Bestsellers
Digestive Supplements for Horses: Support for a Healthy Stomach and Gut | Emmers Equestrian
A horse’s digestive system is built for grazing: small amounts of forage, almost all day long. Modern routines with stabling, hard feed, training, travel, and competitions don’t always match that. Digestive supplements help support the stomach and gut when your horse’s lifestyle asks more of its digestion. At Emmers Equestrian, you’ll find supplements for stomach comfort, hindgut balance, sand clearance, and general gut health from brands such as Cavalor, Equine America, NAF, TRM, Foran, Global Medics, Intibio, and our own Emmers line.
Stomach support for sensitive horses
Horses produce stomach acid continuously, even when they aren’t eating. Without a steady supply of forage to buffer it, the acid can irritate the upper part of the stomach, which has no protective lining. Long gaps between meals, high-starch diets, intensive training, transport, and stress all make this more likely. That’s why stomach supplements are popular for sport horses, horses that travel often, and horses that are sensitive by nature. In this collection you’ll find stomach-support products such as Cavalor Gastro Aid, NAF GastriAid and GastriVet, Equine America ULS-Gard, Global Medics Gastryl and Gastro-Care+, and Emmers Gastro Balance. They come as powders, pellets, liquids, and pastes. The pastes are handy before a show or a long trip. Hindgut health: probiotics and prebiotics
Most of the fiber your horse eats is fermented in the hindgut by billions of microbes. When that microbial balance is disturbed, for example, after a feed change, a course of medication, stress, or travel, digestion can be affected. Probiotics add beneficial microbes, while prebiotics feed the microbes already there. Products like TRM Synbiovit, Cavalor Vitaflora, Equine America Pro Gut Balancer, and the DBS Florafusion range are designed to help keep the hindgut in balance.
Sand clearance supplements
Horses that graze on sandy soil or eat hay from the ground can swallow sand, which can build up in the gut over time. Psyllium-based supplements such as Emmers Equi Sand Relief and TRM SandXpell are often fed as a regular course to help move sand through the digestive tract. A simple way to check for sand: put a few droppings in a bag or bucket of water, mix, and see if sand settles at the bottom. Oils, liver support, and young horses
Some digestive products have a more specific role. Oils such as Cavalor Oilmega and TRM Curragh Carron Oil are a gentle, concentrated energy source that’s easy on the stomach. Cavalor Hepato Liq supports the liver, which plays a key role in processing nutrients. For foals, Foran Friska Foal is made for the first weeks of life. And for unsettled moments, Cavalor Emergency 911 is a quick-support product to keep in the tack box.
Choosing the right digestive supplement
- Start by thinking about where your horse needs support: the stomach, the hindgut, or both.
- Then pick a format that fits your routine: powders and pellets for daily feeding at home, pastes and liquids for travel, or shows or horses that are picky eaters.
- Supplements work best alongside good management, so combine them with plenty of forage, regular meals, and a steady routine.
- Slow feeders from our feeding range help stretch out hay time, and feeding toys keep stabled horses chewing for longer.
Looking for more? Browse all our horse supplements, or combine digestive support with calming supplements for horses that get tense when travelling, or electrolytes for hard-working horses.
Not sure which product suits your horse? You’re welcome to visit one of our stores for personal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are signs that my horse may have stomach problems?
Common signs include a poor or picky appetite, weight loss, a dull coat, sensitivity when the girth is tightened, grinding teeth, behavioral changes, and mild, recurring colic. These signs can have other causes too, so always ask your vet for advice. Gastric ulcers can only be confirmed with a gastroscopy.
Can a supplement treat gastric ulcers?
No. Diagnosed ulcers need treatment prescribed by your vet. Stomach supplements are designed to support stomach health, for example, during and after treatment or in periods when your horse is more at risk, such as travel, competition, or intense training.
What’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics for horses?
Probiotics contain live beneficial microbes that add to the population in your horse’s gut. Prebiotics are fibers that feed the beneficial microbes already present. Many digestive supplements combine both.
When should I give my horse a probiotic?
Probiotics are often used during periods that can upset the gut, such as a change in feed or forage, transport, competitions, stress, or after a course of antibiotics. Always follow the dosing instructions on the label.
How often should I give a sand clearance supplement?
Psyllium supplements are usually given as a course for a set number of days, then repeated at regular intervals depending on how much sand your horse is exposed to. Check the instructions on the product you choose, and contact your vet if you suspect sand colic.
Can I feed a digestive supplement every day?
Many digestive supplements are designed for daily use, while others, like pastes and emergency products, are meant for specific moments. Check the label and avoid combining several products with the same purpose without advice.
Are digestive supplements allowed in competition?
Most digestive supplements contain ingredients that are allowed, but always check the product information and your federation’s rules (for example the FEI) before competing.