When horses receive diets low in forage or don’t eat constantly but instead are meal-fed, periods pass when the constantly secreted stomach acid is not being as well-buffered. This can result in the stomach becoming increasingly acidic and increases the risk of gastric tissue ulceration. What Is a Stomach Acid Buffer? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the best gut balancer as each horse is unique. However, products like Protexin Equine Premium Gut Balancer, Equine America Pro Gut Balancer, and Science Supplements Gut Balancer for Horses & Ponies have been positively reviewed by many horse owners. As an example, let’s imagine you have a horse named Charlie. Charlie has recently had a course of antibiotics due to a minor infection. Antibiotics, while often necessary, can have the side effect of disrupting the balance of the gut microbiota by wiping out both harmful and beneficial bacteria. This disruption can lead to issues like loose stools, a decrease in appetite, or a dull coat.

Acid Ease contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, as well as kaolin, pectin and L-threonine which together act to buffer excess acid and soothe the gut lining. The probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains numerous essential amino acids, vitamins, including vitamin B6, and important minerals. The high quality fibres – pectin and psyllium help make this a superior product, and in combination with S. cerevisiae they promote the production of nutrients which support the gut lining. Stress, sudden changes in diet, antibiotics, or worming treatments can all disrupt the balance of your horse’s gut microbiota. This disruption can lead to issues like loose droppings, loss of appetite, or poor coat condition. However, an overabundance of gas could indicate a disruption in your horse’s gut microbiota, that bustling city of microbes we talked about earlier. This might be due to dietary changes, stress, or illness, resulting in more gas-producing bacteria and less of the helpful ones. Protexin Acid Ease is a horse supplement which supportsoptimal nutrition by providing key nutrients, gut lining support and improved digestive function and efficiency. Acid Ease is unique in its concentration and combination of palatable, high-quality fibres, calcium and magnesium carbonate, kaolin, amino acids and Protexin probiotics and prebiotics. BETA and NOPS accredited for compliant use under the FEI's guidelines for Clean Sport.Here’s where a gut balancer comes in. It helps restore the balance of the gut microbiota. By promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing the population of gas-producing ones, a gut balancer may reduce excessive flatulence. Firstly, a gut balancer helps to maintain a healthy number of beneficial microbes. They work in your horse’s favour, aiding in digesting feed, producing essential vitamins, and crowding out harmful bacteria. It’s like bolstering the city’s workforce, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Loose Droppings or Diarrhoea: Changes in the consistency of your horse’s droppings can be a sign of digestive upset. When it comes to horses with ulcers, gut balancers can be a part of the management strategy, but they are not a cure on their own. Here’s why:

Formulated to promote healthy gastric conditions by supporting the control of acid in the stomach. It contains both calcium and magnesium, which are recognised as alkaline providers. Daily use can help to prevent gastric ulcers occurring and protect the stomach from stress-related gastric issues. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, it’s important to remember that every horse is unique, and what works for one might not necessarily work for another. As such, the benefits or effectiveness of a specific product may vary between individual horses. Home / Health / Horse Feed & Supplements / Gut Balancers For Horses Alfalfa meal, Calcium carbonate, Magnesium carbonate, Psyllium husk, Lignocellulose, Pectin, Dicalcium phosphate, Preplex® prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Soya oil Additives:I decided to give Protexin a go when Bella started showing signs of mild digestive discomfort. She wasn’t as eager to eat her feed, and I noticed a few instances of loose droppings. So, I thought a gut balancer might be just what she needed. Acid Ease supports optimal nutrition by providing key nutrients, gut lining support and improved digestive function and efficiency. Acid Ease contains a high concentration of probiotic organisms which should be sufficient for most horses. However, for additional probiotic support Gut Balancer can safely be given alongside Acid Ease.

The product you are giving your horse is helping maintain a less acidic environment for as long as it’s not depleted. It is not stopping acid production; rather, it’s helping neutralize the acid being produced. The market offers a good number of buffering type supplements, and some are more effective and longer lasting than others. Research has shown that alfalfa hay has buffering capacity and might help horses at risk of ulcers. More recently, seaweed-derived calcium has been shown to be an effective buffer. Take-Home Message Thirdly, some gut balancers also contain yeast. Yeasts enhance the action of the beneficial bacteria, aid in digestion, and can help protect the gut wall. It’s a bit like improving the city’s infrastructure.As horses eat, they secrete saliva in addition to stomach acid. Their saliva contains sodium bicarbonate, which acts as a buffer, helping reduce stomach acidity. In a natural setting or when horses are allowed to consume unlimited forage, this system works very well. The constant chewing results in constant release of buffered saliva to balance the acidity of the constantly secreted stomach acid. The forage itself can also act as a buffer, helping raise pH.

Protexin Acid Ease is now 5 times more concentrated than the original formula, so you only need to feed your horse 100g a day or less. It is also now a powder instead of a pellet as field tests proved it was the more palatable form.By promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, a gut balancer can support digestion and nutrient absorption, processes that can be negatively impacted by ulcers. The aim here is to strengthen the overall gut environment and make it more resilient. Horse’s needs: Consider why you’re looking for a gut balancer. Is it due to digestive issues, stress, change in diet, or a specific health concern like ulcers? Different products target different issues, so it’s important to choose one that matches your horse’s needs. Equitop Pronutrin pellets contains 77% Apolectol, which is a patented combination of fruit and vegetable fibre, glycerol and lecithin. This forms a gel to support the stomach’s natural defences and maintain healthy gastric acidity for optimal gastric health. However, as with all supplements, there were some considerations. First, it took some time to see results. I noticed minor improvements within a week, but it was a few weeks before the more significant changes became apparent. Cost: Price can vary significantly among gut balancers. While you want the best for your horse, it’s also important to find a product that fits within your budget.