Gut health expert, EquiBiome, is a strong advocate for a varied natural diet for horses to improve diversity in the microbiome of the gut which leads to improved health and performance.
Over the last 50 years there has been a dramatic decrease in plants and hedgerows due to modern farming methods which have reduced the range of plants to a critical point, the loss of biodiversity means the average horse pasture may well lack important phytonutrients.
Owners can take control and reintroduce these important plants to their horse’s diet by researching what might be of benefit, especially if it is a laminitic or has other health issues, and then get planting!
Yarrow, Hawthorn, Willow and Milk Thistle are good all-rounders to start with and by simply allowing a pasture to go unsprayed, many plants will return. Some plants will need to be protected from horses until they become established.
If you scatter seeds, wild flowers and native grasses may take a year to grow and some of the more popular wild flowers need a poor soil type to thrive and drainage is important for them too.
Lots of EquiBiome customers have already improved gut diversity by introducing a variety of plants and herbs, including Wild Mint, Chamomile, Oregano and Basil, to their horse’s diet.
Before you start to invest in improving your horse’s diet, the EquiBiome Test Kit will identify a gut imbalance and any other issues so you can then make the most appropriate choices to support your horse.
The test kit is ordered online at equibiome.org and once it arrives simply follow the instructions and return your horse’s faecal sample for testing. You will then receive a detailed report with recommendations to improve your horse’s gut health and the report will also identify any underlying issues.
With the right management, based on facts not guess work, your horse’s gut health can be improved.
For further information or to order an EquiBiome Test Kit please visit equibiome.org and follow the ‘EquiBiome’ page on Facebook.
