A horse’s intestines contain millions of bacteria, which we call the gut microbiome, or gut flora.
These tiny bacteria not only play a role in digestion but also affect brain function.
Have you had butterflies in your stomach?
Or are you queasy with fear?
Or have a knot in your stomach from worry?
Then you probably recognize that you sometimes go to the bathroom more often.
Emotions do seem to be connected to the digestive system.
That’s right: gut and brain interact and have a conversation.
The gut microbiome participates in this conversation.
In 2004, evidence of an influence of gut bacteria on the brain was found for the first time.
Sterile mice (with no bacteria in or on the body) reacted more strongly to stress and produced more stress hormone than conspecifics with a normal gut microbiome.
But when the researchers administered probiotics to the sterile mice, they responded normally again.
Gut flora thus exerts an important function on the brain through the gut-brain connection.
A healthy gut flora not only improves your horse’s digestion and immunity but can also influence behavior.
Offering sufficient roughage and especially the greatest possible variety of fiber-rich structures has a positive influence on the intestinal flora.
Mixed forages can in this way contribute to making your horse not only a healthy, but also a happy athlete !
Author: Hilde Vrancken
Veterinary specialist
Author: Hilde Vrancken
Veterinary specialist
