturbances
Gastro Coat is frequently used during management changes, heavy work periods or transitions where gastric health needs particular attention.
Using Kohnke’s Own Gastro Coat alongside good feeding practices can help horses settle more comfortably into training, travel and daily routines.
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Creating a Gut Health Routine That Works for Your Horse
You don’t need a complicated approach, just a consistent, thoughtful one.
1. Fix the Foundation
Start with fibre, hydration and steady routines. Horses thrive on predictability.
2. Choose Supplements Based on Your Horse’s Needs
- Whole-gut daily support → Digestive EQ
- Sporthorse digestive resilience → Digestive HP
- Microbial balance → In-Sideout
- Gentle daily stability → Fabby
- Stomach comfort → Gastro Coat
3. Monitor Behaviour Closely
Changes in appetite, manure, or attitude often signal gut imbalance early.
4. Adjust Seasonally
Competition periods, travel, pasture changes and stress all impact digestion differently.
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Final Thoughts - A Healthy Gut Creates a Happier, More Trainable Horse
Gut health influences nearly every aspect of a horse’s life, from energy and appetite to mood, coat condition and rideability. With consistent nutrition, thoughtful management, and the right combination of supplements, it’s possible to support a digestive system that works as nature intended.
Whether your horse needs broad daily support from Digestive EQ, high-performance resilience from Digestive HP, microbial balance from In-Sideout, gentle stabilisation from Fabby, or targeted stomach comfort from Gastro Coat, the key is matching the supplement to your horse’s individual needs, and giving the gut time to respond.
For more information, please contact the Aussie Vet Products support team.
