Eventing asks extraordinary things of horses: Precision in the dressage. Power and boldness across country. Accuracy and carefulness on the final day. All of this under intense atmosphere and pressure for both horse and rider! The margins between top placings are often small and yet one of the most powerful performance influencers is often overlooked. The gut.

Your horse’s digestive system is both complex & sensitive. For competition horses the cumulative effect of regular stressors including travel and intensive training can be high. The hindgut houses billions of microbial colonies responsible for fermenting fibre and producing volatile fatty acids, a key source of slow-release energy. These microbes also play an important role in immune resilience, nutrient absorption and the gut–brain axis which influences behaviour.

When that environment is stable, horses tend to feel consistent in energy, behaviour and condition but when it is disrupted, we may see loose droppings, tension, reactivity, fluctuating energy, loss of topline or reduced recovery between phases.

“Prebiotics provide the ‘food’ for good bacteria in the gut to thrive, it is particularly important to supplement these bacteria during times of stress such as when competing or during reduced turnout through winter.” Charlotte Radley MRCVS

Sustainable Energy
Fibre fermentation in a healthy hindgut produces steady, usable energy, supporting stamina without the sharp peaks and troughs associated with starch-heavy feeding. That matters not just for endurance, but for rideability and ultimately performance.

An event horse must remain adjustable and focused from entering the white boards to jumping the final fence, so supporting a healthy gut environment helps underpin that consistency and provide sustainable power without unnecessary fizz. Event horses train hard and need to recover quickly between phases. Digestive health influences nutrient absorption, immune resilience and importantly recovery from stress, making a well-fed, resilient gut foundation essential for long-term comfort and optimal performance across the season.  

5 Signs Your Horse’s Gut May Need Support:

1. Inconsistent Droppings Loose, watery or fluctuating droppings when travelling or competing can indicate the hindgut microbiome is under stress.

2. Energy Highs and Lows Sharp one day, flat the next? Digestive stability plays a key role in sustainable, fibre-derived energy production.

3. Tension or Reactivity The gut–brain axis is real and changes in microbial balance can influence behavioural consistency and stress responses.

4. Loss of Topline or Slow Recovery Compromised nutrient absorption may affect muscle maintenance and post-exercise recovery.

5. Dull Coat or Poor Condition Maintaining gut lining integrity is essential for overall health as the gut lining is responsible for absorbing the nutrients that support coat shine, weight stability and overall vitality.

Strategies to Protect and Promote Equine Gut Health

• Prioritise Forage First - Forage is the foundation of equine digestion. Long-stem hay, fibre-rich feeds and slow-feeding solutions keep the hindgut continuously supplied with fermentable substrate, promoting microbial diversity and digestive stability.