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What Helped My Mare’s Digestive System (And Why)

There are a lot of gut support products on the market. It can be overwhelming to sort through the claims, the ingredient lists, and the marketing language.

I don’t share products lightly, and I don’t believe there’s one right answer for every horse, but I do pay close attention to ingredients and underlying physiology. When my mare was struggling with gas and noticeable abdominal distention, I knew I needed to support her digestive system in a more intentional way.

One piece of information that influenced my thinking was her HTMA, which showed low cobalt levels. Cobalt is both supported by and reflective of healthy digestive function, particularly in the hindgut. It plays a critical role in allowing microbes to synthesize Vitamin B12. When cobalt is low, it can suggest that microbial activity isn’t operating optimally, which reinforced my decision to focus on gut lining integrity and microbial balance

1. Supporting the Gut Lining and Microbiome

I started using Gut Soothe by Adored Beast Apothecary.

What stood out to me was the formulation.

Several of the ingredients are specifically aimed at restoring and protecting the mucosal lining of the gut:

N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) acts as a precursor to hyaluronic acid and helps strengthen the intestinal barrier while reducing inflammation.

L-glutamine serves as a primary fuel source for rapidly dividing intestinal and immune cells, supporting repair, nutrient absorption, and overall metabolic function.

The herbal components, slippery elm, marshmallow root, and aloe vera, are traditionally used as mucilaginous, soothing herbs. They form a protective coating over irritated mucous membranes, helping reduce acid irritation and promote healing.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support without the side effects associated with whole licorice root. Larch arabinogalactan acts as a prebiotic, supporting beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. The multi-strain probiotic blend rounds it out by supporting microbial balance.

For my mare, this combination of mucosal support, anti-inflammatory herbs, and pre- and probiotics provided comprehensive support.

2. Adjusting the Forage Base

The second change I made was swapping alfalfa pellets for sainfoin pellets as the carrier for her supplements.

Sainfoin is a nutrient-dense legume similar to alfalfa in protein quality, but with some key differences that made sense for her system.

It’s naturally low in sugar and starch, highly palatable, and contains condensed tannins. Those tannins act as a “bypass protein,” improving protein utilization in the hindgut, and they also support digestive health and help reduce gas and bloating. Unlike alfalfa, sainfoin is non-bloating and tends to be easier on sensitive digestive systems.

While alfalfa is typically higher in calcium, potassium, and crude protein, sainfoin often provides slightly higher magnesium and phosphorus concentrations, along with those beneficial tannins.

For my mare, this forage shift combined with targeted gut lining support noticeably reduced abdominal distention. She became more comfortable through her barrel and more willing to move forward. The change in her expression and ease of movement told me her body was no longer managing the same level of internal discomfort.

I don’t see digestive health as separate from posture, movement, or nervous system regulation. If the gut lining is inflamed, if microbial balance is off, or if forage isn’t being digested efficiently, the whole system compensates.

There are many ways to support digestive health, and each horse’s history and needs are different. In her case, these changes helped create a more comfortable internal environment.