Academy / Horse / Gut & Intestine / A healthy digestive system contributes to better performance.
A healthy digestive system contributes to better performance.
At Trikem, we often talk about the importance of keeping your horse's stomach and intestines in balance. What do we mean by this, and why is it so important? A recent French research article addresses exactly this, and we will now break it down and try to clarify the subject.
Microbes, what are they?
At Trikem, we often talk about the importance of keeping your horse's stomach and intestines in balance. What do we mean by this, and why is it so important? A recent French research article addresses exactly this, and we will now break it down and try to clarify the subject..
Microbes are responsible for breaking down the feed the horse eats and converting it into nutrients in the form of volatile fatty acids, which the horse can use. Depending on how the horse's gut flora is composed, different feed ingredients can be broken down with varying efficiency. What has long been suspected, and what is now backed by increasing research evidence, is that a horse's performance can be linked to the composition of its gut flora.
Mitochondria – The powerhouses of cells
Inside cells, there are structures called mitochondria. Mitochondria function as the powerhouses of the cell, generating the energy that the horse can use. Recent research has shown that mitochondria can communicate, interact, and capture signals from the bacteria in the intestines. The information is primarily believed to be transmitted via the volatile fatty acids that are produced when the microbes break down the feed. Depending on the composition of the gut flora and the type of feed the horse receives, different types of volatile fatty acids are formed.
Information improves performance
What the research now shows is that mitochondria and their functions are influenced by the microbes and fatty acids present in the horse. Among these important functions are how the mitochondria can affect the horse's endurance and stamina. Mitochondria not only create energy but are also involved in the formation of hemoglobin, regulation of free radicals, and play a central role in the horse's immune defense. All of these factors impact the horse's performance and stamina both during training and competition.
Balance in the horse's gut
If the gut flora is out of balance, it means that the horse has too few of the good bacteria and too many of the bad ones. This can lead to the horse being unable to utilize its feed optimally (it doesn’t extract energy and nutrients from the feed as well as a horse with a balanced gut flora). Poor gut flora also leads to decreased endurance capacity and fewer nutrients available for use. This has been observed in mice as well. Researchers discovered that mice with an imbalanced gut flora were physically worse at running. At the same time, mice with a healthy gut flora had better stamina and endurance.
Volatile fatty acids produced when microbes break down feed not only provide essential energy to the muscles but also regulate the mitochondria's ability to break down free radicals and reduce inflammation that occurs in the muscles during physical exertion.
The right nutrition delivers results
This aligns perfectly with what we advocate at Trikem and emphasize the importance of. If you want a horse that performs at its best, you need to start by reviewing its diet and supplementing with necessary prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics to keep the horse's gut flora in balance.
Fransk artikel:
Mach, N., Moroldo, M., Rau, A., Lecardonnel, J., Le Moyec, L., Robert, C., Barrey, E. (2021). Understanding the Holobiont: Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiota and Mitochondria During Long Exercise in Horse
Harmony Fix
Probiotics that restore gut flora balance
A probiotic supplement for horses suffering from loose stools or disrupted gut balance
Harmony
Synbiotics for a healthy stomach and gut
Harmony is a pro- and prebiotic supplement containing live yeast culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Read more
Gut Balance
Prebiotics for your horse
Gut Balance contains prebiotics in the form of mannan oligosaccharides and inulin. Based on a yeast culture, Gut Balance promotes a healthy and well-functioning microflora
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